Comments on: iRobot Roomba Review

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:27:28 +0000

Hi Althea and Joanne, I actually did a bit of research into what is causing the problems you described. It appears that the cliff sensors are mistaking the black trim on your area rug as a cliff, thus the Roomba won't travel to that rug because it thinks it's about to travel down a flight of stairs. Throughout my Google journey to find a solution, I saw where someone mentioned you could cover the cliff sensors with black electrical tape which would effectively disable them. Of course, you wouldn't want to do this if you are using the Roomba in a room where you have stairs or any other type of cliff. In searching the iRobot.com website to find out where the various cliff sensors are located, I found a page that shows a diagram. Below the diagram, however, is a comment from iRobot.com indicating that you should never attempt to disable or block the Roomba's cliff sensor because it "may create an unsafe operating condition". I translated that to mean you can block the cliff sensors if you don't have any cliffs to worry about. Here is a link to the iRobot.com website page that shows the Roomba diagram of where the cliff sensors are located, should you wish to attempt this yourself.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:34:37 +0000

Dark colored carpets. I have a black trimmed area rug in entry with dark colors in the rug. The Roomba won’t move onto the rug and if I start the Roomba on the rug, it goes back and forth a few times, stopping at the black border. Finally stops and beeps to be moved. Grr.

By: Jeneane

Jeneane — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:08:52 +0000

I wish I had saved my money and bought a really good vacuum cleaner. I bought a Roomba 560. It picks up dog hair but does not clean along the baseboards, it cleans the same area over and over, and will not go up on the rug from the hardwood. I took the dog for a walk while it ran and when I returned, the dirt recepticle/cup had come off and the Roomba was whirring away around the room. I do not suggest my friends buy one.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:04:34 +0000

Great Review. I was wondering how the Roomba is at picking up dust. I don’t have pets, but my wood floors get really dusty. Also, do the Roomba wheels damage wood floors at all? My floors unfortunately scratch and dent really easily.

Thanks in advance!

By: Joyce

Joyce — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:37:03 +0000

Am thinking of purchasing a Roomba, have one cat. I have had cancer that has weakned by backbones, where I cannont vaccuum. I would like this because it would get under furniture too. Where is the most reasonable place and best priced place to buy. I’m assuming from what I’m reading a 560 series would be best because of my pet. Thank you for your input.