Top Consumer Reports Vacuum Cleaners Reviews
Review for iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver
After conducting an in-depth review on the variety of consumer reports vacuum cleaners, I decided to finally choose a robotic vacuum to see how it would perform within my household.
I am a full-time wife to my dearest husband and mom to an adorable one-year old boy. And aside from cooking, cleaning and maintaining our home is one of the most challenging responsibilities ever given to me.
My son is on the stage when he is becoming more and more active. He would crawl almost everywhere so I basically have to make it free from germs and bacteria. On the other hand, I want to please my husband with a clean and fresh environment after a stressful day at work. There’s never a thing more relaxing than a spotless home and good food.
Though you may not believe this, one day is simply not enough to do all these chores. Sometimes, I even think that I should have someone help me out such as a housekeeper. But I said no. I can do this. Plus, it would have been more costly if we hire one. So, I talked to my husband to get a robotic vacuum cleaner. With this vacuum, I won’t have to clean the house all day long. I can spend more time with my son and perfecting my cooking skills.
My husband agreed. But he said that I should research first on what robotic vacuum cleaner to buy. And so I did. After a thorough research, I chose iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver. It is simply perfect for me and our home. Why? Let me tell you about my research and experience with this iRobot.
What to Look for in a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Before I did my research on robotic vacuum cleaners, I was literally clueless on what to expect with it. All I know was that it can clean by itself. But of course, that’s the main purpose for it. But with my research, I rediscovered what to look for in this type of vacuum. And you’re quite lucky, because I will discuss it with you lengthily.
- Types of Flooring (that it can clean)
- Level of Artificial Intelligence
- Navigation System
- Battery Life
Aside from your budget, these four factors can be your guide to choosing a ‘smart’ robotic vacuum. Don’t just settle for a cheap gadget because you’ll never know when you have to replace with a new one again.
The next sections will describe how the iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver excels in these four criteria.
What Types of Floors Do You Have at Home?
In buying a robotic vacuum, you have to consider the types of floors you have at home. Do you have concrete or hardwood floors? Perhaps vinyl? But whatever it is, you can count on the iRobot 560 Roomba. It efficiently
Unlike the iRobot, there are vacuum cleaners that cannot clean a particular type of flooring. In fact, if you opt to buy older and cheaper models in the market, you’ll find that these vacuums cannot actually clean carpets and make it really spotless.
Consequently, you have to check what floorings you have at home. And of course, don’t forget to check the specs of the robotic vacuum that you prefer. You might be surprised and get disappointed with your purchase.
Artificial Intelligence and Navigation System—Is Your Robotic Vacuum Smart Enough?
Probably, the most controversial issue among these vacuums is its intelligence. Is it smart enough to go about your house and clean under the tables and beds? Can you trust it not to entangle itself with your rugs or bump itself on the walls? Of course, manufacturers would tell you that it is smart. But how can you be sure?
The answer is read reviews. It’s the only way to know if a robotic vacuum cleaner really does have a capable internal system. I did this during my research and I could say that it really does help in making decisions and cutting down your choices.
And guess what? iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuum cleaners really have great reviews on the Internet. And since I’ve already tried and tested it, I can just add to the great reviews it has.
First, it really has good navigation system. It’s really smart not to bump on the walls of our house. And from what I’ve observed, it easily learned the flooring plan of our home. Take note: We have three bedrooms and the robotic vacuum can clean each without any fuss.
Second, I haven’t yet encountered a scenario when I have to untangle it with the rugs. I’ve read on the reviews that other brands can be messy with rugs. But with the anti-tangle technology found in the iRobot, you won’t have any problems with untangling.
Lastly, it’s definitely easy to use. All I have to do is push a button to make it do its work. At times, if I really want to have a good go with the floors, I can just program it. In just a few minutes, everything is just spotless. And after its job is done, it will just quietly and automatically dock with automatic docking system.
But of course, to prolong its life, you have to do proper maintenance after it has done its work. Just empty the dustbin (I promise you it’s really easy!) and remove the brushes. Dirt may clog on some areas so you better check and clean it.
Battery Life
Knowing how long the battery life is can make a good difference. You won’t want a robotic vacuum that will have to recharge again after just an hour. Plus, you need to choose vacuums that consume less power to conserve energy and lessen the monthly utility expenses.
Based from my experience, the iRobot 560 Roomba can clean continuously for 90 minutes, although it advertised 120 minutes of non-stop vacuuming. Nevertheless, that’s already good if you compare it with other robotic vacuums. Plus, since this iRobot automatically docks to its charger, you won’t have to worry if the cleaning is not yet done in 90 minutes. Definitely, there’s no need to check it.
Expected Price
In the Amazon market today, I’ve seen that a brand new iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuum, Black and Silver is being sold for $349. It actually has a list price of $449. So if you’ll compute it, you save $101 and that’s 22% off on your purchase. Now, that’s what you call a good deal.
Included in the package are:
- iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuum cleaner
- Self- charging home base
- Extra filter
- Two auto-virtual walls
Complaints
My only problem with the iRobot is the sidebrushes. It easily breaks and I have to replace it from time to time. When I contacted the manufacturer, they said that there is a new developed sidebrush which does not easily breaks as what’s included in the package.
