Even though the iRobot Roomba can clean your floors well, it’s not able to clean itself. It’s up to you to keep your Roomba clean enough to do a good job around your house. It doesn’t take a lot of work to maintain a Roomba, but you will have follow a simple routine every once in a while.
Here’s a few good tips about how to clean your iRobot Roomba:
Cleaning the Bin
Empty the bin after every cleaning cycle. If you’re too busy to do this, you should empty it immediately after the red indicator light illuminates to show the bin is full. Remove the bin by simply pressing the bin release tab. Hold it over a trash bag or trash can and open the small bin door to get rid of the dirt inside.
Cleaning the Filters
Cleaning the filters is important to maximize the robot’s consistency. You should clean them at least once per week and twice if your home has many pets. Replacing the filter after every two months is important. If you have any breathing trouble or allergies, you may need to change the filter more frequently to keep your home’s air quality high.
To remove the filter, start by removing the vacuum bin, then press and lift the filter door’s release tab. Grasp the yellow tab to help you remove the filter. Shake off all debris by tapping the filter against a trash container. If anything is still stuck on the filter, rinse it off under the sink and let it dry before replacing it.
Cleaning the Debris Extractors
If you’re using your robot cleaner in a home with many pets, you should clean your debris extractors after every three months. Homes without pets can go for at least four months between cleanings. Simply pinch the yellow extractor’s frame release tab, then lift up the robot’s extractors frame and remove all the obstructions. Remove debris or any pet hair which may have collected under the caps and around the cleaners’ metal axles. Then take debris and hair from the extractors and the square plastic pegs on all the sides of the extractors.
Cleaning the Sensors
Cleaning the bin and cliff sensors once in a week is important. Wipe the Roomba’s cliff sensors using a clean, dry cloth, then move on to the bin sensors and the sensor ports with the same cloth.
Cleaning the Front Wheel
You should clean the front wheel at least once a week, so that it can keep driving around without trouble. Start by pulling firmly on your robot’s front wheel to remove it. Clear out the debris that might have gotten stuck inside the front cavity. The next step involves removing the front wheel out of its housing. To do this you need to push it through from the underside. Clear all hair wrapped around your robot’s wear guards.
In case the robot wheels are not rotating normally, use one hand to grab the wheel by placing one finger over the wear guard and pull the other closed wear guard using the other hand. This removes the axle from the wheel. Then clear away any debris and hair from the wheel and axle assembly. Lastly, reinstall the robot’s wear guards and the shaft assembly back to the front wheel and then the wheel to its housing.
Cleaning the Spinning Side Brush
Clean iRobot Roomba’s spinning side brush at least once a week. You can do this at the same time as you clean the front wheel. Remove the screw and set it in a safe place where you’ll remember it. To remove it, use a small screw driver or a coin. After you do this, the brush will just pop out. Remove the brush and ensure that there is no hair or debris stuck inside of it. Removing the hair prevents damage that can happen to the brush.
Minor clogs can cause the Roomba to use more energy to make the brush turn. Keeping the brush free of hair will be a great advantage to you. If there is more debris or hair stuck inside the robot’s inner brush, you will have to apply force to loosen it. A great idea is to use a paper clip.
Cleaning the Front Cover
The Roomba’s front cover may be fairly clean, but wiping dust from the cover is important. To do this, just use a rag or a dry paper towel. You won’t need to use any fluids. It may also be important to wipe off any dust that has accumulated on the top sensor or the eyes.
Flip It Over
After cleaning the front cover, you should turn your Roomba over and clean the bottom. Immediately after you flip it over, place it on a soft surface to avoid damaging the top sensor. Repeat what you did for the top cover and wipe any dust that might have accumulated on the bottom of the cleaner. There is probably more dust here than there was on the top, and that’s normal.
Wipe off the little sensors around the bottom, which are usually located towards the Roomba’s front. These are more eyes that warn the robot to slow down when it gets close to an object, so it’s best to keep them working well! They also warn the robot about any impending drops, and cleaning them ensures that your Roomba remain to be a single piece instead of falling down the stairs.
Cleaning the Main Brushes
Cleaning the main brushes is an important task. To clean them, gently open the tray which holds them in place and then remove both brushes. One of them is made of solid rubber and therefore you only need to wipe clean using a cloth. There are people, who squirt some cleaning fluid on the cleaning cloth, but this isn’t important – a dry cloth will work just as well. The second brush consists of bristles and it is the one that gets entangled with hair and all manner of debris.
The iRobot Roomba might have come with a small device for cleaning this brush. However, you can use your hands to pick it clean as well. Each brush comes with a small removable yellow cap at the end. Remove the caps and check for any debris. You should also know that the bristle brush may have lots of hair jammed in the little cap. Removing this hair is important because the debris can lead to some damages similar to what you expect with the side brush. After cleaning, put the caps and the brushes back to place. Be sure to close the tray properly when you’re done.
Cleaning the Charging Contact Points
For your robot to maintain its maximum performance, you should clean the charging contact points every time before you charge it. To do this, simply wipe the contacts using a clean, dry cloth.
How Long Does It Take to Clean an iRobot Roomba?
Fortunately, the cleaning process doesn’t take long after you get used to it. Regardless of how thorough the cleaning is, you should expect it to take between 10 and 20 minutes for a complete Roomba cleaning, head to toe. You can clean the robot after each and every cleaning cycle if you want to keep it in tip-top shape, particularly when your home has lots of pet hair or your own long hairs laying on the floor. As long as you follow the recommended maintenance times, your iRobot Roomba should last for a long time and clean well.
