Cleaning a 1st or 2nd Generation Roomba

A clean robot is a happy robot!

Step 1 Background

Dust and debris are big problems for our automated friends. Auto does not mean maintenance free my friends. This particular robot was rescued - off to the landfill it was. It's last owners abused this robot, we almost called Children and Robot Protective Services to make sure no other robots were in the house.

Naturally, the first thing I discovered was the robot's diagnostic mode... this was before I knew such a mode existed. Here's information on Diagnostic Mode for the older generation. Pay close attention to over current warnings as these will cause damage in the long run.

Below you'll see the classic Roomba spiral footprint on my ugly apartment carpet.

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iRobot recommends cleaning every 2-3 cycles (the original manual says 5-10 cycles I think). Die hard Roomba owners clean their brushes every use. Not to worry though, it takes a few minutes - much less time than vacuuming would. Cleaning keeps everything running more efficiently, cooler and thus allows a longer robot life.

Comments

[sasgty9]

how good exactly are these roombas? I figured they were just a gimmick when they first came out.

[trebuchet03]

The new ones are better (I'm told quieter too) but.... Don't think of it as a deep cleaning vacuum - it's not. Think of it more like a "dust buster" vacuum of sorts. So, give it a mess and one chance - you'll hate it, but that's not what it's for. If you start off with a good vacuum with a traditional vacuum, then send the roomba off every day, or every other day (even every three days depending on traffic), and it will work wonders :D Just be sure to clean it semi frequently (which only takes a few minutes). It's the sort of thing that once you get used to it, you wonder why you didn't start earlier (or how you lived without it :p).

[ProBiotic]

I get roomba parts from the iRobot store. Is the ebay site cheaper? New wheels at iRobot are less than $10 (plus shipping). jj

[canida]

Very useful! We have to do this after every run, but then we probably don't vacuum frequently enough and I've got long hair.

[trebuchet03]

Apparently they have one's that you can schedule now :P Crazy stuff :P

[canida]

Yes, but you have to clean up before letting Roomba run! We don't live in such a state on a regular basis.

[trebuchet03]

We don't live in such a state on a regular basis.

You'd feel right at home here then :P Part of my reasoning for keeping the thing is to maintain some form of neatness.... Company likes neatness - never mind the creative chaos I thrive in :P

[Erik Lindemann]

Mister master of Roomba knowledge, you wouldn't just so happen to know where to get spare Roomba wheels would you? But of the ones on mine ripped and now it doesn't move at all. That the only reason why I stopped using mine.

[trebuchet03]

Haha, I'm no master ;) I've had the thing less than a week - long enough to find it's weak points and relish how great it can be. Like a dishwasher or cloths washing machine, one of those things that some people really don't want to live without :P

I would contact "RECON_SUPPLY_STORE" over on the Roomba Review's Forum. S/he has an eBay store and sells genuine Roomba replacement parts :)

Alternatively, you could probably use stick on rubber feet as long as they are short enough :P

[bobbyk881]

whare do you get these???

[trebuchet03]

To be honest, It was luck finding it... It didn't come with the virtual wall though... Nothing a 2x4 won't fix :P