Roomba Vacuum Review

The reason we needed the Roomba.

I’ve heard it said the best presents are those you give that you would like to keep for yourself. So I did exactly that when I bought my husband a Roomba robot vacuum for his birthday.

Ladies, here it is. . .

10 reasons you NEED a Roomba vacuum.

1. It’s Cheaper than a Housekeeper

Where I live in Southern California it’s in the $100+ range to have a house cleaned (this varies based on size of home, who your cleaners are, etc.). Why shell out $100 every week, every other week, or once a month, when for a little over $300, you can get a in-home dedicated vacuuming professional? I realize the Roomba can’t clean toilets and wash windows; it’s no substitute for an all-over house cleaning (which I heartily recommend, budget permitting). For a mere $5.77 per week (skip Starbucks) in one year you could save up the amount necessary for a basic robot vacuum. If I were more of a math person, I would multiply $100 x 52 and subtract $300 and then state for those who’ve been contemplating getting cleaning help, think of the money you’ll save by instead getting a robot.

You have to admit this is a cool design for a vacuum.

2. Kids Love it and Will Use It

I have never seen my teenage stepson willingly go get the Dyson and begin vacuuming. In fact, during our three years as a family, I think I saw him vacuum once, as a result of an accident in the kitchen. A moment ago this otherwise non-fastidious boy just picked up the Roomba and set it down in the family room. Maybe it reminds him of playing with remote control cars. I don’t know and I don’t care. The point is someone other than me is vacuuming and it’s FUN!!!

3. Support Science Education

Those of you with children in your home, listen up. Maybe your robot vacuum will inspire your child to pursue a career in the sciences. (Note to self: talk to principal to see if the science teachers can teach the robotics units with Roombas and test them out in all classrooms, starting with Room 31).

4. It’s Entertaining

I don’t know why, but the video I first saw on Facebook of the cat dressed in a shark suit riding a robot vacuum cracked me up. If you’ve never seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it.

5. Healthy Cleaning for Allergy Sufferers

If you have allergies like me (to dust and dust mites) it’s important to keep your home as dust-free as possible. The irony is that in order to keep the dust at bay, one must vacuum. As one vacuums, the dust is partially stirred up. Why not take yourself out of the dust equation and outsource vacuuming to a non-allergy suffering robot?

6. Robots Go Where Humans Can’t

While I was in the pre-purchase research stage, I talked to Roomba owners. One lovely couple from Pasadena who hosted a going-away party for a friend who was moving to South Carolina had a Roomba. I asked them if they liked it and I believe they responded with the word “love.” I asked why and one of the reasons was that it is low to the ground and can get all the dust and dirt from under the sofa, chairs, and in their case, under their Viking stove. Try that with your big vacuum. Not even my Dyson could do that. Think of the implications for not just allergy sufferers, but also for seniors or people with bad backs who can’t easily move heavy furniture or Viking stoves around.

7. Wave of the Future

I never really watched The Jetsons (too busy pining for a horse and sci-fi’s not really my thing), but I think they had a robot maid. In the words of the Pasadena couple, “A regular vacuum cleaner is so 1990s.” They were the ones who first informed me the robot had its own charging pad and they program it to clean while they are at work. They also said when the robot is done vacuuming it returns to its charger. That’s when I knew I had to have one; I want to come home to a clean house!

8. “Robots Don’t Make Mistakes”

Those words were uttered by my niece Jamie when I “babysat” her and my nephew several years ago when both my sister and brother-in-law had surgery during the same week. I asked Jamie if she was nervous about her mom going under the knife (it was not a cosmetic procedure, by the way, even though she did live in Boca Raton). My sister’s doctor was going to use the DaVinci Robot and my niece was apparently very unconcerned.

How many times have we imperfect human vacuum handlers nicked furniture or bumped into walls and damaged something ever-so-slightly? The robot is very gentle and consistent. Aunt Mary’s antique trunk and your dining room chair legs will stay beautiful longer.

9. A Robot Will Make You a Better Equestrian, Cook, Writer, Tennis Player, Parent, Spouse, Etc.

The point is that when women have one less household task to do, they are freed up to do more important things whether its a much-loved hobby or simply investing in relationships. I’m all for that!

10. Less Household Stress for People Who Love Dogs and Also Like Clean Homes

I’ve heard it said that cleanliness is next to godliness; that’s not in the Bible. And I know for a fact I’ve not been entirely godly when I’ve had “poor me” thoughts swirling through my brain as I have almost daily grabbed a damp paper towel to wipe the ubiquitous Golden Retriever tumbleweeds from the corners of the family room and kitchen steps. Tigger, our retriever, is my husband’s dream dog.

I’ve often thought, “It must be nice to be a man coming home to a clean house.” I’ve been the invisible maid. I know that no one else in my home knows the frequency with which I kneel down to wipe up Tigger hair.  The other members of my family THINK they live in a clean house; only I have known the true story.

When I’m not cleaning up after the golden fur, Tigger is equally my and my husband’s dog. When I have to constantly clean after his blond locks, Tigger becomes solely my husband’s dog. “Your dog sheds more than my dog.” My dog is a sensible, low-shedding and protective Doberman.

With our joyous new birthday gift I’m happy to say goodbye to resentment and hello to Tigger, whom I will now always claim as MY dog too.

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• 3 More Reasons Everyone Needs a Robot Vacuum (susanfriedlandsmith.com)