I struggle to use the Hoover. I can stand in one place with it and cover a biggish area from there and i can use it sitting down. My problem really is the cable, when I have to step over the cable or the cable gets stuck around something. I also struggle to get the Hoover out of the cupboard, uncoil the cable, plug it in and then tidy it away again when I’ve finished using it… Anyway, after dithering for ages (years), I finally bought a robotic Hoover last week. I didn’t have high hopes tbh but it worked better than expected. It was on offer (really good offer and I thought that at that price I didn’t have much to lose). It only does hard type floors but that’s what we have downstairs and the filter needs emptied often but it’s great. Our downstairs is open plan, laminate floors, there’s nothing really lying about so it works quite well in our house. I don’t think it would clean up a big mess and it has its limitations (some of which might be solved by buying a more expensive model) but if I use it often it is pretty good at maintaining a relatively clean floor. I just have to unplug it from the charger, switch it on and away it goes. I’ll still have to Hoover the stairs and the upstairs bedrooms but they don’t need done so often and some times the children leave things lying about so not sure a robot would work well there any way. I’ve rambled on, sorry but I’m really pleased with my robot, should make a difficult job quite a bit easier. Cheryl:-)
Hi Cheryl,
I’ve had a Roomba for years (dunno if that’s the brand you went for). In fact, I’m on my second one, and I bought one for my mum, but am annoyed, because she’s never even taken it out of the box.
When Dad was still alive, it was: “Oh, that would drive Dad mad!” How can it be more annoying than a normal vacuum cleaner? I admit it can be annoying if you stand watching it, because they’re not exactly very bright yet, and it can seem to make a very long-winded job of it, and of course, it blunders into everything.
But you can always leave it to run when you’re out, or just busy in another part of the house, if you’re that irritated by it!
Now Dad is no longer with us, and she hasn’t got the excuse he wouldn’t like it, it still hasn’t been out of the box. Instead, she’s paying a neighbour about three times the minimum wage to come in and vacuum.
I know the Roomba doesn’t get into corners very well, being round - and can’t do the stairs at all. So it’s not a complete replacement. BUT, for someone like Mum, who never makes any mess anyway (I’ve never seen her eat so much as a biscuit without putting it on a plate to catch crumbs), and doesn’t have any pets, it would certainly tackle the basics.
When I bought it, they weren’t cheap. If I’d thought she’d never, ever use it, I’d have kept it here as a spare. I expect, when the current one packs up, I’ll have to fork out another couple of hundred for a new one, even though there’s one at Mum’s, unopened.
I couldn’t carry it back from London on the train, and it’s probably not worth all the hassle and expense of trying to parcel it up and send it, so it’s stuck there - a white elephant. And there was me trying to be a bit practical, and think of something that would help her. 
T.
x
Hi Cheryl, Wow that sounds a brilliant Hoover, a robot. Unfortunately I have carpets all through so my robot is my hubby!! Whoops hope he never reads this!! Glad you’re pleased with it. Janet x
Hi Janet,
Although Cheryl’s one apparently only does hard floors, they’re not all like that. Mine does both/either. If I leave the connecting door open, it will move quite happily between the carpeted living room and tiled kitchen, without needing any adjustments at all. It doesn’t like rugs, and has a tendency to get tangled up in them, and “call” for help (does a little distress tone) - you also have to be a little bit careful about trailing cables anywhere - power, phone, internet etc, as it will tend to suck those in and get tangled up, too. So far, it hasn’t broken anything - including itself - although the earlier model did try to throw itself down the stairs once. They are supposed to have in-built “cliff sensors”, so they can tell if they are close to a sheer drop. But as they are optical, they can get obscured by dust on the lens (dust is not unlikely, given that it’s a vacuum cleaner) - leaving the thing effectively blind.
I expect the newer models have addressed that problem.
Tina
I would have thought the ‘G-Tech AirRam’ would be a worthy vacuum cleaner for carpeted floors ?!!
Light. cordless and very much like an upright vacuum that’s been on a severe diet
If anyone reading has one of these …are they as good as the ads imply ??
Dom
robotic hoovers!
how my cats would love that!
i could spend all day watching the cats ride the hoover!
your post has made me smile
carole x
i have a g-tech sweeper,its a bit like a modern day carpet sweeper,but its really good,it means i dont have to use the dyson as much,and makes cleaning easier.
Carole,
Not meaning to hijack Cheryl’s thread, but if you Google, you can find videos of cats riding on them - really! Apparently enjoying it.
My cats (when I still had some) were deeply mistrustful of it, and kept well out of its way, so I can’t imagine them ever deciding they’d like a ride. But some do.
Tina
x
I HATE spiders (bare with me it’s relevant) and I get monsters in the house in the Autumn. I bought a Dyson cordless to deal with the vacuuming but really it was to catch the spiders.
The point – relevant too this thread – is that they are light and obviously cordless and I can use one from my wheelchair.
Jane
Just got the Gtech, its really great, very powerful, goes on different surfaces without you having to alter the setting, and is so lightweight I can lift it with one hand.
