Customer Rating: 
Summary: Short term life
Comment: iRobot Roomba Pet Series 532 Vacuum Cleaning Robot
I loved this machine at first. I bought the pet series as I have two cats and loved the idea of a vacuum running every day by itself. It worked well - it did require frequent cleaning of the brushes but still loved it. After about 9 months the battery started to have a shorter and shorter run time. I purchased a new battery and was back in business. Then about a month after the year warranty ran out, the brushes stopped turning. After cleaning them thoroughly (inside and out) - it worked again - for about a week. I did another cleaning and it didn't last for a room. After researching them online, I found that the motor on this model burns out often or the plastic gears wear and it stops turning. I did everything I could to clean and help it work short of taking it in for service - which ranged from $75 to $100 just to check it out. It was over $300 to buy. I finally decided to give it to a charity that either fixes and sells or sells electronics for parts.
Many reviews speak of it failing just after the warranty runs out. That was my experience as well. Their support offered a new model - but no satisfaction for this one.
For less than $50 more, I bought a Dyson Animal. It may not run itself, but my carpets are cleaner, it doesn't stop, and I don't have to repeatedly remove fur from the brushes to get my small apartment clean.
VERY disappointed.
Customer Rating: Summary: Amazing and pet friendly!
Comment: This is just an initial review of this exciting investment. Yes...an investment; in time, comfort,
expedience and satisfaction. I just received my iRobot Roomba 532 yesterday, July 31, 2010. Althought it
is premature to write a review of its reliability--in the long term--I can atest to my purchase
satisfaction. There is no initial buyer's remorse...yet! Ha-ha.
I have three Shih Tzu dogs. One is a senior and the other two are just pups--13 moonths and 9-weeks
old. I put the iRobot on charge as soon as I unpacked it. The packaging was excellent!
Today I put it--the Roomba--to the test. I must admit, it is quite amazing! The test area: Family
Room. That's where dirt gets heavy--porcelain tiles, a round center rug, puppy crate, and virtually
everyone's play ground.
If you have had, or have, puppies--you know how scared, or excited at all the noises and people in
their surroundings. Well, my 9-week-old puppy was never intimitated or surprised by the iRobot. That was
great! This is iRobot is so quiet! And it runs smoothly! This iRobot is so quiet and it's efficient! What
a pleasant and satisfying experience!
The iRobot performed to standard, as advertised, and lived up to all the hype to boot! My family room
is 18-ft by 16-ft. Using the Virtual Walls that come with the system was fantastic. They worked just
great. The Roomba went back to Home Base--smoothly. It's charging now, took approximately 1-hr to
complete, and ready for its next room--the kitchen--I will say...the iRobot Roomba is everything it's made
out to be.
For a disabled person this would be a great investment. But, research the other models, because they
could have the features you really need. I could have purchased another model with added features, like
iRobot Roomba Pet Series 532 Vacuum Cleaning Robotremote control. The next purchase is the Scooba! Use it to mop the floors, and the Dirt Dog next.
Customer Rating: Summary: WOW!
Comment: I love, love, love this Rumba! I have a Lab and a Husky so you can imagine the pet hair. This Rumba really does the trick. I have another Rumba and love it. Everyone should have a Rumba!!!!
Customer Rating: Summary: Best anniversary present ever!
Comment: OK, I love my Roomba.
My biggest complaint is its lazy! It will run for maybe an 1.5 hrs & then need to be charged. I think it should last longer than that. As most ppl said the other pain is I wish it held more dirt. I have 2 dogs that shed nonstop so it requires frequent cleaning. Its not that terrible but too bad there isnt a better solution.
I dont set up walls either, I just let it go & clean my entire downstairs. It would probably be even better if I just left it to do a single room at a time.
My dogs who are freaks dont even care about it.
Customer Rating: Summary: HUGE time-saver for pet owners!
Comment: After reading all the reviews and adjusting my expectations accordingly, we finally took the plunge and bought one of these. We have 3 cats, 2 of which are very long-haired and shed EVERYWHERE. We were pretty much looking for a "maintenance" solution between thorough vacuumings. I have to say that this does the trick in every way possible. It's a pet hair magnet! Our big area rug looks great after daily uses, and the hardwoods look clean and dust-free as well.
That being said, I was hoping we'd be able to tell it to clean as we were on the way out the door for work in the morning, but that's proven not to be a possiblity given our area rug. We intentionally avoided as many dark colors as possible when we bought the rug because of our light-colored cats, but there are a few dark spots on it that after awhile will cause the 'bot to stop and ask to be moved elsewhere. It only takes a second to move it, but we've just taken to using it while we're at home doing other things so we can keep an eye on it and keep it on task.
As I've read elsewhere and found to be true, it's to be considered an 80/20 device...it will do 80% of the work for you, which is more than enough for day to day cleaning. We're basically down to running the vacuum once a week just to get the few dark spots on the rug and in the tight spaces where even the 'bot can't get. Other than that, we clean it after every cycle (dustbin and brushes) and clean the caster wheel once or twice a week. Takes less than 5 minutes and it's all ready for the next use.
All in all, worth every penny for the time it saves us. Still waiting for one of our cats to take it for a "test drive", though. ;)
