Review of IRobot Roomba 550 Vacuum
As an allergy sufferer and a resident of dusty, often windy New Mexico, being able to vacuum regularly is particularly important to me. After much comparison shopping, my husband chose to purchase the Roomba for $399.95 from Hammacher Schlemmer, which offers a lifetime guarantee on the product. While the price of the vacuum did seem quite high, my husband pointed out that it would save us valuable time on vacuuming. Still, I was a little skeptical about how well such a small unit could actually pick up dirt.
When the Roomba arrived, we found that it was easy to set up and program for scheduled cleanings. At the scheduled times, the Roomba will take a spin around the house and then return to its self-charging base when it has finished cleaning. The Roomba vacuums my home more thoroughly than I ever used to do with my upright vacuum. When we empty the bagless dustbin and clean the rollers, which must be done regularly and takes only a couple minutes, my husband and I are always amazed by the amount of much dust, crumbs, and hair that the Roomba has captured.
At only five inches tall, the unit easily maneuvers into difficult-to-reach areas such as under furniture, and its cleaning head automatically adjusts to transition between different surfaces, such as the ceramic tile and carpet that we have throughout our home. Its spinning side brushes capture dust from baseboards and wall edges, and its high-speed, counter-rotating brushes pick up pet hair, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. Further, since the Roomba is equipped with incredible sensors that prompt it to slow down as it approaches obstacles, it does not scuff up walls or furniture, nor does it fall down stairs. While the Roomba does have anti-tangle technology– it automatically reverses the direction of its brushes to extract items like cords– it does occasionally get stuck on certain items like rugs, dog toys and shoes. As long as my husband and I make sure everything is picked up from the floor when we leave the house in the morning, this is not an issue. Even when the Roomba does get stuck, the inconvenience is only minor.
Not surprisingly, my husband’s favorite Roomba feature is its remote control. During our first few days with the Roomba, he would intentionally drop crumbs on the floor and then use the remote control to make the Roomba pick them up. He has also been known to use the remote control to make the Roomba slowly chase our puppy Max around the house. Max and Roomba, by the way, are best friends, so if the fact that you have a pet is making you hesitant to purchase the Roomba, fear not. The two should be able to coexist in harmony.
In short, while the Roomba may seem cost-prohibitive, the time that it will save you on vacuuming really makes it a steal, and its suction ability is just as strong, if not stronger, than most upright vacuums. After five months of use, I remain a totally satisfied customer. To hear what others have to say about the Roomba 550, visit amazon.com or roombareview.com. For videos of the Roomba in action, visit youtube.com and search “Roomba 550”.
