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Robots are a little freaky. In Sept. 2020, the International Federation of Robotics reported a record high of 2.7 million industrial robots operating in factories around the world. Fear of robots replacing humans and making our jobs obsolete springs to mind, but when that job is vacuuming, I’m totally on board with it.
I’d heard a lot about the iRobot Roomba vacuums but hadn’t considered purchasing one because I don’t find vacuuming (or sweeping in my case — hardwood floors) particularly taxing. That said, now that I’ve had the opportunity to try one of these robots, I get it. I love being able to leave the house, press “New job” on my smartphone and return home 30 minutes later to a pet-hair-free floor.
Who should consider the iRobot Roomba j7 Combo: People that loathe — or really don’t enjoy — cleaning. The iRobot Roomba j7 Combo will vacuum and mop your home for $1,299.99 — a great option for people with kids or pets that track dirt and mud into the house. If budget is an issue, the company has older models starting as low as $339.99. These products are great for people who love to see technology in action and wish to have control over vacuuming while at home or remotely.
About the iRobot Roomba j7 Combo: The j7+ model I tested, comes with a Clean Base for automatic dirt disposal, meaning the vacuum automatically empties its bin when full. This is extremely helpful for people living on one floor because you don’t have to think about vacuuming, other than hitting “Start job” on your phone or pressing the “Clean” button on the vacuum.
This model uses Imprint Smart Mapping, meaning once you’ve used the vacuum a few times in your home, it remembers your floor plan and can clean more efficiently each time it vacuums. You’re also able to customize room names and cleaning jobs, if you only want your kitchen and bathroom done, rather than the dining room, for example.
This model also has voice controls, so you can direct it to clean certain rooms just by yelling at it (or using a normal volume, if that’s your style) or via the iRobot HOME app.
Finally, it has edge sweeping brushes that constantly spin, designed to get all of the dust and debris out of the hard-to-reach corners and edges of each room. Follow that with a high-efficiency filter made from a special material that (they say) captures 99 per cent of pollen, mould, dust mite and cat and dog allergens. Add in the mop feature and that sounds like one clean floor.
iRobot claims to have the first “truly hands-free 2-in-1” vacuum and mop in the world. The retractable mop pad cleverly pops down once the machine moves away from your carpets or rugs and onto your hardwood floors or tiles. It’s quite a seamless experience and fun to watch.
You can tailor the Cleaning Mode on the app to vacuum only or vacuum and mop, as well as change the Liquid Amount (the level of cleaning solution dispensed when mopping) and Cleaning Passes (the number of cleaning passes the robot will clean a specified area).
j7 Combo specs and facts:
Setting up the iRobot Roomba: The setup was fairly straightforward, thanks to one-page instruction booklets. Essentially, you download the iRobot HOME app and follow the prompts. You place the Clean Base in an open area with few obstacles, so it can find its way home safely. The vacuum needs to do a few cleans before learning and mapping your space. Once it’s done, it’s very easy to then customize your map using the app and name each room.
My favourite features: The ability to clean the floors while I’m running errands. I have a dog that sheds her weight in fur on a weekly basis, so it’s rewarding to return home from a walk and have hair-free floors.
I love that the machine empties the bins itself, though this feature only works on the floor where the Clean Base lives. If you have a multiple-floor home, you need to lift the vacuum upstairs and empty it when prompted by the vacuum itself or your smart app. That said, it has the ability to map multiple floors and you can customize each, plus you have the option of setting up cleaning schedules so you don’t have to think about it throughout the week.
The j7 vacuums and mops simultaneously, moving from carpet cleaning to hardwood floor cleaning and can identify and avoid obstacles and hazards (including pet waste).
My least favourite features: Watching the vacuums learn the ins and outs of my home drove me crazy. It would bump into a chair, turn slightly, then bump into the chair again. It cleans in rows, so I would watch it almost pick up a fluff for ten minutes, before actually getting it. It also takes a long time to figure your space out, so the first few cleans could take up to two or three hours for a relatively small space (my ground floor is roughly 550 sq.ft.) These things may not bother some people, but I’d suggest leaving your house for the first few cleans if you think they might.
The machines are fairly noisy, especially when emptying the bins because of the extreme suction process pulling the dirt and dust up into the Clean Base. It can also be a little scary for pets at first — my dog still steers well clear of the vacuum.
Final thoughts: This vacuum is excellent for pet owners and even better for people who live on one floor because then you can set it up and completely forget about it. Here’s a surprise — it’s great for those who really dislike cleaning — sweeping, vacuuming or mopping in particular. If you want an all-in-one machine, I would definitely recommend the j7 Combo for its mopping feature.
I want a dishwashing robot now, please.
Where to buy:
j7 Combo: Amazon $1,299.99 | iRobot $1,299.99
Editor’s note: Originally published in June 2021, we’ve updated this article to include our thoughts on the Combo j7 robot vacuum and mop.
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