Its bliss having no trailing lead and it doesnt need charging for hours. Best thing Ive ever brought.
S
Hi Tina, I’m afraid that even if they have improved Cheryl’s model I haven’t got the strength to push or pull a Hoover, now if they had a hand control robot then that would be great. Janet x
Not sure I understand, Janet. A robot one doesn’t need pushing OR pulling - that’s the point. You just charge it up, press the button, and off it goes - by itself! For me, downsides are that it takes hours to charge, so if you don’t have it charged-up ready, you can’t really use it spur-of-the-moment, and it has a very small dust compartment, so it needs emptying every time, instead of once in a blue moon, which can be a bit of a pain. Also I have very long hair, which keeps falling out (anyone would think I was ill, or had worries or something…) and tends to get wound round and round the brushes, which is a right pain to sort out, with the little grooming tool they give you. But absolutely no pulling or pushing of it - it’s got its own power, and its own mind too - just not a very big one.
T.
x
Um, I have all three!
Bought my Roomba years and years ago when they were new to the market. It’s fine on both types of floor and great with dog hair, but hates long hair (it gets caught in the brushes and as the motor isn’t very big, I had to keep cutting the hair out before it caused an overload that would burn the motor out. I would heartily recommend it to anyone with short hair.
I’ve also had a Dyson re-chargeable - well, I say I have, but really it was more for the car and quick touch ups that my partmer would do. I find it great as it’s light and easy to manouvre. It has tools for everything, even dusting! It’s also good on small rugs and mats as it doesn’t suck them in (unless they’re really lightweight). It’s particularly good for my sheepskin, too. The downside is that the trigger needs to be kept pulled in at all times (a battery saving thing apparently).
The G-Tech is my newest and favourite. It’s so light it almost pulls itself along, and emptying the bin out is a breeze. It doesn’t have tools (though there is a new handheld one out and you can buy them both at special offer for £300 from G-Tech direct), so is usless for anything other than floors - but for floors it is unbeatable. The only thing is, it does suck my rugs and mats up and I wouldn’t let it near my sheepskin - way too sucky! I took it over my sister’s to show her and it picked up stuff from her just-vacuumed carpets (she has a Dyson ball full size), very impressive! My full size never gets pulled out these days as this little thing has proven itself with just that. I would also say that this is easier to use from a wheelchair than the Dyson handheld.
All in all, they’re all a brilliant invention for anyone who can’t handle a heavy corded vacuum. Especially on stairs.
Um, I have all three!
Bought my Roomba years and years ago when they were new to the market. It’s fine on both types of floor and great with dog hair, but hates long hair (it gets caught in the brushes and as the motor isn’t very big, I had to keep cutting the hair out before it caused an overload that would burn the motor out. I would heartily recommend it to anyone with short hair.
I’ve also had a Dyson re-chargeable - well, I say I have, but really it was more for the car and quick touch ups that my partmer would do. I find it great as it’s light and easy to manouvre. It has tools for everything, even dusting! It’s also good on small rugs and mats as it doesn’t suck them in (unless they’re really lightweight). It’s particularly good for my sheepskin, too. The downside is that the trigger needs to be kept pulled in at all times (a battery saving thing apparently).
The G-Tech is my newest and favourite. It’s so light it almost pulls itself along, and emptying the bin out is a breeze. It doesn’t have tools (though there is a new handheld one out and you can buy them both at special offer for £300 from G-Tech direct), so is usless for anything other than floors - but for floors it is unbeatable. The only thing is, it does suck my rugs and mats up and I wouldn’t let it near my sheepskin - way too sucky! I took it over my sister’s to show her and it picked up stuff from her just-vacuumed carpets (she has a Dyson ball full size), very impressive! My full size never gets pulled out these days as this little thing has proven itself with just that. I would also say that this is easier to use from a wheelchair than the Dyson handheld.
All in all, they’re all a brilliant invention for anyone who can’t handle a heavy corded vacuum. Especially on stairs.
Oh Tina, What a thicko I am, I had no idea they actually existed. As you say it does sound a lot of bother, so I guess I’ll stick with my robotic hubby. He, he. Janet x
Oh Tina, What a thicko I am, I had no idea they actually existed. As you say it does sound a lot of bother, so I guess I’ll stick with my robotic hubby. He, he. Janet x
Oh Tina, What a thicko I am, I had no idea they actually existed. As you say it does sound a lot of bother, so I guess I’ll stick with my robotic hubby. He, he. Janet x
Oh Tina, What a thicko I am, I had no idea they actually existed. As you say it does sound a lot of bother, so I guess I’ll stick with my robotic hubby. He, he. Janet x
Oh Tina, What a thicko I am, I had no idea they actually existed. As you say it does sound a lot of bother, so I guess I’ll stick with my robotic hubby. He, he. Janet x
Oh Tina, What a thicko I am, I had no idea they actually existed. As you say it does sound a lot of bother, so I guess I’ll stick with my robotic hubby. He, he. Janet x