iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner PRO Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My husband and I had high hopes when he ordered this robotic vacuum cleaner for me for Christmas. My husband is confined to a wheelchair much of the time, and I have severe degenerative disk disease and spondelosis, which in laymen's terms means an extremely bad, severely painful, neck and back. This problem keeps me from being able to clean my house the way it needs, which is very hard on a frustrated Neat Freak like me. Also, we have a loving dog who lives in the house with us, and she sheds, AND sheds. To make matters worse, both my hubby and I have miserably debillitating allergies. So a good and easy way to clean the floors is a Must-Have for us.

We thought a cleaner that did all the work for us would be the next-best-thing to the maid service we can't afford. But, sadly, this little vacuum could not handle our floors! We have cement floors, with a few very thin and flat, antique Oriental rugs scattered here and there. The robot vacuum kept getting hung up on the almost microscopic distance between the rugs and the floor. Whether it was trying to go up, ON to a rug from the cement, or go down, OFF of a rug back onto the cement, 9 times out of 10, or more, it would hang, and then stall, and then STOP. Maddening.

Yes, it is loud, but that didn't matter, it probably isn't much louder than most regular vacuum cleaners. Yes, when it wasn't hung up on something, it was very slow moving across the floor, but that was alright too -- I figure that the slower a vacuum goes across the floor, the more thoroughly it is getting it clean. And besides, who cares how long it takes, if I'm not the one having to do the work?

If only this thing could have managed to actually clean the floor more than a few tiny itty bitty INCHES at a time without getting hung up and stopping, we would have been pleased as could be, despite the noise and the slowness. But, sadly, it just couldn't do the job.
MAYBE if our floors had no rugs whatsoever, OR if it were wall to wall rug, then it MIGHT have worked good enough. But I really doubt it, because when it wasn't getting hung up on the canyon between the rugs and the hard floor, it was getting hung up on furniture legs, and walls, and doors.

Somewhere I read a review where the person said she thought this vacuum needed time to "learn" about all the obstacles in a room, before it can do a good job of cleaning it up without stalling. I was hoping that was the problem, so I kept giving it chance after chance, but this Stupid Robotic Vacuum never learned a darn thing! If anything, the more I ran it, the more quickly it would get hung up and shut itself off. We bought it from a store that has a 30-day free trial period, and we used it the full 30 days, trying to figure out a way to make it work for us, but it never did work, so in the end we sent it back.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner PRO

iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner saves your time and effort.It will sweep and vacuum from carpet to hardwood to tile automatically so you don't have to.The new flat design allows it to go under beds and other places where upright vacuums can't go to clean dirt, dust, and pet hair.It works for about 80 minutes before recharge. It has built in AI Smart Chip and self-adjustable wheels to prevent the cleaner falling down steps or elevated surfaces. Comes with a remote control so that you can maneuver it anytime.Safety features include: stops automatically when unit gets stuck or was picked up, comes out from dark areas and stops in better lit area once finished cleaning or when battery power is low, gives a warning sound when low on power.Easy to use and clean.Package includes: Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner, Remote Control, Battery Charger, Filter Mesh, Rechargeable Battery, Cleaning brush, and side rotating brush replacement. One year manufacturer warranty.Note: Not for use on high pile carpet (longer than 1 inch).

