i-Robot Roomba 581

Every mum needs one of these. If you don't have time to clean, or like me you are just too lazy this is the answer to your prayers, and it does lino, laminate, tiles and carpets. (You can even buy one that washes floors too - thats my next christmas present to myself).
The Roomba has a scheduler so you can programme it to go off when ever you want - we have ours programmed to go off at 10.30pm every week day. It doesn't do as deep a clean as a normal vacuum cleaner but because you can set it off to clean every day you never get to the point when you need to do a really deep clean.
Its down sides are far outweighed by its up sides but i'll list some anyway - it can't clean stairs; It doesn't do well with straw (guinea pig bedding brought in by "helpful" son); it doesn't work on black carpets or rugs (the lasers think its a cliff); and my 16 month old is terrified of it (but he's also terrified of our Henry vacum).

What a complete god send of a product! I first saw a roomba when I went to view a logcabin with my family. We took the plunge and bought the top of range model (581) he's great, we call him Robby and now on alternating days he vacuums my lounge and dining room. Then the next he does my hall and the kids play room. I would completely recommend a Roomba, does a great job getting under the furniture and I just don't have to think about the vacuuming at all!