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Waaaay off topic.

When I retired at the start of this year, my wife said: "great! You can take over the floor vacuuming chores." With 4 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs in the house, that's a big job! Didn't take this old boy too long to figure out HOW big a job it is. So, being of the "work smarter not harder" mindset, i said to myself: "There's an app for that!" (Well, sorta. )

So I bought a Roomba - the little robot vacuum cleaner. (And before you bust my chops for not getting it for my wife when she was vacuuming, I need to let you know that I've been doing that job for a loooong time. It just became "official" when I retired.

Anyway, got this little thing and set it to run every day. It makes a world of difference! I got the old big heavy vac out and ran it one day, after having run only the Roomba for about a week to pick up what (I assumed) the Roomba was leaving behind. Guess what? There was nothing left for the big vac to pick up. The little Roomba was getting it all.

It does a really good job. Plus, it's a hoot to watch this thing work. It just rambles around, seemingly at random, just bumping into to stuff. Looks like a blind turtle as it just moves around and bumps into stuff, then just changes direction and keeps going. When it gets done, it automatically parks itself back on the charger and is ready to go again.

If you've been thinking about getting one, I highly recommend them. May not work in every situation, and may be a little pricey, but working out great for me.

Which model did you get and do you run it in hardwood floors or ceramic tile?

The 2 kids don't do vacuuming?

thatguyoverthere wrote:Waaaay off topic.

When I retired at the start of this year, my wife said: "great! You can take over the floor vacuuming chores." With 4 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs in the house, that's a big job! Didn't take this old boy too long to figure out HOW big a job it is. So, being of the "work smarter not harder" mindset, i said to myself: "There's an app for that!" (Well, sorta. )

So I bought a Roomba - the little robot vacuum cleaner. (And before you bust my chops for not getting it for my wife when she was vacuuming, I need to let you know that I've been doing that job for a loooong time. It just became "official" when I retired.

Anyway, got this little thing and set it to run every day. It makes a world of difference! I got the old big heavy vac out and ran it one day, after having run only the Roomba for about a week to pick up what (I assumed) the Roomba was leaving behind. Guess what? There was nothing left for the big vac to pick up. The little Roomba was getting it all.

It does a really good job. Plus, it's a hoot to watch this thing work. It just rambles around, seemingly at random, just bumping into to stuff. Looks like a blind turtle as it just moves around and bumps into stuff, then just changes direction and keeps going. When it gets done, it automatically parks itself back on the charger and is ready to go again.

If you've been thinking about getting one, I highly recommend them. May not work in every situation, and may be a little pricey, but working out great for me.

Yep, you're absolutely right. Can't say enough good about them. I got the 980 after having a 600 series for a while. Smart phone controllable, no brushes to get wrapped in hair, automatically adjusts power for changing surface types, get under the bed, brushes stuff away from the baseboards, does the entire house by recharging when it needs to and starting again wher it left off. It connects to the house wifi and updates its firmware automatically. And that random pattern? Gone. This thing is methodical including a camera it uses to map the area and improve efficiency over time. I don't even own a real vacuum anymore. If it's too tough for roomba, the shop vac and attachments come out!

Cost?

We've had our Roomba since December. The model I have doesn't connect with a smart phone. It does keep down the dog hair dust bunnies on the tile and hardwood floors. I programmed it to vacuum daily at 1PM. It goes back to the charging station most days. When it get's lost, we play "Where's Waldo". I "change Waldo's diaper" / empty the bin most afternoons. Every week or three, I turn on the air compressor and blow out the dust and lint.

Two dogs and two adults. Well 1 adult and me;-) No carpet.

I keep a regular vacuum for a more detail clean of the two large area rugs and the couch.

Cost:
They are available on Amazon
There are several models and lots of variation in price. And, lot's of reviews of the model in question.

Future plans
If it breaks, I'll fix it. If I can't, I'll replace it.

Oldgringo wrote:The 2 kids don't do vacuuming?

Oldgringo beat me to it.

I have the 880 and scooba for wet mopping our tile and hardwood love both, only draw back for me is to do whole house it takes a few more virtual walls and a better battery

I got the 850 model. Kind of middle of the line. Cost me $499. Probably could have found it cheaper but I bought it direct from Roomba. Works well on both carpet and hardwood.

Kids were doing their room, but our big vac is a big upright, so it took everything the 6 year old had to do it, so the 10 year old had to end up doing it all, and it was hard for him, too. So I would do the rest of the house. (But they still have plenty of other chores!)

Everybody else still works. That's why it became my job "officially" when I retired! I like my job much better now.

I've also heard they work great ... except if you have a pet that either poops or vomits on the floor. Then you have a mess tracked through the house!

I thought Roomba's required an on-board operator?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk4XB2wZqF4

Nobody mentioned that a 1911 duct taped to the top makes for a dedicated sentinel!

I have an older model Neato that works very well. It's nice to have it chase down the dust bunnies under the bed so I don't have to get down on my knees to do it. I'm sure it terrifies the house geckos too.

got the Neato model for the Wifey; Christmas present and it's been doing a great job.