iRobot Roomba 560 robot vac iRobot Roomba first look

If you're interested in getting a robotic vacuum cleaner you’re likely to consider one of the iRobot Roomba 500 series, as they're one of the most popular brands and readily available in the UK. They've been sold at mainstream shops such as John Lewis.

UPDATE 11/10/2011: you can now read our First look review of the iRobot Roomba 780, the latest robot vacuum in the iRobot range.

iRobot is one of the most popular brands of robotic vacuum cleaners

The Roomba 560 comes with a self-charging home base which it returns to automatically when its battery runs low. One charge should last long enough to vacuum up to four rooms.

You can program up to seven cleaning times a week so it can get to work while you’re out - handy for busy households or those who like to keep their floors pristine.

The Roomba automatically adjusts its settings to work on both carpets and hard floors. We’ve not tested it in our labs, but we thought it coped well with fluff and larger bits of dirt on our carpet, though not as well with ingrained dirt and dust.

Using the iRobot Roomba

You can prevent the Roomba entering certain sections of a room or house

The Roomba 560 comes with two 'lighthouses' - battery-operated infrared boxes that create a virtual wall the Roomba won’t cross. These let you confine the Roomba to a certain section of the room or house, which is useful if you don’t want it bumping into delicate furniture. The Roomba can also detect and avoid drop offs such as stairs.

The Roomba has sensors to detect particularly dirty areas and is programmed to clean these areas for longer. As it’s such a small machine it’s not got a lot of bin capacity so you may have to empty it after every use.
It’s too small to effectively vacuum your stairs or furniture, but it can get under most beds and sofas.

It’s quieter than a regular vac but bounces around the room erratically, covering the same ground several times. The instructions say the Roomba takes 25 minutes to clean a single room, so it’s not necessarily the most efficient way to get your floors clean.

You can pick up a Roomba 560 online for about £330. Use a price comparison site such as Price Runner to check prices.

iRobot also offers the Roomba 562 Pet Cleaner, designed to tackle pet hair, and the Roomba 581, which claims to give better floor coverage and navigation. Prices for these range from £349 - £399 online - for more information visit iRobot’s UK e-store.

Pros: Decent day-to-day cleaning, a helping hand in your home

Cons: Needs emptying frequently, you’ll still need a regular vac for thorough cleaning