“Leave your workout to the gym – iRobot has got your home covered” – has got to be one of the best email subject lines that’s landed in my inbox in recent times. It certainly had me intrigued. Keep reading for my full iRobot Roomba i5+ Robot Vacuum review and to see if the Roomba lived up to the email subject line!
I’ve now had the i5+ for over two years, so I’ve updated the post based on my experience over the two years including what replacements parts I’ve need to buy and the costs associated.
Why Do You Need a Robot Vacuum?
Now, getting a robot vacuum cleaner was something I had been considering for a while. However, when it comes to technology purchases, I like to get a review from someone I know who has the item and can vouch for the brand. Also, anyone check Amazon to verify if a brand is real / decent / trustworthy (*delete as appropriate)?
A robot vacuum cleaner is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to keep their home clean without having to lift a finger. Adulting is non stop, so something relieving me of a task or two is more than welcome. This is one gift I wouldn’t mind getting for Christmas or a birthday!
These machines are designed to work autonomously, so you won’t need to worry about them getting lost or breaking down. They also come with a variety of features that make them more efficient than traditional vacuums.
What Features Does the iRobot Roomba i5+ Have?
One of the main reasons people choose a robot vacuum cleaner is because of its ability to clean hard floorsBut they’re actually also ideal for homes with carpets, rugs, and other floor coverings. My flat is mainly hard floors with rugs, mats and one carpeted room.
The iRobot Roomba i5+ is able to navigate and learn its way around the space, creating maps as it does so. It cleans in neat rows, gently bumping into things to figure out where to stop or turn.
With the app, you can create your favourite routines – currently mine are ‘vacuum everywhere’, ‘clean kitchen’ and ‘vacuum living room’. You can also create schedules so the vacuuming gets done when needed.
Also, the Roomba i5+:
- connects to Alexa or Google Home to allow you to use with voice commands
- automatically updates with new features via the WiFi connection
How Does the Roomba i5+ Work? Your Questions Answered.
The Roomba works by using sensors to detect obstacles and then moving around them. It uses two motors to move forward and backward. One motor moves the unit back and forth while the other rotates the brush roll. The Roomba has an internal map of its environment so it knows where to go next.
It was pretty fascinating watching it the first time I let it loose in my flat. It’s much smarter than you think it’s gonna be… Once you’ve placed the base in its permanent position, the Roomba i5+ knows where to find it to return after it’s done its job, whether it started from the base or not.
I posted a story on Instagram to find out what everyone wanted to know about robot vacuums. Here are some of the most common questions I was asked:
What types of floors does it work on and does it actually clean well?
As mentioned, it covers all floor types. In my open plan living space, I have hard floors, a large rug and a large indoor cycling mat under my turbo trainer and bike. It navigates across all of these with ease.
And yes, I was surprised at how well it cleans. It’s definitely more thorough than me….
How well does it clean corners? How good is it to get into nooks and crannies?
This is a great question actually. Mine has learnt where everything is, and if it can fit through the gap it does. As you can see in the pictures below, it goes around my indoor cycling trainer table. It also goes through my dining chairs, under the sofa and around the legs… basically vacuuming places that I actually can’t reach.
It’s hard to articulate how it gets into corners, but it does. The fact it works ini straight lines helps and also the way it circles itself in the corner allowing the brushes to reach.
The less stuff you have on the ground (I have a habit of accumulating things) the better a job it can do.
Is it good for pet hair?
I don’t have any pets to test this with, but the iRobot site does say it works well with pet hair. If you do have a pet, I’d be sure to choose a robot vacuum that specifically says it works for pet hair.
Does it get stuck behind things?
I thought it would and sometimes I still think it will, but to date, it hasn’t. It rolls over and through my laptop table pretty well and once it knows there is an obstacle, it works around it.
A couple of times I’v been alerted that it’s on a cliff edge (dramatic much?!) which usually means it’s on the rug and got scared to take the tiny leap off. It actually makes me laugh.
How often do you have to empty it?
The model I have comes with the Clean Base® Automatic Dirt Disposal (sold separately for the i Series), which allows the Roomba i5+ Robot Vacuum to empty itself for up to 60 days. The bag goes in the base, and when it comes time to change it, you slide it out and slide a new one in.
In the two years that I’ve had the Roomba i5+ I’ve replaced the bag two or three times, using the two bags supplied and then buying spares from amazon. Once I changed the bag for my own peace of mind as I was trying to battle some moths and got worried they would enjoy living in the dust in the bag.
How often it needs changing though will vary depending on the size of the area the vacuum covers, the amount of dust and dirt it picks up and how often you vacuum.
how much does it cost?
You have two options for this model, the Roomba i5+ or the Roomba i5 (without the base and self emptying feature). At the time of writing this post, the Roomba i5 is £399 direct from iRobot while the i5+ is £589.
You can now get the Roomba Combo® i5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop which sounds epic! The Roomba i5+ available on Amazon, along with other models.
In terms of costs too, the price for new bags and replacement parts has been really reasonable. I didn’t need to purchase anything for well over a year. Here are the spare and replacement parts I’ve purchased to date that have worked for me:
what score would you give it out of 10?
The last question from my Instagram story is this one; what score would I give the Roomba i5+ out of 10. When I first got it, I rated it 8/10 but now, two years later, I’d give it a solid 9/10.
It’s been so easy to use and covers my entire flat, including bedroom, hallway and bathroom. While my property was on the market it was amazing to know that the vacuuming was being done regularly to keep the property looking great.
The plan is to move into a dual floor property soon and I think I’m gonna have to buy an additional robot vacuum so I have one on each floor. It’ll be a good time to try out the mop combo, huh?!
The Roomba vacuum cleaner has been around for some time now, and seems to be one of the most popular robot vacuums on the market.
The iRobot Roomba i5+ is easy to use, affordable, and pretty darn effective at cleaning floors; dare I say, better than me!
Is a robot vacuum on your wish list? Or do you already have one?
Elle
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