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner PRO

Bissell Lift-Off MultiCyclonic Pet Upright Vacuum with Detachable Canister, Bagless, 89Q9 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Must-have features:
- Suction power. Great suction power.
- Lift-off feature. For use on stairs.
- Bagless.
- Dedicated on-off switch for brush. To vacuum wood floor without brush.
- Brush automatically turns off when unit is at upright position. Save brush and carpet wear-and-tear when using attachments.
- Furniture protection rubber guard.
Nice-to-have features, but not absolutely needed:
- Pet brush. "Pet" model means unit come with a Turbo Pet Brush attachment. Pet brush has rubber claws, which grab hair as you rake the surface of carpet or sofa. It is somewhat useful, but not to die for. Buy the Lift-Off models only if you want the must-have features. You can buy the Turbo Pet Brush attachment separately for $29.
Useless features (just marketing):
- Head light.
I was interested in buying the Bissell Lift-Off, but there is lack of info on the web to compare the 2 Bissell Lift-off models: Multiclylonic (89Q9) and Revolution. Rather than just a generic review, I will try to describe the difference between Lift-Off Revolution and Multicyclonic. Their sucking power seems similar. The visible differences are (1) dirt container, (2) upper tank right above the dirt container, and color.
(1) Dirt Container. Multicylconic and Revolution has different design. Small advantage to Multicyclonic. Multicylonic has 2 compartments; 1 cylinder in center and 1 large outer compartment. Revolution has single main compartment, plus 2 additional small dust chambers that extend out from chamber. I don't see any special impact or effect to the various compartments. But one thing I don't like on the Revolution is the 2 additional dust chambers with removable inserts, which are a mess to handle and clean.
The dirt container is the same size on both units. These units suck up so much hair and dust that the dirt containers need to be emptied after cleaning couple rooms. I have 2 short hair cats. The hair will clump together and rotate in the dirt container. As the container fills up (maybe 1/2 to 3/4 full), some hair will remain in the upper tank and not drop down into the dirt container.
(2) Upper tank. This is where the 2 units vary the most. Overall, I give the advantage to Multicyclonic, due to ease of cleaning, particularly with less hair trapped in upper tank. Revolution does have 1 added feature: upper tank can be removed, which is less messy to clean up.
- Upper tank filter size. Multicylonic has more open space in upper tank right above the dirt container. That means less likely for hair to get trapped. Revolution has large filter component that leaves a small gap to the compartment wall. Hair is more likely to get trapped. You can read the review for Revolution. And this is a major complaint for some users. Big advantage for Multicyclonic over Revolution here.
- Filter material. The upper tank on Multicylonic uses only plastic components, whereas Revolution has foam filter in upper tank. Both can be washed and rinsed out, but plastic is just easier and faster to clean. Another advantage for Multicyclonic.
- Removable upper tank on Revolution. The upper tank on Revolution is removable, but fixed on Multicyclonic. The positive for Revolution is that I can remove both upper tank and dirt container and empty them in the garbage can. On the Multicylonic, after bottom dirt container is removed, some remaining dust can drop down from the upper tank right onto the vacuum body.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bissell Lift-Off MultiCyclonic Pet Upright Vacuum with Detachable Canister, Bagless, 89Q9

Equipped with a multi-cyclonic system and a powerful 12 amp motor, this bagless upright vacuum cleaner provides maximum suction power for thoroughly cleaning the home from top to bottom. The unit effectively removes pet hair, dust, dirt, and dry spills from both carpets and bare-floor surfaces, while its stretch hose and onboard attachments make above-floor cleaning a snap. Use the Pet Hair TurboBrush for upholstery and stairs, the crevice tool to access narrow spaces, and the combination upholstery/dusting brush to clean tabletops, bookshelves, furniture, and more.
In addition, the unit features a removable canister vacuum cleaner that detaches easily for convenient cleaning of stairs and hard-to-reach areas where pets like to sleep. The unit also supplies a wide 15-inch cleaning path, dual-edge cleaning, seven adjustable-height options, a rotating-brush power switch, a motor-protection system, a pre-motor filter, and a HEPA media post-motor filter. Its HEPA filter traps over 99.9 percent of pet dander, dust mites, pollens, and ragweed for cleaner, more breathable indoor air. Other highlights include a secondary cyclone chamber, an easy-empty dirt container, a soft bumper to protect furniture and baseboards from marking, a wide-beam headlight, a 30-foot power cord, and a quick-release cord wrap. The upright vacuum cleaner measures 13-1/2 by 15 by 44 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Click here for more information about Bissell Lift-Off MultiCyclonic Pet Upright Vacuum with Detachable Canister, Bagless, 89Q9

