The FastDay Forum

[Moogie]

Bit of a random thing to ask about I know, but my most hated chore is vacuuming (yes, I know it burns calories...) and with my birthday coming up I'm wondering if my family might club together and get me a robot vacuum cleaner.

Just curious if anyone here has one and whether they're any good? I'm not talking about the £30-50 cheapy ones, nor the £500 super deluxe ones, but something probably in the £150-200 range. Are they actually worth the money?
I had a little handheld vacuum as a wedding present but the thing doesn't hold charge anymore, so my quick 'clean around the edges' on the wood floor doesn't happen anymore and I have having to get the proper hoover out.

Yes, it's lazy I know - and I know I'd still have to do a proper job of it myself from time to time.

So, anyone tried one? Got one? Know someone who does?

Thanks!

Saw some at the Ideal Home Show last week - they were quite impressive! There was one which didn't fall down stairs, went around obstacles, and even returned itself to its charging station when it had finished! Quiet too! (You did have to empty it though)

But....spent my money on a new tap for the kitchen! It does chilled filtered water, and also boiling (well, 98 degrees to be precise). It arrived yesterday and my darling husband is going to fit it tomorrow on the other side of our sink. I will then throw away the kettle! (or maybe put it in a cupboard in case the tap breaks?!?!)

Sorry - not much help about your robot, am I?!

[carorees]

I've heard good things about them and have long had one on my wish list but no-one has splashed out on one for me yet!

[Moogie]

Thanks Doodle, that's actually quite helpful The tap sounds amazing too, but I think that's more something I'd consider when we find our 'forever house'. The robot can come with me though
I think I'd be a bit alarmed if the robot could empty itself too. I've long had a fear of robots, but feel ready to embrace one which enjoys hoovering.

Caro: Glad it's not just me who wants one! Maybe we should write a 5:2 book afterall, if we make our millions we can both have a robot! Heck, I could have one for upstairs and one for down (I wouldn't want one that could climb stairs, too Dalek-like for me!).

I also really quite fancy one of those tassimo type machines, with lovely hot chocolate pods. But that's just lazy, expensive and a waste of space for one hot choc a day! (okay sometimes two)

Hmmm, how effective are these robot cleaners at lifting dog hair, I wonder?

Lakeland Plastics sell them & they guarantee everything saying if it doesn't meet your expectations return for a full refund......just worth a thought!

Hi Moogie,
My birthday is next week too and I also quite fancy one of those robot cleaners, so I would also love to know how good they are, if anyone has one.

Doodle, I've been looking at those boiling water taps, (Insinkerator or Quooker), as I work from home and feel as though I spend half my life waiting for the kettle to boil! The thing that worries me though, is that our cold water has a faint, horrible TCP taste to it, unless I run the tap for ages before filling the kettle. Can't figure out if the water held in the tank would also have this taste. I'd be really grateful if you could let me know what you think of yours, once it's installed.

Thanks,
Evie

I will post when it's done, Evie! Ours is from Insinkerator. Looked at the Bibo units at the Ideal Home too, but the tap won on so many levels.

Australian flavour but have a look here - much discussion - robot vacuums:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?a ... m&f=&fg=-1

& roomba:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?a ... a&f=&fg=-1

Opinions on their usefulness vary. Whatever you get make sure it has a good warranty/cooling off period after purchase.

[Moogie]

Thanks very much badalya, I'll have a good read through that in the next day or two! Sounds like the dearer ones are pretty good. I'm not too worries about it's pet hair ability, we only have one carpeted room it might struggle a bit with the hair in, but I don't mind if I only have to hoover one room regularly

Ginty: Thanks, will have a look at the Lakeland ones!

So far I've had my eye on a Samsung and also a Philips - the Philips is lower profile, which I'd need for it to get under the lounge furniture (where the cat hair ends up!).

[carorees]

Discussion on another forum about roombas: http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic ... a#p1098533
Thread
Plus, if you've got a cat you need to read this thread and follow the links to some truly hilarious videos: http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic ... ba#p843763

We've got a Roomba 760 and we love it! My husband has never done so much vacuuming! It deals really well with dog and cat hair on hard floors and carpet. Ours came from John Lewis. It's the same as the one that Lakeland sells but was cheaper. I don't think that the cheaper brands are worth buying. The only drawback is that it doesn't do stairs!

Evie - well, my new Insinkerator tap is installed - it's brilliant! (I would be worried if I still had young children though as the hot tap doesn't have a child safety switch, but another version did have.)

I will post again if there are any problems with it, but so far, couldn't fault it

I have a roomba 555 which is great with cat fur etc.... I'd sayits better than my dyson animal (which only comes out rarely now)

One of the best gadgets I've bought.... Scooba is in my list next.... Robot floor washer .... I hate mopping the floor....

Oh ... And stairs... I have a teenage boy for those