Will a Roomba Clean Multiple Rooms?
In this post, we will look at these questions and a few more. We will go through the basics of how the machine works and what it can and cannot do.
We will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about these clever little devices.
There is no question that they can be useful, but just how useful exactly? Will one be enough, or will you need to consider buying one for each room? What might influence just how much vacuuming it does in one session?
Finding these answers will help you to make an informed decision about whether or not this is the right option for your home. Let’s get to it then, shall we?
How Does It Work?
Think of it as a vacuum cleaner with brains. It operates in the same standard way – it uses brushes to help dislodge dirt and then vacuums it up. What is different about it is that it is completely autonomous.
You know those Disney movies where the broom sweeps by itself? The same basic principle applies here. Except that the “magic” comes from clever programming and onboard sensors.
It will zoot across the room, using the sensors to identify potential obstacles like a telephone cord that could cause issues for it. The sensors also detect dirt and give it an idea where to clean.
Once it has done, it will carry itself off to the docking station to recharge.
Features
iAdapt Navigation Sensors & Mapping
The iAdapt Navigation sensors allow it to clean different rooms in the house, although not quite in the way that you might think. Initial models were not good at navigation, but the newest models can use the sophisticated navigation software to help them create a map of the rooms in your home and store it in its memory.
The machine then works by following a preset cleaning pattern until each of the rooms in the home are clean. There is an element of randomness to the pattern so that is why we said that they clean multiple rooms in a different way to what you might think.
The machine needs to find the doorway in order to be able to leave a particular area so it could get stuck in one room, depending on the obstacles therein. However, this is still a vast improvement in earlier models where you had to physically place them in the correct room.
Lighthouse
Of course, you don’t always want it to be as random as all that. That’s where the lighthouse come in. These are small sensors that you place in the rooms to be cleaned. The device will then be guided by the beacon to the actual area that you select.
Depending on the option that you choose, you will usually get two of these with your new purchase, with the option of adding extras for an extra fee.
There are other ways to keep the device in the right area. Virtual wall barriers are another way of guiding where it cleans. These are devices that give off a beam of light that tell the sensors not to cross it.
This is useful for ensuring that you get the cleaning concentrated on the areas that need it most, or that your little robotic helper sticks to the sections of your home that are most important to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Will it clean one room at a time?
A: No, unless you trap it in a room, it will not just clean one section. It all depends on the cleaning pattern that you select. It could, for example, use a random pattern. In this case, it would vacuum a particular area and go over the same spot a few different times, in different directions.
Q:
Will one full battery be able to clean multiple rooms?
A: This is going to depend on how big your various rooms are, and how much furniture is in each. This little robot is energy-smart, but navigating around obstacles means that it will have to use more power.
It is recommended that you watch how it goes the first couple of times so that you can adjust furniture patterns accordingly.
Conclusion
Most robotic vacuum cleaners are going to clean multiple areas in the home. You will need, however, to select the cleaning pattern that bests suits your needs. With the navigational features included on board with the more advanced options, you have a really clever little helper here.
It might take a little trial and error initially to get exactly the right configuration but, once you have found that, all you have to do is to let it do its own thing.
The sensors will be able to detect which areas need just a cursory cleaning and which need more attention. You can sit with your feet up – or they just become another obstacle, and watch as the dirt “magically” disappears.
It really could not be much simpler to reduce the drudgery of housework than by getting one of these little babies. Who wants to spend hours vacuuming when it can all be done by pressing a few buttons?
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