iRobot 110 Dirt Dog Workshop Robot Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Granted, I've had this thing for less than a week, but I can't quit raving about it.
I got the Dirt Dog for my enclosed patio, which is home to 12 messy caged parakeets and is also, of course, where my 4 cats like to hang out. I chose the Dirt Dog over the Roomba because I thought the sweeper would work better on the unfinished concrete than a vacuum unit, and it was cheaper. I liked the idea of the larger crud-holder than the vacuum, and I thought maybe it would be less tempramental, too.
The first time I turned it on, it wandered around exploring---I quickly learned that the fringed cotton rugs would have to go (no biggie, they just trap dirt anyway). I didn't move a lot of furniture---wanted to see how it would get along without much prep work on my part.
It quickly became my "Little Buddy" as it got stuck, or wrapped a string around its brushes and gently whimpered "Uh-Oh". I responded like the silly thing was one of my kids: "What's up, Little Buddy? Did you get caught on something?" Pathetic.
Anyway, he soon seemed to "learn" how to handle the edge of the platform my desk chair sits on and scoot under the shelves where the birds drop seeds & feathers. I learned to put barriers up so he couldn't get into trouble on the indoor-outdoor carpet that trends to unravel. We trained each other.
He's noisy...but I got used to it. The floor was looking better!
The cats seemed fascinated, but not afraid---they didn't freak out, just watched and stayed out of the way. At one point one of them actually sat on the floor and watched while he worked all around her.
By the time he finished, I was thrilled with my utterly brilliant purchase. I pulled out the hepa DustBuster http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DJL18LOJDRWI/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm and sucked up what little was missed or out of his range. Walking on the floor in my bare feet, I could feel how clean it really was---as clean as it gets when I spend half a day working on it with the big Shop Vac!
Next test: The bachelor son's house, equipped with three shedding dogs. Buddy whipped back and forth under two couches and a chair, scooping up fuzzballs like a champ. He cleaned the tile, the wood, and the (unfringed) area rug. He wanted to do the bedroom carpet, but I was afraid that might be just TOO much, even for him.
Buddy's next challenge was our garage---smooth concrete, but VERY UNclean. This is what he's built for, right? We set a timer and checked up on him about every 10 minutes to make sure he hadn't gotten stuck somewhere or pulled something into his brushes that made him stop. It took him a while, and I could tell by his yellow light that he was getting really tired, but he got it CLEAN. I emptied out his "dustpan" about 5 times. Yesterday I did some spray-painting in the garage, and the whole newly-clean floor was soon covered with overspray. So I put Buddy back to work. He swept up all the fine paint dust off the floor---no whining, no dust mask, no beer break. And now all that dust isn't getting tracked into the house. I can hardly wait to turn him loose the next time there are tiny metal shavings all over the floor from some drill-press project...
TBD is how well he'll last, but can you tell I'm pretty pleased with our newest family member?
Update June 23 2007:
It's now been six months, and we're on our second "Little Buddy". After a few weeks, Buddy I began just wandering around in a circle; it turned out he had an incurable wheel issue. It IS annoying that IRobot won't cover postage on a warranty return, but it was worth the hassle to get a new Little Buddy. The house just wasn't the same without him.....
Buddy II seems to be an even better and more energetic unit than his late, lamented sibling. He has earned the weekly task of sweeping our outdoor concrete courtyard. He gets a little rambunctious launching himself at some of the potted plants from time to time, but he does a wonderful job of cleaning up dirt, dust and leaves. It still amazes me how much stuff he picks up from what appears to be a pretty clean surface.
Buddy II has also been called into service for the above-mentioned drill press project. The scene begins as I step barefoot into the garage. I return hissing, swearing and bleeding on the floor. As I head for the tweezer drawer, I snarl to my husband, "Get Buddy! You've been drilling metal again and haven't cleaned up!" So Buddy has now succesfully taken on the role of marriage counselor.
He's also been on a couple of sleepovers at friends' houses, where he delighted his hostesses by cleaning their patios, decks and garages. One friend was so impressed she asked for her own Buddy as a birthday gift. He was apparently VERY well-behaved, even without parental supervision.
Buddy continues to work tirelessly, asking for nothing but a charged battery, a clean brush and an occasional (chaperoned) date with the air-compressor.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iRobot 110 Dirt Dog Workshop Robot

Leave the cleaning to a robot with this convenient machine. Its 14.4-volt rechargeable NiCD battery provides the power needed to clean hard floors, shop carpets, garage and basement areas, as well as industrial-floor surfaces. In addition, specially designed counter-rotating brushes spin almost 1,000 times per minute, sweeping up dirt and debris that cling to rough surfaces. Simply press the "clean" button and the unit sweeps under workbenches, cars, and other hard-to-reach places, picking up nuts, bolts, dirt, and more. For added convenience, "cliff" sensors keep it from falling down stairs or other vertical drops. The unit offers an oversized, bagless, easy-to-empty debris bin, and its power supply fully charges in seven hours. Accessories include a standard battery, a standard charger, a cleaning tool, and an owner's guide. The cleaning machine measures approximately 13 by 13 by 4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the box:
iRobot Dirt Dog Workshop Robot
Standard battery--non APS
Standard charger
Cleaning tool
Owner's guide

