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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want a robot cleaner?

118 replies

ChinaSorrows · 29/12/2015 14:29

DH thinks I am...
Not exactly like Rosie, the Jetson's robot (see awesome pic attached) but a robot vacuum cleaner.

History...Our vax has given up after 4 years. The seals on all the extendy, reclippy, dust drum bits have spent the last 3 years "screaming" (I wish there was a better description but they scream) and now, the rolly roundy brush has pretty much fallen off.

I think a robot vacuum would clean the floors whilst I was out (it's programmable dammit) and ensure that we come home to fluff free carpets. It's rather exciting! (Also, in my home it will be called Geoffrey, I may or may not be looking for giant googly eyes for Geoffrey and I will also hope to teach him to do laundry)
DH thinks I'm delusional and it will be an expensive waste.
We live in a 2 bed flat.
No stairs for Geoffrey to worry about.

We can afford him. We can't afford to buy him and then a replacement if he turns out to be shite.

Any wise MNers have a robot vacuum?

I'm specifically looking at the iRobot Rooba 651 in John Lewis here

to want a robot cleaner?
OP posts:
Whatsinaname2011 · 30/12/2015 10:44

YES to dog hair. We have two large dogs and the hair was unreal. But roomba gets it all. I absolutely bloody love her!!

Sallyingforth · 30/12/2015 10:50

How about long human hair?
My very long hair gets wound up in the beater of a conventional vacuum. Can the Roomba handle that?

HamaTime · 30/12/2015 10:56

Mine is an 800 something and it has rollers instead of brushes underneath. long hair gets wrapped around the rollers but it doesn't stop it working. You do have to take the rollers off and yank it off but it's easy to do. Not sure if the brushes on the 600 series get tangled. I have 2 cats that shed like buggery and it's fine with that.

DyslexicScientist · 30/12/2015 11:07

I've wanted one for a decade. My friend has a Samsung one that Mao's out the room and cost 500. Its broken a few times, had to buy a new battery and she has to move chairs out of the way and its quite noisey.

I bought a lightweight instead that let's me do the whole house in minutes.

Abraid2 · 30/12/2015 11:09

I prefer my Neato to the Roomba I had before. I use it every other day.

TheCatsSecretName · 30/12/2015 11:13

I have a Roomba and a Scooba, and I love them (because I am slovenly).

My only complaint is that my cat won't ride on the Roomba like this:

yomellamoHelly · 30/12/2015 11:16

I LOVE mine. Am on version nr 3. (Previous two having been worked to death.) Our second was my PIL's. They didn't like the tell-tale tracks it leaves behind in the corners when it turns around 90 degrees. I'm quite happy to put up with said tracks if it means I don't have to do any hoovering!

Theoretician · 30/12/2015 11:33

How good is it a stairs and landings? Because that's where 90% of the dirt is in my place. And when it goes down the two stairs to reach the dirtiest bit of all, the bit of hall under the stairs that leads to the garage, will it pick up shoes off the floor and stack them in the shoe rack, so they don't get in the way?

hefzi · 30/12/2015 12:00

Cats that video is my go-to when I am down! I've contemplated buying two for my parents, so their warring cats could do Roomba jousting, but I bet the ungrateful bastards would just ignore them... (the cats, not my parents)

Whatsinaname2011 · 30/12/2015 13:25

Doesn't do stairs but it doesn't fall down them either it had sensors that stop it before it rolls off the edge. you'd have to let it do all the top bit then go back and carry it down to do downstairs.

I have the 880 and the human hair gets caught in the rollers but it doesn't stop it working. I should say "collected" not caught and then I clean the rollers every few days. Takes 10 secs.

jay55 · 30/12/2015 14:13

I have a roomba and very long hair. I do have to cut my hair out the rollers after use which I do when emptying it. It's not too hard everything is easy to access. The only thing I don't like is the hiss as its charging.

I have a DustBuster for doing under the sofa cushions and spills but no normal Hoover.

Buttercup27 · 30/12/2015 14:17

My Neato is the best thing I have ever bought. My house has never been so clean or tidy. He makes me keep all floors clear so he can hoover. We have a very large dog and our floors need hoovering daily. Neato Hoover's downstairs at 3pm everyday while I'm at work and the a couple of times a week I take him upstairs. I love the fact that at the weekend the hoovering is being done downstairs while I am playing with dc upstairs.
Neato is brilliant and much cheaper than roomba. Definitely worth it!

seasidesally · 30/12/2015 14:34

well i ant stretch to them prices and dont really get how they work (of to google) but i normally have a henry really good but heavy

last week was in Asda and they were selling Goblin stick hoover (not cordless) for £25

omg its so lightweight and handy the best hoover ive had,thought i would mind it being with a cord but it has a long cord aand you dont notice it,best buy in ages

sorry for de rail

Littleallovertheshop · 30/12/2015 15:00

Ive wanted one since I saw lorelai had one on Gilmore girls. Tesco have one for £75 and I'm so tempted but I suspect at that price it will be rubbish

Sallyingforth · 30/12/2015 15:03

Thank you jay55 and others for the advice re long hair. That's one reservation I had. The other is that we have raised wooden thresholds between rooms. Will it go over a 15mm step?

MrsBalustradeLanyard · 30/12/2015 15:08

Buggering fuck, why did I click on this thread? I don't have 200 quid for a sodding robot hoover, but now I feel like can never be complete without one!

makemineasnowball · 30/12/2015 15:13

Bloody hell I want one! I have a yeti black lab and have to vacuum every day to get rid of hair carpet.

Is Roomba the best??

knobblyknee · 30/12/2015 15:20

Whatsinaname2011 Grin

I didnt want one before but now I do. Is there anything else I need that I didnt know about?

isthatpoisontoo · 30/12/2015 15:50

Buy one now.

My Neato is the best thing I ever bought. It gets up way more dirt than my Dyson ever did, and you wouldn't even know I have a long haired partner and a cat. I don't have to dust as often, even the air seems cleaner.

We do have to get the hair off the brushes every now and again, but you have to do that with a normal vacuum, too. It's brilliant.

Be careful what you leave on the floor, though. My laptop survived being clambered over and vacuumed, fortunately!

Abraid2 · 30/12/2015 16:52

The Neato ones are the less heavily marketed version. I have been impressed with mine. I did some reading up on various forums and they seemed better reviewed. I am amazed with how much dirt there is in the dustbox when I empty it.

stealtheatingtunnocks · 30/12/2015 17:02

And, would it wander from room to room? Like, does it get stuck underneath things - like settees?

We have a pet budgie - seed everywhere. Love the stupid bird, but, had never thought of the joy of a robot hoover.

Would be way better than a cleaner who would see what a slattern I am

Original poster
ChinaSorrows · 30/12/2015 17:06

I'm so so happy!!

Thank you for all the feedback peeps with long hair/pets etc!

OP posts:
DyslexicScientist · 30/12/2015 17:12

Op did you buy one? I'm actually tempted to even though I'm unemployed. Amazon's returns are quite good

sykadelic · 30/12/2015 17:13

If you're willing to wait Dyson is bringing out a really expensive one soon and it looks awesome :) www.dyson360eye.com/

DyslexicScientist · 30/12/2015 17:22

Dyson stuff is massively overpriced IMO.

I've just bought the neato thanks for the advice Lady's, 220 and delivered tomorrow

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