Roomba, the self-driving robotic vacuum cleaner, has become a popular option for home users.
If you have one of these devices or intend to get one, it’s best to get familiar with its mode of operations. One of the things you should learn about is the dirt events.
What exactly is a dirt event on a Roomba?
Roombas dirt event is the high concentration of dirt in a small region requiring multiple cleaning passes. The device features an internal map that detects every dirt spot where it would have to clean again. With this, the Roomba keeps your home in sparkling condition.
So, you don’t have to be surprised when these robots make a pass over the same area several times. It’s only an action they were programmed to exhibit. This post sheds more light on Roombas dirt events to help you understand the cleaning robot better.
Related:
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- Can I Have 2 Roombas on the Same App? (Simple Explanation)
- Can Two Roombas Share a Clean Base? (Explained)
How Do Roombas Look?
The majority of Roomba models are disc-shaped. Its diameters range from 338–353 millimeters (13.3–13.9 in), and heights range from 86–94 millimeters (3.4–3.7 in). This small size makes them compatible with any home arrangement.
Its producers made the ninth-generation S series D-shaped rather than round for modification purposes. Nonetheless, all variants still have a huge contact-sensing mechanical bumper with an omnidirectional infrared sensor located at the top front.
It utilizes the Virtual Wall Lighthouse, which directs the Roombas through different rooms while functioning. It confines the vacuum to one cleaning area until it reports that the place is well cleaned. Then, it directs it to the next cleaning space and keeps it there.
What Are the Components of a Roomba?
A Roomba comprises some device that aids its function. They include:
- Infrared detector
- Obstacle detector
- Lithium metal-hydride rechargeable battery pack
- Treaded wheels
- Wheel drop sensor
- Wheel sub-assembly
- Electric motors
- Brush mechanism
- Handles
How Do Roombas Operate?
For almost 20 years since iRobot Corporation made Roomba, many have used these robots to tidy their homes. As small as these devices seem, it’s very effective cleaners. Moreover, more recent versions perform even better than older ones.
With its effectiveness, you may be left wondering how these devices work.
The Roomba’s operation comprises four steps: sight, bumps, movements, and brushes. The Roomba begins by navigating the room with its sensors just as we use our eyes to see. These sensors serve different purposes, including giving it an insight into what lies ahead, thereby keeping it from danger.
Roomba’s bump technology makes the Roomba back off from a particular obstacle after bumping into it. The object must be immovable, like a stool, table leg, or a wall.
The wheels of the Roomba have optical encoders that use light sensors to evaluate how far the Roomba has traveled. In addition, it has two multi-surface brushes which carry out its task – cleaning. The first one loosens the debris while the other sucks it into the vacuum.
With these functions working together, the Roomba efficiently keeps the house neat.
How Do I Put a Roomba to Work?
A Roomba is very easy to use, and you can get it working with just these simple steps:
Ensure You Charge the Roomba
You must make sure you dock the Roomba with the suitable Home Base before charging it. To charge, press ‘Dock’ on the Roomba or the remote and plug the Home Base. If possible, leave the Roomba to charge overnight, especially when it’s brand new to sustain battery life.
Clean out Your Room
If you have lots of clutters in the home, Roombas can be tough to use. This is because these obstacles prevent its smooth movement, preventing it from functioning as it should.
You can ease this by clearing your rooms off any clutters and items on the ground. For example, you might want to remove rugs with tassels on them as Roombas can get stuck in them. If there are water particles on the floor, wipe them off as well.
Use the ‘clean’ and ‘spot’ Buttons
Pick the ‘Clean’ option when you want a general cleaning for your room. This operation will tell the Roomba to clean out the entire room. The Roomba could start from any direction, but it ends up cleaning the entire room.
The ‘Spot’ option effectively removes hard spots on the ground. With the ‘Spot’ option selected, the Roomba removes harder specks of dirt than ‘Clean’ would.
Use the Homebase Well
Ensure you place the Homebase on a hard surface and always leave it plugged in an open area. The Roomba will eventually return to the Base when the battery is down or after cleaning. Keeping the Homebase in an open place will make it easier for the Roomba to find it and dock.
Use Virtual Walls
These devices allow you to create invisible walls to restrict the area the Roomba is to cover. In other words, you use this feature to confine its function to a specific perimeter.
How Effective Are Roombas?
When planning on employing the service of a Roomba in your home, you might be skeptical about their operations. However, a Roomba will eventually surprise you with just how good it is at doing its work.
Roombas spend more time cleaning a room than a person using a vacuum cleaner. A Roomba will typically spend about twenty-five to thirty minutes cleaning a small room. Despite this, a Roomba has several other advantages it offers homeowners.
The first thing to note is that it’s simple to use and operate. In addition, it generally requires no technical knowledge to handle, making them very user-friendly.
Again, their small size is conducive to reaching areas that conventional vacuums can’t handle. It can creep under chairs, sofas, and other furniture and equipment, cleaning every nook and cranny of your space.
It’s also very portable for the user, and you can easily carry it around. Its compact structure makes it a favorable option for older people who cannot carry large vacuums.
Furthermore, the Roomba will undoubtedly save you the time of having to clean the room yourself. If you’re a busy person, you can leave the Roomba to work without bothering about it falling. This is because of the inbuilt sensors that tell it when to stop if it’s at the edge of the stairs.
Are There Any Bad Sides to Using a Roomba?
Like every gadget with a long list of advantages, the Roomba has its downsides.
As earlier stated, the Roomba could take so long to clean a room. For an ample space, it might take about 30 minutes to an hour to get its job done.
Despite the time taken, there are still tendencies of it missing little dirt, which can be frustrating. As a result, you have to keep it running longer than necessary.
Again, a Roomba can’t do things humans do when cleaning. For instance, it can’t clean the stairs, move furniture to clean around it, clean inside sofas, and so on.
Additionally, a Roomba might not be a good idea if you have pets in your home. One reason is that the pet’s hair can stick around the brushes making it harder to work. Secondly, if your pet makes a mess, your Roomba will worsen it by spreading it around the house.
The good news is newer models of Roomba now have better features to manage these issues. It now has models with a more advanced bin known as Clean Base. This technology not only empties the dirt from the machine but also recharges it.
In some cases, you might be having little difficulties with the batteries. Typically, it’s supposed to function for as long as two hours on a single charge. However, some might end up needing a charge after 40 minutes.
For it to function effectively, you’ll have to change its batteries. The Roomba batteries are gotten directly from Roomba, and they are relatively expensive. Buying unbranded batteries can only waste money as there are several negative reviews on them.
