I thought I did a good job keeping my Roomba clean by carefully pulling clumps of hair from the brushes and wheels and emptying the bin after each cleaning. Little did I know that dust and dirt were accumulating in places I didn’t even look.
First, look at the metal charging contacts on the Roomba’s base station. When was the last time you took a close look at them – or even looked at them?
That certainly wasn’t the case, but when I discovered it, I saw that one of the two contacts wasn’t entirely silver, but had a rust-colored ring around it, while the other was almost completely discolored.
This guide is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot vacuum cleaners.
This dirty Roomba charging contact used to be all silver.
This dirty Roomba charging contact used to be all silver.
This dirty Roomba charging contact used to be all silver.
Broken charging contacts on your Roomba base station are not just a cosmetic problem. Eventually, these contacts become so dirty that your Roomba becomes difficult to dock and charge, and you may find yourself with a nearly dead Roomba the next time you want to clean your floors.
Related: The Best Way to Clean Your Roomba’s Hairy Brushes
Also, have you noticed that your Roomba has been moving slowly or erratically lately? When the Roomba’s IR-enabled cliff sensors get too dusty and dirty, they block the IR beam that’s supposed to be reflected back, meaning the vacuum might think it’s constantly approaching a wall or about to fall down the stairs .
Ear-Horse!
Ear-Horse!
Ear-Horse!
I admit that until recently I never bothered to look closely at my Roomba’s cliff sensors, and when I did… Yuck. One of the sensors was almost completely covered in dirt, while the other three clearly needed to be wiped down.
Roomba manufacturer iRobot recommends regularly cleaning your vacuum cleaner’s charging contacts and cliff sensors with a damp melamine foam. If you’re wondering what melamine foam is (I know I was), just think of Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser (or one of these brands).
You’ll need to apply a good amount of elbow grease to clean the charging contacts on your Roomba’s home base.
You’ll need to apply a good amount of elbow grease to clean the charging contacts on your Roomba’s home base.
You’ll need to apply a good amount of elbow grease to clean the charging contacts on your Roomba’s home base.
I held my Magic Eraser under the kitchen faucet, wrung it out, and then began polishing the charging contacts on my Roomba’s home base.
Related: Learn how to properly clean your Roomba’s trash can
It took a surprising amount of force to rub the dirt off, but eventually the silver began to shine through again. Also, don’t forget to clean the corresponding contacts on the bottom of the Roomba itself.
How to clean your Roomba’s cliff sensors
Cleaning the cliff sensors was much easier. All you basically do is wipe the dirt off the clear plastic windows that protect the IR lenses, and while I didn’t get them perfectly clean, at least they’re no longer covered in dust.
This is what your Roomba’s cliff sensors should look like.
This is what your Roomba’s cliff sensors should look like.
This is what your Roomba’s cliff sensors should look like.
Of course, some Roomba models have more cliff sensors than others and they may be located in different locations. Check out these diagrams on iRobot’s support site for details about your specific Roomba.
Here’s how to completely clean the rest of your Roomba
Feeling inspired after cleaning your Roomba’s charging contacts and cliff sensors? Great, but there’s still a lot of dirt, hair, and general grime lurking in the nooks and crannies of your Roomba.
Check out these tips to thoroughly clean your Roomba: