The Dogmother Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Sounds brilliant Guys! I'd like one just for the day to see what it makes of my floorboards and masses of cat hair! There's also always lots of my own hair lying around - I moult like mad and managed to break 2 vacuum cleaners by clogging them up with it when I had waist-length hair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 I've got long hair too and am forever trying to untangle the vacuum cleaner innards I'm thinking if I got a Roomba would I be spending more time cleaning it than if I did the vacuuming myself anyway ?? (but I am still thinking of getting one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 it's made me feel a right mucky pup Clare. I used to clean every day (in the quiet days of self employment)Now it's grab a second so not the most thorough job. Mikey did a good clean every other weekend whilst I worked but this will save so much time. Oh and he'll have to have another job now BBxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 I've got long hair and my daughters have even longer hair so the Dyson brushes have to be cleared every week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 I take it the newer one talks? Mine just beeps. Never had a brush problem. The website says the new one can cope with rugs and cables-is that right? I'm convinced it's eaten some earrings but OH is adament it hasn't. Yep the newer one talks. Yep it can cope with cable and rugs If it had eaten your earrings, they would be in the dust "bin" thingy and would have been obvious, unless your model is significantly different. Louise....I got a spare brush and filter with mine. Cleaning the brushes is the work of 5 seconds.....no big deal at all. I'd be happy to do it every day and not have to push the hoover about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 There is hope people a friend on another forum (dont faint, yes there are others) bought a remanufactured Roomba for £50.00 from ebuyer. It doesnt sound perfect as she says Its dust capacity is quite small so need emptying after every room or so but its easy to do and it has a safty cut out if it gets too full. It doesn't recharge itself but it managed the downstairs of our house on one 4hour charge. but for the price putting it back on charge seems worth it.If they could train to pick up toys it would be worth it but for me by the time I've cleared the floor the vacuuming is a small amount of time in comparison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Well after reading this thread I went out and bought one from John Lewis yesterday, it cleaned the kitchen floor beautifully (we had forgotten what colour it was ) and it did the study while we were out at lunchtime. Am about to get it to tackle upstairs, I feel guilty overworking the poor thing! Our cats are not that impressed, one dog who is scared of the normal hoover doesn't mind this one, the other dog (elderly arthritic Cavalier King Charles) goes all puppy-like and pounces on poor Roomba! Thanks to everyone for all the good reviews that convinced me to buy it! I also bought an egg skelter after reading the other thread. Hubby's going to ban me from this site at this rate I really want a scooba too but can only find them on US sites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 There is hope people a friend on another forum (dont faint, yes there are others) bought a remanufactured Roomba for £50.00 from ebuyer. It doesnt sound perfect as she says Its dust capacity is quite small so need emptying after every room or so but its easy to do and it has a safty cut out if it gets too full. It doesn't recharge itself but it managed the downstairs of our house on one 4hour charge. but for the price putting it back on charge seems worth it.If they could train to pick up toys it would be worth it but for me by the time I've cleared the floor the vacuuming is a small amount of time in comparison If it is second hand it will likely be one of the older ones They recommend that the new ones are emptied after every couple of uses. It is the work of moments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Okay - I'm convinced (doesnt take much ) I've just ordered my Roomba 530 Must remember to tell CTB I've just saved him so much time and effort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Yay nice one! Mine got stuck under the bed yesterday afternoon, when I picked it up it said "Clean Roomba's brushes", I wasn't expecting it to say anything and nearly jumped out of me skin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I was feeling a bit down and so I have just re-read the Roomba threads. It is all Very funny and I have just laughed so uch I have tears rolling down my face. It has cheered me up no end. I STILL want one and am busy trying to save. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I really want a scooba too but can only find them on US sites I should get my Ebay one on Sunday....... I find OH does everything including emptying it and cleaning out the hair for some reason, so it is a lot easier than vacuuming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I find OH does everything including emptying it and cleaning out the hair for some reason, so it is a lot easier than vacuuming! Wow same here! OH has been happily emptying it etc and rather than thinking it's a chore, I guess he feels like he is playing with a gadget It's perfect isn't it! I was saying to my friend earlier, we need someone to invent a gadget which makes men take an interest in cleaning bathrooms too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 The only way that my OH would take an interest in cleaning the bathroom was if a bevvy of beauties were all smiling at him from the bath ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 The only way that my OH would take an interest in cleaning the bathroom was if a bevvy of beauties were all smiling at him from the bath ! I make mine bath the dog (cos I cant lift her) and then he HAS to clean the bathroom afterwards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 Blimey I just clicked on this thread and for some reason I read Chelsea's message that Roomba bathed the dog, I thought, wow I want that model! Mind you would also be handy if OH would bath dog! I need a bigger dog so I can use the "can't lift" excuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 We have the Scooba it needs a 16 hour charge *impatiently stamps feet* (4 hours full charge thereafter) Its previous owner got rid on Ebay as ended up with 2 It is a slightly bigger diameter and height than the roomba. It comes with some cleaning fluid Clorox (apparently known among users as "Scooba juice") that does 3 washes. You measure out the stuff then fill the rest of the tank with water (or put in less as in the instructions) for a smaller room. It also takes white vinegar but it says other things can damage the electricals or cause foaming (and voids warranty). From the manual...it is safe on tile, lino, vinyl, marble, slate, stone and sealed hardwood. It is not recommended for unfinished or unsealed hard floor surfaces, carpet, rugs or waxed floors. These surfaces may be damaged by water (an unsealed floor does not have a coat of ployurethane to protect the subflooring from water damage). ...it is not safe for use with laminate flooring which may be damaged by wet cleaning methods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Ooh exciting! Please let u sknow how you get on (in 16 hours time ) We have some beigey stone tiles (limestone?) and some wooden floorboards that I think are varnished not waxed, so am keen to know how you get on with Scooba, sounds like it should be great! I read somewhere that sourcing the Clorox is tricky as P&P a fortune to the UK but hopefully vinegar works well instead. (Or we'll all be taking weekend breaks to the US to bring back suitcases of the stuff!) cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Ooh exciting! Please let u sknow how you get on (in 16 hours time ) No pressure then Hoping the charger works actually as having teething problems with the US-UK transformer. The charging light keeps going out. May need to buy another transformer and wait another 16 hours Our Roomba is American and after about unsucessful attempts with 2 transformers OH bought an external charger where you take out the battery and charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 9, 2008 Author Share Posted March 9, 2008 I read somewhere that sourcing the Clorox is tricky They often have it on Ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Oh no don't make me wait more than 16 hours! Actually was tempted to import one or something but don't really understand the difference between UK and US electricity, sounds like it's ok if you know what you are doing and how to diagnose a problem. Aha of course, might have known Ebay would have scooba juice. Oh dear that's another barrier to buying one lifted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I think I will seriously have to consider the scooba when it becomes available in the uk - looking forward to your reviews! My Roomba has just arrived by courier so am off to get it on charge straight away *impatient? Moi?* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Looking forward to hearing your Roomba and Scooby 'action' . I am actually excited about hearing the latest. (Is that sad ?) HURRY - up with the charging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Can't try out for hours Do you think OH will be upset if I use it before he gets home The forum is on tenterhooks The charging seems fine, the charging light was OK after being plugged in a while. You plug the american 2 prong plug into the transformer and the trasnformer into the mains. I can check what transformer we have, it is from Maplins. The electricity (voltage?) is different. Other differences with Roomba are that there is no spot clean. After cleaning it dries itself out on a special cycle which you can start by pressing "clean" again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Can't try out for hoursDo you think OH will be upset if I use it before he gets home The forum is on tenterhooks The charging seems fine, the charging light was OK after being plugged in a while. You plug the american 2 prong plug into the transformer and the trasnformer into the mains. I can check what transformer we have, it is from Maplins. The electricity (voltage?) is different. Other differences with Roomba are that there is no spot clean. After cleaning it dries itself out on a special cycle which you can start by pressing "clean" again No hubby will be FINE - JUST blame us ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
