Some people are content with where they are in life.
Not me.
Hell, I’m not even content with my Roomba.
Sure, my home’s cleaner than it used to be…
But I’ve always felt like the Roomba can do better.
And I was right.
Do you want to learn how?
Keep reading to discover:
- 19 easy tips and tricks to get the most out of your Roomba.
- How to maintain your Roomba to ensure that it cleans better.
- Where you should place your Roomba so that it covers more of your home.
- A newbie’s guide to Smart Mapping and other features on the Roomba app.
- And so much more…
How do I get the most out of my Roomba?
You can get the most out of your Roomba by cleaning it regularly and using it frequently. You should also use features like Scheduling, Smart Maps, Quiet Clean, and Keep Out Zones. Roomba also has a voice assistant feature that allows you to use your voice to control it.
19 Roomba tips and tricks
#1: Clean your robot vacuum
Your Roomba may be responsible for cleaning your home…
But you should also be responsible for cleaning your Roomba.
Why?
Roombas can suck dust and gunk, but not all of the litter go straight to the bin.
Some of them get stuck on the interior parts of your vacuum.
After some time, these stuck gunk and dirt can build up, blocking the sensors.
Causing your vacuum to be confused…
And sometimes run around in circles.
To clean your Roomba, simply:
- Flip it.
- Place it on a soft surface.
- Fetch a dry microfiber cloth.
- Lightly brush all of its sensor openings.
#2: Untangle your wheels and brushes regularly
Speaking of cleaning your vacuum, here’s another tip…
Make sure that nothing is blocking your Roomba’s wheels and brushes.
Look out for:
- Fur.
- Cords.
- Strands of hair.
Basically, any item that can go around anything that spins on your Roomba.
Why?
Because entanglement with these objects can clog your Roomba’s spinning mechanisms.
#3: Learn how to disassemble your Roomba
When you own something…
It’s good that you learn how to disassemble it.
You might ask:
“But why? I can always go to technicians to have it fixed when needed.”
And you’re right.
However, sometimes it might take more time than doing it yourself
Plus, all the necessary tools and instructions for repair are all online?
Wait, what’s that? You want me to teach you?
Sure.
Let me point you to this video from iRobot disassembling a Roomba:
#4: Only use in dry areas
I used to watch my father repair our gadgets when I was a kid.
Do you know what he always said?
“Water and electronics don’t mix.”
It seems trivial, I know. But it’s a good rule of thumb when I’m unsure if something is waterproof or not.
And Roomba is definitely not waterproof.
That’s right. Despite being able to clean almost any surface…
The one place your Roomba shouldn’t go?
Anywhere near water.
#5: Quiet Clean
Here’s the thing about Roombas:
They’re loud. Really, really loud.
No, not the “this is inconvenient”-type of loud. The noise they produce is borderline dangerous.
Don’t believe me? Okay. Let’s lay out the facts.
According to CDC, noise above 70 dB can damage your hearing.
How loud is a Roomba? A user sought to answer that question.
And what he found was alarming.
Here’s how Roomba fares against other sounds:
Decibel | Sound |
30 | Soft whisper. |
60 | Normal conversation. |
64 | Roomba while cleaning. |
75-80 | Heavy traffic at an intersection. |
85 | Roomba on the self-cleaning dock. |
105-110 | Dog barking on your ears. |
So what can you do about this?
Simple.
Enable the Quiet Clean mode:
- Open the iRobot HOME app on your phone. (Available on Android and iOS.)
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Tap Cleaning Preferences.
- Select Quiet Clean.
Note: You can also enable the Quiet Drive mode to reduce noise. This’ll turn off everything on your Roomba except its wheels as it goes back to the charging base.
#6: Smart Mapping
Do you know that it took hundreds of years to map out the entire world?
But, it only takes a minute for your Roomba to map your home.
“Wait, it can do that?”
Yes. With Smart Mapping.
What this feature does is that it teaches your Roomba the layout of your house.
The Roomba will then use this data to know the routes it has to take while cleaning.
Pretty cool, huh?
Here’s how you can create a map of your home for your Roomba:
- Open the iRobot HOME app.
- Make sure that your device and Roomba are connected to the same network.
- Tap the Map button.
- Press the More (+) button on the top-right corner of your screen.
- Select Create New Map.
#7: Keep Out Zones
Are there areas in your home that you don’t want Roomba to go to?
If so, you’re in luck.
Because, with the smart map of your home, you can create Keep Out Zones for your Roomba.
Now you don’t have to worry about your Roomba going to your cat’s litterbox again.
To create Keep Out Zones, just:
- Open the iRobot HOME app.
- Select your Roomba.
- Press the Smart Map logo.
- Tap Keep Out Zones on the bottom-left corner of your screen.
- Drag and place your desired Keep Out Zones on the map.
#8: Use the scheduling function
Between work and family…
I’m a very busy man.
But that doesn’t mean that my home is dirty.
How?
Thanks to Roomba’s Scheduling function.
Imagine being able to set a time for your Roomba to turn on and clean your home automatically.
Even when I fall asleep after a long day at work, I can still wake up to a spotless room.
And here’s how you can too:
- Open the iRobot HOME app.
- Select your Roomba.
- Tap Schedule.
- Create a schedule by choosing the day and time you want your Roomba to clean.
- Select OK to confirm.
#9: Use voice assistants
Don’t want to get up from your couch to tell your Roomba to move?
Well, you don’t have to.
All you have to do is shout “Hey, Google” and your command. And, don’t worry if you don’t like Google Assistant, you can also use:
- Siri
- Alexa.
