Our iRobot Roomba 560 Robotic Vacuum Review

As many people know, the introduction of automatic vacuum cleaners into homes has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. And for good reason, as it really takes the hassle out of using the upright vacuum with spending the time actually vacuuming, dragging out the electric cord, and putting everything back when you are finished.

That all takes time that you could use doing other chores, which ultimately saves you time in the end if you had an automatic vacuum.

Now the 560 is an older model. But, that also means you can probably grab one pretty cheaply on sites like eBay. But is it worth getting this older model, or should you just buy new? Hopefully what I have written below helps you make an educated decision on the iRobot Roomba 560.

The iRobot Roomba 560 definitely has its advantages and disadvantages, which we will take a look at in hopes to help you make the best possible decision in choosing an automatic vacuum cleaner. And if you must have the newest Roomba, you can always check out this Roomba 614 vs 690 comparison.

The 560 Robotic Vacuum

Obviously, the first advantage to having this iRobot 560 is that fact that it is indeed an automatic vacuum that will do the work for you. That is a given, and likely the sole reason for considering one. Some other advantages, however, that you might not have been aware of for this iRobot 560 are that it has a sealed chassis to prevent any dust or dirt from clogging up the vacuum sensors.

That is a big upgrade from the earlier models.

The motor of this 560 model has also been upgraded to a larger one so that it can move a bit quicker and clean a bit better than previous models as well. This model also has a new “lighthouse” feature which gives it the ability to be programmed to clean multiple rooms and return back to its base for recharging.

Also, this machine has improved side brushes than other models so that the wall cleaning has been much better as well.

There are not many disadvantages with the iRobot 560, but there are some. This machine can still get hung up on cords in the floor, and it takes much longer to clean than that of an upright vacuum. The latter is not much of a fault since it still saves you time in being able to do other things, but it is one that should be mentioned.

In closing, the iRobot Roomba 560 automatic vacuum cleaner will be a great addition to any home or office. It does a great job in cleaning, while keeping the hassles of worrying about off of you. It takes a little programming at first, which can be learned through the included manual, but after the settings are matched, you will be good as gold with you little cleaning machine!

How Does the Roomba Robot Vacuum Cleaner Work?

The inner workings of a Roomba are surprisingly sparse, considering the complexity of automatically sweeping an entire room. The iRobot company designed the Roomba to self-navigate while avoiding pitfalls. This feat was not easy to accomplish, but with a little ingenuity, the engineers at iRobot were able to come up with an ingenious solution.

The Roomba vacuum cleaner first uses different types of sensors to calculate its environment. Once these calculations have mapped the automated vacuum cleaner’s task, the Roomba begins to steadily crawl around a room. The newest Roomba cleaning robots can even detect the dirtiest areas of the room and give these zones extra attention – a feature demanded by Roomba owners over the years.

The fact that iRobot is willing to modify the Roomba based on user feedback attests to the company’s level of dedication to loyal customers.

Roomba vacuum cleaners actually utilize two different sets of sensors to negotiate rooms that are difficult to sweep. The Roomba updates its cleaning path as many as 60 times a second, which explains how iRobot was able to design a self-navigating machine.

Front sensors and so-called “cliff sensors” keep the Roomba on track without falling over staircases. Object sensors tell the Roomba to turn around after the vacuum cleaner bumps into the legs of an end table, for instance.

The Roomba’s navigation sensors work so well that the newest Roomba models can actually return automatically to its charger base once the robot needs recharging.

Benefits of Automated Vacuuming with Roomba Robots

Traditional stand-up vacuums certainly have come a long way over the years, but the basic operation of even the most advanced stand-up vacuum has not changed for quite some time. Vacuuming remains a laborious, boring cleaning task.

Also, traditional vacuums are notoriously difficult to use when attempting to clean underneath furniture. The benefits of using a Roomba eliminate these problems. I just wish they’d make something like the best shop vac for my garage that could also be automated, that would be perfect!

iRobot’s Roomba series is an ideal solution for people with physical disabilities.

In particular, the elderly can take advantage of the Roomba’s automated room sweeping. Roombas are low-maintenance products that only need attention when the dirt vessel is full, or when the battery requires replacing.

The Roomba vacuum cleaner is such an easy-to-use product that the newest models work with the push of a single button. Also, the newest Roomba robots even charge themselves, which lowers the amount of maintenance required even further.

Using a Roomba to sweep a room is also useful for cleaning hard-to-reach areas of the house. iRobot specifically designed the Roomba as a flat unit that is capable of traveling under bedroom furniture, for example.

Roomba robots can also clean under tables and chairs easily, changing course after a few soft bumps. Roomba robot vacuum cleaners also work well on any floor surface.

The newest Roomba robots will even detect the dirtiness of a rug and give it extra attention to reach optimal cleanliness.

Overall, iRobot’s Roomba series is a great option for people who want to avoid the time and energy necessary to sweep an entire home.

No, you can’t use it to vacuum your furnace filters, or clean your blinds, or other thing maybe a traditional vacuum can do, but it is still an amazing machine.

Roomba robots take time to clean a large room thoroughly, but Roomba owners have attested to the simplicity of utilizing a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner while away from home running errands.

The Three Most Useful Roomba Accessories

Another interesting facet of buying a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner is the ability to modify the unit with a wide range of useful accessories. Some Roomba owners have even gone as far as to modify the circuitry of the robot to perform creative tasks other than cleaning. However, the following top three accessories are the best to buy for the vast majority of Roomba owners.

Roomba robots use spinning brushes to sweep dirt into its receptacle. One criticism of first-generation Roomba robots was that the machine did not clean hard floors as well as carpet floors. Now, Roomba owners have the option to modify the Roomba with moist cleaning pads.

Roomba cleaning pads come specially designed to clean pet hair, eliminate germs and scrub away smears by utilizing damp microfiber pads.

Another must-have Roomba add-on is the new ultra-soft bumper. Previously, a small amount of Roomba owners have noticed that the Roomba’s bumpers can cause very minor scratches to appear on chair legs, for example. Modifying a Roomba with a dual-layer, ultra-soft bumper, however, protects the unit from scratching even the most sensitive furniture.

The final most useful Roomba accessories are the new “keepoff” and “keepout” mats and strips. These products signal to the Roomba’s sensors to avoid sensitive areas of a room.

Older Roomba models had a reputation for lodging itself under furniture that sits very low to the ground. Similarly, the first Roomba series did not avoid electrical chords or pet bowls, for instance.

The keepoff and keepout accessories help the Roomba negotiate these sensitive areas to maximize the unit’s cleaning efficiency.

Overall, iRobot’s Roomba is a very useful home appliance, specifically designed to save time and energy over the long run. The range of benefits far outweighs the minor hassles of using the device. Roomba owners even have a number of options at their disposal to modify Roomba robots in order to maximize the unit’s cleaning efficiency. As the iRobot company continues to improve upon the Roomba’s design and features based on user feedback, the versatility and efficiency of Roomba robots will surely improve likewise.