Off and on Ray and I used to talk about the merits of robot vacuum cleaners and buying one. We could never justify the expenditure when we had a perfectly good stick vacuum cleaner to clean not such a large area. Unlike getting out the old barrel model, unwinding the extension cord and putting the hose into the vacuum shaft and head, the stick vacuum cleaner was simply taken off its wall mounted charging stand and it was ready to go. For here, with just the two of us, it was perfectly adequate.
The lads will vacuum whenever I ask them but they are rarely proactive about doing so. At times they have a cleaning burst and it will be done.
I confess, me getting one though would be nothing but a toy to play with, however with two people and them cooking a lot, along with Jass' fur, I was thinking about it. Then a blogger mentioned she had one, and although there is just the two of them, a lot of fur will be shed in their abode.
The straw that broke the camelus back was when Ex Sis in Law mentioned she had bought one. Now she doesn't have money, but maybe there is some kind of cause and effect thing happening there. Right, I want one.
I researched and found the one I wanted for a good price, so meet what Phyllis named, Rover.
We firstly sent it off on a mapping run, which it did successfully, and has been continually adjusting the map since. Kesav worked on putting names to the rooms.
My room is Andrew's Chambers, with my ensuite called Andrew's Retreat. Their room is simply PK and the spare room is called Rover's Room, where the robot's base station is located.
The main bathroom is called Shower with the toilet called Potty. The kitchen is Cook's Area, the dining area, Eatery and the lounge area, Jass' Play Room.
The machine is great and continually refines itself, doing less strange things than it originally did. With water and a couple of drops of detergent, it also mops the tiled areas, as directed by how you set up the map.
Jass initially followed Rover around, always keeping a safe distance but its path is not always predictable. Then she started to ignore it, but once again as I made this video today, she was on watch.
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Nooo... that is too spooky for me. An alien in the house 😱
ReplyDeleteJass would agree with you, JayCee.
DeleteRover sounds like it has settled into the household beautifully, earning its place among the rooms and routines while keeping Jass entertained and just a little suspicious
ReplyDeleteRoentae, Jass is not houseproud and doesn't mind how much of her fur accumulates.
DeleteI mostly like my Roomba, although it is getting older (like me), and doesn't do as good a job as it once did (like me). It helps keeps the animal fur under control but I still give the house a good vacuum from time to time.
ReplyDeletePixie, I was surprised at the suction power, with the carpet pile noticeably lifted. There are areas where Rover can't reach, so they will have to be hand vacuumed....occasionally.
DeleteI've heard so many different reactions to these machines. But with one person, no animals, few visitors most of whom take off their shoes, and house cleaners, I think I'll just observe.
ReplyDeleteIt really would be a toy for you to have, Boud.
DeleteOh no ... the suspense, Andrew! What happened?
ReplyDeleteI have toyed with the idea of getting one but with two german shepherds and two cats all who shed a crazy amount I think my household would defeat Rover.
Merlot, I would like to think that is exactly what they are made to do. Once again I've overegged the next post I referred to.
DeleteWe used one in at the hostel I used to work at. It did a good job but would occasionally get stuck on a sock or other small thing and need rescuing! Bunyip
ReplyDeleteBunyip, Rover did suck up an electric wire, so you do have to make sure everything is clear.
DeleteOh! Not for me then. I have extension cords all over because of so few power outlets.
DeleteI have thought I'd like a robot vacuum but Im scared of it becoming more of a problem than a solution, running into the dog's food or getting choked up on socks or other random bits.
ReplyDeleteIm glad you have it, one less chore to worry about.
Kylie, especially in the beginning, it takes some work and usage before it is kind of set and forget, although it will just roam itself and map as it goes. You can set no go areas, like a teenageer's bedroom....or the bedroom of two housemates.
DeleteSeems too good to be true. I'm anxious to read your follow-up post.
ReplyDeleteKirk, I've oversold the follow up post.
DeleteI am not proactive either with cleaning and when I read Rover also mops the floor I decided I should get one, but then you said something happened later, so I shall wait and see. Meanwhile what brand is it and what would be the ballpark $$$ amount?
ReplyDeleteRiver, it is iRobot which I think is a new name for Roomba. Just short of $700 at JB HiFi, price reduced further by $39 but I decided it was too heavy to take home on the tram so I paid about $30 for delivery.
DeleteI'm still a in a honeymoon period with the vacuum cleaner I bought last year which is mercifully so much quieter than its predecessor.
ReplyDeleteI reckon our place is too cluttered for a robot cleaner and from what you've said about P&K's room I wonder how Rover will cope there.
MC, they will clean up their room to vacuum, which they can instruct it to do themselves as they have the controlling app on a phone of theirs too, and if I set it, I just tell it to not touch that room. It will clean as much as it can around floor clutter.
DeleteNot sure I would want one. Firstly I have too much around me, then you would have to pick up electric wires, etc. Looking forward to what went wrong.
ReplyDeleteThelma, if you have lots sitting on floors and wires, maybe it wouldn't work so well.
DeleteI'm not that familiar with those vacuum cleaners, but always willing to learn and wondering what happened. Love the way it puts itself to sleep :)
ReplyDeleteMargaret, the vacuum cleaner is challenging initially, but we will get there with it.
DeleteYou certainly have to watch where they go, or perhaps who or what has gone before them.
ReplyDeleteJB, that is rather cryptic. I hurt my back the first day with Rover, from standing and watching it.
DeleteWe are on our third generation of "Brabinger". The software seems to get better and better, the second one seemed to develop dementia after a couple of years, and was having battery problems. He can be annoying, but my house has never been so clean.
ReplyDeleteTP, that's what I thought. I know my brother bought one maybe 15 years ago and it was pretty well useless.
DeleteI am looking forward to part 2 of the story, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteIt is up there now Pat.
Deletethe videos fascinated me. In another life I would certainly get one but I realize, and am grateful, that I can't remember when I last hoovered (vacuumed). My "help" has always done these tasks for as along as I can remember. Spoiled, I realize. And blessed with wonderful workers.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
WWW, cleaners are almost ideal, but you do have to arrange a day around them. Rover can work when it suits me.
DeleteThat's an amazing piece of technology! The name 'Rover' is perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteDarla, maybe Jass knows Rover is a dog's name, and that makes her extra wary.
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