- Cortana.
What commands can Roomba understand, you ask?
- Check status.
- Locate Roomba.
- Stop vacuuming.
- Start vacuuming.
- Pause vacuuming.
- Resume vacuuming.
- Return to Home Base.
- Clean by Favorite/Room/Zone/Object.
#10: Lightly lean your chairs
Ever notice how often your Roomba can get stuck under furniture?
It’s frustrating. I know.
I’ve been there before, but not anymore.
How?
Easy. I just lightly leaned the chairs on my home so the Roomba has more space to get out.
Now, I know what you’re thinking:
“Raise my furniture while the Roomba’s cleaning? Sounds like a workout.”
I get it. That’s why I also recommend getting furniture risers to make this part of the process easier.
#11: Turn your lights on
Like I previously mentioned…
Your Roomba uses its sensors to navigate.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need light.
Especially because your sensors rely on it. How?
Here’s the thing about cliff sensors:
Unfortunately, we haven’t reached a point in tech where sensors can accurately tell edges.
However, Roomba can guess if it’s nearing an edge using color and depth.
That does mean that, sadly, it can sometimes mistake dark colors for cliffs.
So, to avoid that, it’s good to turn your lights on so the Roomba can better identify the objects on its way.
#12: Close your doors
When you leave the door unlocked…
Your kids might not be the only ones sneaking out.
But also your Roomba.
So, to avoid never seeing your Roomba ever again?
Make sure that your door is closed.
#13: Vacuum-proof your home
Here’s 1 mistake new Roomba owners make:
They don’t vacuum-proof their home.
And if you’re a new owner, you’re probably now wondering:
“What the heck is vacuum-proofing?”
You see, your Roomba is smart…
But not that smart.
It’ll sometimes see an object and think of it as a mess, even if it isn’t.
And because of its incredible suction power…
Your Roomba might try to suck these items and clog your system.
That’s why vacuum-proofing your home is essential.
And here are the items you need to pick up or tuck in before setting your Roomba loose:
- Toys.
- Pet bowls.
- Stray clothes.
- Long curtains.
- Carpet tassels.
- Charging cables.
#14: Use a Virtual Wall
Let’s talk about additional accessories.
What’s the one thing on the iRobot store that I recommend every Roomba user get?
The Virtual Wall.
You see, the software on your Roomba isn’t flawless.
Sometimes, even with Smart Mapping and Keep Out Zones, there are places your vacuum keeps going to.
So, if the software won’t work, let’s try hardware solutions.
Virtual Wall uses infrared to create an invisible wall for your Roomba.
A great application of modern technology, if you ask me.
#15: Find a good location for the Charging Dock
Some people put their Charging Dock in some corner of their home and call it a day…
Don’t do it.
According to iRobot, this is where you should place your dock:
- The floor should be bare.
- 1.5 to 3 ft from walls on both sides.
- At least 4 ft away from stairs or any cliffs.
- Somewhere that can easily access all of your rooms.
#16: Keep your robot out of extreme temperatures
Do you want to hear the secret to a clean home?
Make sure your Roomba lasts longer.
How can you do that?
I’ll tell you, but first, let’s discuss the type of batteries your Roomba has.
They’re called Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
These ones are swiftly becoming the new industry standard. Why?
Because they’re rechargeable, eco-friendly, maintainable, and lightweight.
However, Li-ion does have pitfalls.
For example, they don’t do so well in extreme temperatures.
You see, Li-ion batteries self-discharge during storage. And you know what? The rate of discharge accelerates under heat.
By how much?
Twice every 10°C increase.
#17: Use it daily
While we’re on the subject of making Li-ion batteries last longer…
It’s also good that you use your Roomba a lot.
Why?
Because inactivity also degrades Li-ion. By how much?
In an experiment, researchers let a 2409 mAH Li-ion battery go unused for 2 years. The result? The same batteries now have a maximum capacity of only 2142 mAH.
You don’t want that happening to your Roomba, do you?
#18: Change your batteries
You may be able to recharge your batteries…
But that doesn’t mean that you should never change them.
In fact, I encourage you to.
But why?
See, companies frown upon self-repair.
An example of this is Apple, which was the subject of a lawsuit by their customers over the right to repair.
iRobot isn’t like this.
In fact, a quick look at their website shows that they have replacement parts for almost every Roomba. And that’s great news if you’re a DIY kind of person.
Here’s how you can remove your batteries:
- Flip your Roomba.
- Place it on a soft surface.
- Loosen and remove the edge sweeping brush.
- Unscrew and detach the back cover.
- Hold the Release tab to loosen the battery.
If your batteries have gone bad, you’ll notice that it’s:
- Swollen.
- Leaking.
- Hot out of the device.
As for the replacement, iRobot recommends the following:
Roomba | Battery |
s Series | s Series Li-ion |
i1, i3, i6, i7 | Li-ion 1800 mAH (i Series version) |
i4, i8 | Li-ion 2210 mAH (i Series version) |
980 | Li-ion 3000 mAH |
600/800/960 | Li-ion 1800 mAH |
You may also be interested in: How Do I Know If My Roomba Is Charging?
#19: Be careful with your warranty
Lastly, ensure that your Roomba can always be repaired in case it needs to be.
How?
By not breaching your warranty agreement.
Here’s the list of things that can void your iRobot warranty:
- Damage was through wear and tear or age.
- Self-repair, which results in harming the Roomba.
- The product serial number is removed, altered, or torn.