Click here for more information about iRobot 110 Dirt Dog Workshop Robot

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My wife and I decided to get one of these because our 8 month old son is about to start crawling. While we try and keep our floors clean, our beagle has other thoughts as she sheds all over the place. We went with the latest 560 model as it has just about everything we would want with a product like this. It works as advertised and we will definitley keep it but there are some areas that need improvement. Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and cons
Pros
1. Quieter than a standard vaccuum
2. Seems to learn the room dimensions quickly. The virtual walls and lighthouse feature are very nice.
3. Is "smart" enough to avoid getting tangled in our area rugs
4. Obviously easy to use as it is just a push of a button (or even better when you program it)
5. Can use everyday to keep the floors spotless
6. Have successfully used it on hard wood, vinyl, carpet and (accidently) concrete
7. Cleans under furniture which is otherwise a pain to do
8. Entertainment value - keeps the dog and baby interested for a while!Cons (or areas for improvement)
1. Fills up fast - Upon intital cleaning cycles, we had to empty it after about 10 minutes. Further usage proved better as the dust/dog hair was a lot less than before. I suppose this is a good thing as it is picking up dirt that I missed with the regualr vaccum.
2. No warning that it is full. This is the one area that would be a huge improvement. I feel like I need to interrupt it all the time to check if it is full. It would be great if it had some way to gauge how full it is.
3. Battery life - Not sure if I am getting the full specified battery life out of this as it seems to need a recharge after about an hour to an hour and a half (isn't it supposed to last longer?)
4. Automatic docking is iffy. Several times after it was done cleaning, it wandered around aimlessly looking for the docking station. The "lighthouse" feature didn't seem to help much. I ended up moving the dock to a more open area and hopefully that will work better.So for my first few days playing with this thing, it seems to do its job rather well with just a few annoyances that really do not affect its ability to clean. We plan on running it once a day to keep the dog hair and dust down to a minimum which will hopefully help our allegies.
*****UPDATE: 10/2/2007*******
Well, I've been using the Roomba now for a couple of weeks. I have it run every other day and here is what I think of it now
1. After letting it clean several times, I find I don't have to empty it every 10 minutes. I can now clean three rooms (about 900 square feet) without having to empty it.
2. My wife and I both agree that we seem to breathe better in the house now. Maybe it is due to less dust in the house (especially under the couches) or maybe its in our heads. Either way, we are breathing easier.
3. The self docking is now working great. I think my problems in the past were due to the brushes getting too dirty and requiring frequent cleaning (2 or 3 per run). Now, since the floors are cleaner, this has not been a problem and the Roomba finds its way home with no issues. I use the lighthouse settings to clean each room separately and then I guess they help Roomba find its home. Very nice!
4. Battery life doesn't seem to be a problem. I am getting the stated cleaning times per the manual and it seems to be enough to clean the 3 rooms.
5. The Roomba does require maintenance after each cleaning cycle. This requires emptying the dust bin, removing the brushes and filter to clean and, sometimes, cleaing the sensors that may have dust buildup. The entire process takes no more than 2 minutes and, even though it sounds like a pain, will hopefully keep Roomba problem free for a long time.I can find no fault with the Roomba right now. I might even consider purchasing a second and third one for the other parts of the house. I suppose I can move Roomba to the back rooms on the first floor or the upstairs but that would require too much effort on my part!
I am also considering the Scooba for my kitchen and bathrooms but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I might wait for the next generation to see if the bugs have been worked out of the current models. Also, if Irobot ever invented one, I would jump at the chance to get a robot that will shampoo carpets! Maybe we will see one soon.. ***Update 11/19/2007***
Ran into my first problem with Roomba this past week. The side brush snapped off and I was unable to put it back on. Knowing that these brushes need to be replaced from time to time I decided to order some replacements. Finding them on the Roomba site and ordering them was easy. Problem is that I was informed that they are on backorder for 4 to 6 weeks!! I e-mailed support and they responsed asking me for my mailing address, Roomba number and where I purchased it from. They stated they needed this so they could send me a replacement brush (a free replacement brush). I sent them the information with the hopes that they have some spare brushes ready to ship out but was then informed that it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get it out to me.
So in the end, I am stuck waiting for about $75 worth of brushes that I ordered as well as the free side brush they are sending me for at least 4 weeks. The good news is that Roomba still does her thing but the corners and edges of walls are somewhat neglected without the side brush.
I would still recommend Roomba to those who are thinking about it. Just be forwarned that "due to extremely high demand" replacement parts, including brushes, are currently on backorder for the 500 series.******Final Update 1/25/2008*******
