Hey, I have 5 cats running around the house, and they shed non stop! We are tired of vaccuming every other day! Also, we have both carpet and hardwood floor. Any suggestions on which irobot vaccum system should I get?by the way, does anyone have a irobot system here? How does it work for you?




-Kevin

 

i just used regular vacuum and those sticky roller that you slide through your sofa so that hair will stick on them and then i rinsed it with water..

 

you mean something like this?: http://www.supercoolpets.com/picture...ic_sweeper.jpg

I was thinking about getting that but that is just for the sofa and whatnots. I need it for the hardwood floor+carpet. I guess I want something more technological. lol.

But thanks for the advice!

 

I have the iRobot 530 which has been rock solid since last year. Anything in the 500 series is good. The 562 would be nice, but pricey. Any one of the lower 500 models will do a very similar job. The Roomba is perfect for keeping up with pet hair, but it's good to still use a normal vacuum every once and a while. I also have an iRobot Dirt Dog for the garage, I let it go a few times during the winter/snowy weather and it got gummed up real quick. Haven't really cleaned/used it much since. Keep in mind with any Roomba you still have to dump the bin and untangle hair from the brushes after every couple runs. Also unless you splurge for a self-charging/home base model, you'll need to lug it around and charge it, plus without the virtual walls you will also need to keep doors closed etc. to keep it where you want it. I would not pay full retail for one as they are often discounted at various sites on-line, nor would I recommend a refurbished or used Roomba. As long as you are realistic and don't have too many obstacles/wires/steps, and just need something to keep the cat hair at bay, I think a Roomba is perfect for your situation.

 

You cat lovers need to go here - Cats Enjoy

 

I'm trying to visualize 5 cats and a Roomba in the same place and time.

 

My cat plays chicken with my Roomba, it's pretty funny.

I have a 4199 (I think - going off Amazon here) and it's nice, though I wish I had a better model. The new/better models are better with area rugs (I had to put mine away) and also clean up pet hair better. The trick with a Roomba is that you have to run it frequently for it to make a difference. It's definitely not a "once a week" type appliance, so getting a model that can be scheduled is a worthwhile expenditure, IMHO. My brushes also get full of crud that I have to clean off frequently, though I think that's more a factor of environment than design. Battery life can also be kind of sketchy, mine can sometimes get two cleaning cycles out of a charge sometimes not even one. It depends on the strain on the motor and how long it had been charged. I have a 850sf condo and it takes two passes for it to get the house clean, though I'm not good about running it frequently

My favorite thing about it has to be the ability to plop it down and hit Spot and walk away. I do this frequently around the kitty box and in the kitchen. It's so nice to not have to haul out the upright for little jobs. Though it is so stinking nice to just to a cursory floor clearing on my weekend cleaning days, set it free, and just step out of its way every now and then. It's definitely a time saver because it lets me multitask.

I must say it is nice to have, but definitely recommend swinging for the nice model if you can.

 

Thanks for the replies ! Really appreciate it. I am planning on getting the latest model that cost 200-400 (I know right?!). I hope woot is offering one of these soon. I remember seeing one irobot but it wanst the one I wanted.