Do Roombas Work on Carpets: An Overview of Several Units

If you’re considering upgrading to a robot vacuum cleaner from traditional upright vacuum cleaners, it’s safe to say that the iRobot Roomba is probably the best robot vacuum out there.

This robot vacuum does all the cleaning and sweeping without you having to put even an ounce of effort.

That said, some people have carpets in their homes or the whole house is completely carpeted.

We know that even though carpets are soft and warm, they act as a magnet to allergens and small particles that can cause health issues.

As such, most people ask “Do Roombas work on carpets?”, especially since using a robot vacuum cleaner on your dirty carpet can save you tons of time and money in the long run.

Let’s talk about the iRobot Roomba Company and some of its best robot vacuums they claim to work on carpets.

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Top Picks

Roomba 694
Roomba E5
Roomba i7
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Personalized Cleaning Recommendations, Works with...
iRobot Roomba E5 (5150) Robot Vacuum - Wi-Fi Connected, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair,...
iRobot Roomba i7 (7150) Robot Vacuum- Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for...
Brand
iRobot
iRobot
iRobot
Model
Roomba 694
Robot E5 (5150)
Roomba i7 (7150)
Color
Charcoal Grey
Black
Black
Surface Recommendation
Carpet and hard floor
Tile, Carpet
Carpets, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Hard Floors
Special Features
Scheduling
5x Suction, Ideal for pet hair, Self-Charging, Wi-Fi connected, Works with Alexa
10x Suction, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Ideal for Pet Hair, Wi-Fi Connected, Works with Alexa
Runtime
90 mins
90 mins
75 mins
WiFi
Automatic Recharging
-
-
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
-
Roomba 694
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Personalized Cleaning Recommendations, Works with...
Brand
iRobot
Model
Roomba 694
Color
Charcoal Grey
Surface Recommendation
Carpet and hard floor
Special Features
Scheduling
Runtime
90 mins
WiFi
Automatic Recharging
Amazon Prime
Roomba E5
iRobot Roomba E5 (5150) Robot Vacuum - Wi-Fi Connected, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair,...
Brand
iRobot
Model
Robot E5 (5150)
Color
Black
Surface Recommendation
Tile, Carpet
Special Features
5x Suction, Ideal for pet hair, Self-Charging, Wi-Fi connected, Works with Alexa
Runtime
90 mins
WiFi
Automatic Recharging
-
Amazon Prime
Roomba i7
iRobot Roomba i7 (7150) Robot Vacuum- Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for...
Brand
iRobot
Model
Roomba i7 (7150)
Color
Black
Surface Recommendation
Carpets, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Hard Floors
Special Features
10x Suction, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Ideal for Pet Hair, Wi-Fi Connected, Works with Alexa
Runtime
75 mins
WiFi
Automatic Recharging
-
-

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Do Roombas Work?

Have you ever wondered if a Roomba can be your personal cleaning assistant? From carpets to hard floors, these versatile robotic buddies are designed to take the hassle of vacuuming away from you. But do they really work as advertised? Really, does roomba work on carpet?

In short, yes. Roombas are an effective tool for cleaning floor surfaces in your home. The machines use sensors to detect dirt and debris, plus brushes and suction to capture it all up into the dustbin. They move around objects like furniture legs cleverly and can tackle corners with ease. Some models even work on carpets, and we’ll find out in this article which ones best work effectively on carpeted floors.

Roombas are also quite convenient to use. Once you’ve set it up, you can usually just press a button and let the machine take care of everything for you. You can also specify a cleaning schedule so that your Roomba does its job when it suits you.

Why Choose iRobot Roomba?

iRobot is one of the top brands worldwide known for producing some of the best robot vacuum cleaners.

They have a variety of the best robot vacuums with a price ranging from $300 to $1100.

This massive range includes multiple robot vacuum models that possess different features to make your life easier.

Some of the features you will find among the various models in this brand include Dirt Detect, strong suction power, smart charge, and self cleaning process.