Thought I'd give one final update now that I have been using Roomba for several months. I am still a believer that Roomba can keep your floors clean but it does take a bit more effort than some people will think. I will try my best to break down the cons for Roomba as the pros are pretty straight forward. You get very clean floors without having to pick up a vaccum. My floors have never looked or felt cleaner and this goes for both the hard wood floors and the area rugs.
Now for the cons (none of which would make me rethink my purchase but I thought it would be informative to those who are still waiting on buying one)
1. Although Roomba does her thing once I hit the clean button, there is still some maintenance that is required. Emptying the dirt bin after each cleaning cycle and keeping the brushes clean have actually been a bit more work that originally described. I have a dog who sheds and the hair gets wrapped around some of the brushes. The tool that is provided in the box to clean the brushes does little to help with this. I find it eaiser to get a pair of scissors and carefully cut the wrapped dog hair off the brushes. For those of you who don't want to get your hands dirty, please keep this in mind!
2. The side brushes break fairly easy. One of the comments I saw in my review is that Irobot now ships some rubber bumpber that helps with this. I haven't looked into getting this yet but I suggest that if you don't have one on yours (like me), be prepared to replace the side brush often. I was able to get a free replacement on my first one but haven't gone back for a second yet.
3. The scheduling aspect of Roomba is useless for me. Because I have a 1 year old who has every toy in the history of toys, I find I need to do a complete sweep of the rooms before Roomba does her thing. If Roomba hits one of these toys, the sensor doesn't always pick up on it and it will try and go over the toy. This usually results in Roomba shutting down until you restart it. Leaving it on schedule means I need to clean up before it goes off. Its just easier for me to set it off manually when I want it to clean.
4. Noise - While quiter than a vaccum, Roomba can still be rather loud. Unless your house is very large, expect the noise to create a bothersome sound if you are watching TV on the same floor or if you are trying to sleep. You will hear it.
5. Auto Docking - Can't seem to figure this one out. Half the time Roomba docks itself with no problem. The other half it wanders around aimlessly with the docking light blinking just a few feet from the station yet it completely ignores it. I've cleaned the sensors and it still does it. I guess it just has a mind of its own sometimes.
6. One minor cleaning issue - Roomba will sometimes leave a big dust ball on the edge of an area rug when it is transitioning from a hard wood floor to the rug. It appears that the dust ball is wrapped around the brushes at one point but gets pulled off by the edge of the rug when it takes that tiny little step up from the floor. If Roomba goes back over that area, great! dust ball gone. If not, your stuck with a dust ball that you have to pick up (again, for me not a big deal but for those that don't want to get their hands dirty....)
None of these complaints or even the sum of them all give me enough reason to question my purchase. Since 95% of the dirt is removed including under furniture (which frankly, I never cleaned prior to Roomba!) these minor issues really don't amount to much in my opinion. Yes, it can be rather disgusting to clean the brushes when they get clogged and I need to make sure all toys are off the floor but that all translates into a very clean house! Keeps the wife happy!!
I'll check comments...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 560 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty, bagless dust bin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment.
For added convenience, the vacuum's cleaning head automatically adjusts to transition from wood, tile, and linoleum to carpets and rugs, while improved anti-tangle technology ensures it will not get stuck on cords and rug fringe. If the unit begins to pick up a cord or carpet tassel, it will automatically reverse the direction of its brushes to extract the item. A gentle-touch bumper system senses obstacles so the vacuum automatically slows its approach, gently touches the obstacle, then redirects to continue cleaning under or around the object. Because it cleans under beds, couches, and other hard-to-reach areas, it actually vacuums more of the floor than a standard upright. The vacuum also senses dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them, and it uses built-in cliff sensors to avoid stairs and other drop-offs. In addition, invisible barriers can be set using the 2 auto virtual walls included in the system. To mark off-limit areas, simply place a virtual wall at a doorway or other opening and adjust the infrared beam setting to the distance of the opening. The unit automatically detects the beam and will not cross it.
The vacuuming robot returns to its self-charging Home Base to dock and recharge between cleaning cycles or when the battery starts to run low. Its advanced power system consists of a fast-charging battery, a three-hour charger, and a power source that supercharges the unit for up to 120 minutes of continuous cleaning, covering about three to four average-size rooms on a single charge. Other accessories include two Auto Virtual Walls, a brush cleaning tool, and an extra filter. The vacuuming robot measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Click here for more information about iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver