I’m In Love!
That headline probably grabbed your attention. I’m genuinely in love — with Bob. He’s changed my daily life and I can’t imagine being without him. My routine and home just wouldn’t be the same.
Before you picture juicy gossip about my love life, let me explain.
About ten years ago, while lying on the couch sick and too weak to move, I watched the home shopping network. They were demonstrating a robot vacuum called a Roomba and I laughed out loud. Who would believe a tiny robot could actually clean? I was highly skeptical.
Fast forward eight years and I’m eating my words. I finally opened a Roomba I’d bought for a friend dealing with allergies. I’d watched demos for years but still doubted. Since vacuuming daily can help allergy sufferers, I thought a Roomba might make a difference for them.
The return policy gave me two months to test it, so I decided to try it myself first. The first evening I spent most of the time watching the Roomba work and laughing at how wrong my skepticism had been. The little machine cleaned tirelessly and did an impressive job.
My house hadn’t looked that good in ages. It navigated around cords, reached under furniture where my other vacuum couldn’t, followed baseboards closely, and trotted under the bed to gather dust bunnies.
The next day I called my neighbor to come see Bob. He’s like a proud new baby I wanted to show off. We stood watching him run, then went into my office for a few minutes. When we came back, the floor literally sparkled. My neighbor immediately asked for the details so she could get one for her home and her parents’ house.
That was two years ago. Bob is still going strong and surprises me daily with how well he cleans. My neighbor, her parents, and my parents all now own Roombas and are thrilled with them. When I visit my dad in Colorado he thanks me, saying how much it has helped my mom.
Here are questions I had when I first got a Roomba. If you’re seriously ill or care for elderly parents, this appliance is a real help if you can afford it. I don’t promote products often and I’m not paid to recommend this, but I had to share my experience.
My Questions And Answers:
Does the Roomba clean hardwood floors?
Yes. I originally hesitated because my home has hardwood floors, but the Roomba handles them well and transitions smoothly from rugs to hard surfaces. It cleans better than a Swiffer or mop and doesn’t leave any residue. I check with a white cloth and it comes up clean—works on all floor types.
Do I have to move everything out of its path?
No. The Roomba slows near delicate furniture and navigates around obstacles without causing damage.
What about stairs?
No problem. It has cliff sensors that stop it at the edge and turn it around, so I use it confidently around stairways.
Can I leave it running when I’m not home?
Yes. You can set it up and let it go while you’re out. Many people schedule it to run during the day and enjoy coming home to freshly vacuumed floors.
Why “Bob”?
Many owners name their Roombas — maybe because the robot seems personable and even communicates status messages. It’s user-friendly; I had no trouble learning the controls.
Any cons?
Few. You need to clean the brushes periodically, which takes about ten minutes. That’s far less work than hauling and operating a full-size vacuum. The first time I cleaned the brushes I felt clumsy, but the parts pop in and out easily after a couple of tries. Some Roombas may have issues with very dark or black surfaces; my model handled most dark areas fine, though it would avoid a solid black throw rug.
Where to buy one?
Shop around for the best price. I’ve seen Roombas at major retailers, and I bought mine during a special deal that included accessories. Models vary in price and features; mine cost about $265 and came with extras. You don’t need the top-of-the-line version to get excellent results.
An unexpected bonus:
Bob doesn’t just clean floors — he motivates me. Watching him work inspires me to tackle other chores. While he vacuums the living room, I’ll often wash dishes or tidy the kitchen, so two rooms get cleaned in the time it used to take to clean one.
Once I had to leave for a trip three days early with only a few hours to prepare. The house was a mess from holiday baking and wrapping. I set up Bob and packed; by the time I finished, the Roomba had vacuumed the house and it looked great.
Recently my computer crashed and I told a friend I was “taking a break because I’ve been cleaning like crazy — Bob is in my bedroom now.” She laughed, and so did I when I realized how much he’s changed my habits.
I don’t think anything has improved my life, cleaning routine, or made things easier quite like Bob.
-Jill
photo by: eiriknewth