They also have many different series of robot vacuum cleaners like the S series, E series, 600 series, and 900 series.

Does Roomba Work on Carpet?

Yes, some iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum Cleaners can clean your carpets in your home. Depending on the model, some are designed to pick up dirt, dust, and debris from a low pile carpet, while others can handle a deeper or high pile carpet.

However, it’s not possible to know how every single robot vacuum works on a carpet. Therefore, it’s best to check the manufacturer’s specifications on each model before you purchase one.

As such, we tested the best robot vacuum models from the brand’s different series to get a better idea which one works for your specific needs and type of carpet.

Roomba 690

iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets,...

We chose the Roomba 690 because this is the brand’s more affordable WiFi capable robot vacuum cleaner.

But how does it fare on carpets? This robot vacuum model comes with bristled brushes, but it’s not tangle-free.

That means it requires you to spend more time cleaning the vacuum cleaner once it’s done cleaning your home.

The Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum Cleaner isn’t the most efficient when compared to other Roomba models.

Still, we found that it does a fairly decent job cleaning carpets, considering its low price tag.

The Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum also has no issues sucking different debris types on a bare floor and even on regular thin carpets.

The problem is that we did find it struggling a bit on thicker carpets.

Eventually, though, it got the job done, but requires a longer time than other more expensive and higher-end models.

It is also important to note that the Roomba 690’s cleaning pattern is quite random, unlike other models like the Roomba 960 or i7.

This feature also makes cleaning time longer than others. Still, the best budget robot vacuum we have tested so far.

iRobot Roomba 690
Sleek, premium design complements your home décor; Includes 1 dual mode virtual wall barrier for more control over where your robot cleans. With 3 stage cleaning system and dual multi surface brushes pick up everything from small particles to large debris.

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Roomba 694

iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Personalized Cleaning Recommendations, Works with...

Set up your home cleaning routine with the iRobot Roomba 694 and you’ll have a sparkling clean abode in no time.

Connect to Wi-Fi for personalized recommendations, pair it with Alexa to automate daily tasks, or set up its self-charging feature so that chores become worry free.

Perfect for pet hair on carpets and hard floors alike – this robot vacuum is just what you need. It’s powerful, efficient, and even navigates furniture for complete coverage of your home.

The 3-Stage Cleaning system effortlessly removes dirt, dust and debris from both carpets and hard floors while an Edge-Sweeping brush takes care of those tricky corners and edges.

The Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head rapidly adjusts its height to provide you with the most efficient cleaning results across both carpets and hard floors. For optimal performance, the Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum utilizes two flexible Multi-Surface Brushes that smoothly adjust to varied floor surfaces.

For up to 90 minutes of uninterrupted performance, this device can function at full capacity before smartly docking and recharging itself.

The Roomba 694 puts vacuuming out of your thoughts, with personalized cleaning ideas driven by the exclusive Artificial Intelligence powered by iRobot OS. This amazing device can even learn your routine and habits.

With the iRobot Home App or your voice assistant, commanding the Roomba 694 robot to vacuum is as simple as saying it. Effortless and convenient, cleaning has never been simpler.

Sale
iRobot Roomba 694
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Personalized Cleaning Recommendations, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging.

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Roomba e5

iRobot Roomba E5 (5150) Robot Vacuum - Wi-Fi Connected, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair,...

The Roomba e5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner works fairly similarly to the Roomba 960.

Both of these models come with the same powerful suction.  The upside with the e5 model is that it is relatively more budget-friendly.

It also features advanced tangle-free rollers like the Roomba i7.

The battery power of this unit is also quite impressive. It lasts quite long on a single charge.

However, keep in mind that this robot vacuum does not restart vacuuming the house once it is done charging like the Roomba 960.

You have to restart the vacuum cleaner manually after the battery has been fully charged.

Another downside of the e5 is that it cannot map your home.

It uses a random cleaning system that ultimately leads to the vacuum cleaner not remembering where it needs to head to clean.

It just runs around randomly cleaning if left unattended until its battery is completely drained out.

Regarding how well it performs on carpets, we found that this vacuum cleaner does an impressive job.

That is because it features the same powerful suction as the Roomba 960.

Also, the improved tangle-free rollers prove to be highly beneficial in getting rid of debris and fur from the carpet.

Since the e5 is a newer and improved model, it does come with a few of the advanced hardware and software that you will find on higher-end models like the Roomba i7 and the i7+.

Still, it lacks newer features like Carpet Boost. Nonetheless, this is a far better option than the Roomba 960 and a more affordable robot vacuum cleaner for carpeted homes.

Sale
iRobot Roomba E5 (5150)
Pulls in stubborn dirt and messes with a Premium 3-Stage Cleaning System and 5X the Power-Lifting Suction. Control how you clean with the iRobot HOME app or your voice assistant.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Roomba i7

iRobot Roomba i7 (7150) Robot Vacuum- Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for...

The Roomba i7 belongs to the high-end and expensive series of the brand.

It comes with advanced tangle-free brushless rollers that are ideal for picking up pet hair from carpets.

The i7 has the same features as the above two models we talked about.

The difference is that it has a stronger suction power and carpet identification system.

It also comes with camera-based mapping that is significantly better than most models.

With this feature, you can interact with the map by dividing the maps you have created.

You can also name each division and even send a command to the vacuum cleaner to clean a particular room or an area in the room you want to be cleaned.

The Roomba i7 Robot Vacuum Cleaner is an excellent option because it comes enabled with Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa.

It also cleans any kind of carpet, thin or thick, with absolute ease and eliminates all types of debris on it.

What takes the cake, though, is that it supports multiple floors, plus the Roomba i7 Robot Vacuum Cleaner can store up to 10 different floor plans.

iRobot Roomba i7 (7150)
Pulls in stubborn dirt and messes with a Premium 3-Stage Cleaning System and 10X the Power-Lifting Suction. (Compared to the Roomba 600 series cleaning system)

Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Roomba i7+

iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal - Empties Itself for up to 60...

The Roomba i7+ is an upgraded model. In addition to all the features from the i7, the i7+ has a more advanced charging base.

This base can suck up all the debris by itself from the robot vacuum’s dustbin and then store it in a disposable bag.

It can hold more than 30 times the capacity of the dustbin that is inside the robot vacuum. This is a great feature if you have a significantly big house.

That is because you will not need to constantly empty the dustbin for the robot vacuum to continue cleaning when it’s full.

Sale
iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550)
iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal - Empties Itself for up to 60 days, Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Black.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Roomba S Series

iRobot Roomba S9 (9150) Robot Vacuum- Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Works with...

The Roomba S Series of vacuum cleaners consists of the Roomba S9 and S9+.

These two robot vacuum cleaners are the company’s top-most models, but they cost anywhere between $900 and $1100.

While these robot vacuum cleaners are indeed pricey, it’s worth every penny. Plus, they work on every surface and any carpet type.  

These vacuum cleaners automatically increase their suction power when they detect that they are on carpets.

That is all thanks to their power-boost technology.

This vacuum cleaner series also comes with top-notch features like an anti-allergen system, automatic dirt disposal, three-stage cleaning system, and perfect-edge technology.

If you’re looking for the ideal robot vacuum cleaner for carpets and don’t mind dropping over a thousand dollars, then the S Series is exactly what you need.

Compare the best: irobot i7 Plus VS S9 Plus

Sale
iRobot Roomba S9 (9150)
iRobot Roomba S9 (9150) Robot Vacuum- Wi-Fi Connected, Smart Mapping, Powerful Suction, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair, Works With Clean Base.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How well do robot vacuums work on carpet?

Carpeting can be a real challenge to keep clean, but luckily robot vacuums are here to lend a helping hand. Robot vacuums have proven effective in tackling carpeted floors with impressive suction power that helps restore your carpets back to their original state of glory.

Does Roomba work on thick carpet?

Roombas can work on thick carpets. All Roomba models are equipped with advanced sensors and powerful suction that allow them to effectively clean carpeted surfaces.

However, keep in mind that the thickness of your carpet may affect how well can a Roomba work on carpet. A high pile carpet or even a medium pile carpet may require more passes for the Roomba to pick up all of the dirt and debris. In general, though, most Roombas should be able to handle a thicker carpet with ease.

Is Roomba a vaccum or just a carpet sweeper?

The Roomba is a robotic vacuum cleaner. Robot vacuums use sensors and advanced navigation technology to detect dirt, dust, and debris on floor surfaces throughout your home. The Roomba automatically adjusts its cleaning pattern depending on the type of surface it is cleaning, whether it is carpet, hardwood, tile or laminate floors.

In addition to vacuuming, the Roomba can also sweep floors and edges to effectively pick up dirt, dust and debris. It has powerful suction that is able to pick up both large and small particles, leaving your floors sparkling clean. With its mobility and efficient cleaning technology, the Roomba is much more than just a carpet sweeper. It is a comprehensive cleaning solution for your home.

Can robot vacuums go from hardwood to carpet?

Yes, most robot vacuums can transition from hardwood floors to carpets with ease. Many modern robotic vacuums are equipped with sensors and multiple cleaning modes, allowing them to automatically adjust their suction power when they detect a change in flooring type. They also come with adjustable settings that allow you to manually adjust the power levels for different flooring types. This feature, unlike when using a traditional vacuum, guarantees that your robot vacuum does an impeccable job on hardwood floors and carpets, safeguarding the pristine condition of both surfaces.

Does Roomba leave carpet marks?

No, the Roomba does not leave any carpet marks. The Roomba is designed with soft brushes and suction technology that prevents it from leaving any marks on carpets or other surfaces. Moreover, the suction on an iRobot Roomba is powerful enough to lift dirt and debris off your carpets without causing scratches or other damage. Additionally, the soft brushes are thick enough to prevent them from causing any abrasions on your carpet fibers. Therefore, you can rest assured that using a Roomba will not leave any marks on your carpets.

How often do you have to empty the Roomba vacuums?

The frequency of emptying your Roomba vacuums will depend on the model that you have, as well as how often you use it. Generally speaking, most models need to be emptied after each cleaning cycle or when the dust bin is full. Some newer models include sensors that will tell you when it’s time to empty the bin. You can even find a self emptying robot vacuum here like the Roomba i7+ model.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to regularly clean out any dust or debris that may be clogging up the filter or other parts of the vacuum so that it works more effectively.

Is Roomba the Solution to Cleaning Carpets Quickly and Efficiently?

So, does Roomba work on carpet? By now, it is clear that a majority of the Roomba models are capable of cleaning carpets.

That said, some models are obviously better at serious deep carpet cleaning tasks than the rest.

Of all the Roomba Robot Vacuum Cleaners we tried and tested, we have several recommendations for different needs.

First, we recommend that you opt for the Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum Cleaner if you’re on a tight budget and have thin carpets around your home.

Second, although the Roomba i7+ Vacuum Cleaner is slightly expensive, it is the ideal choice for fully-carpeted homes and we love the self-emptying option, extra useful for carpeted homes.

On the other hand, if you’re willing to spend a good buck on these best robot vacuum cleaners, you can consider the S Series.

The robot vacuum cleaners from these series work the best on any surface, as well as on both thin and thick carpets, without any hiccups.

About the author

Emma Marie is a valued writer at the Little Robot Shop. She studied robotics and deeply understands technology, which shows in her writing.  She consistently produces high-quality content, making her a perfect fit for the Little Robot Shop team.

While not writing, Emma works in a popular electronics retail chain. Emma also enjoys running and has two dogs with whom she loves spending time.

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