Scooba Questions

[jlwquilter]

I just bought a Scooba...really looking forward to it as I HATE cleaning the kitchen tile. :annoyed:

Anyway, I have an open floor plan from the kitchen into the family room with a stepped tile design merging into the carpeted area. I can use the virtual wall to section off most but not all of the carpet.

Will Scooba not go on the carpet? There is a "bump" where the tile and carpet meet. I can just try it, I know, but I wonder what the solution will do to the berber??

And speaking of the cleaning solution... I have the small starter bottle. Has anyone used other than the recommended Clorox solution to successfully clean and not ruin the Scooba?

Thanks the help!

 

[Kay H]

I use white vinegar and H2O in mine all the time.

 

[cpnuser]

scooba

The manufacturer recommends using vineager. It's a lot cheaper than the solution that comes with Scooba.

 

[Jestjoan]

How well does Scooba work? I'm a little leary of it.

 

[nicklinneh]

go to www.roombareview.com and search the forum for just that question. --------------ken

 

[jlwquilter]

I use white vinegar and H2O in mine all the time.

What ratio do you use? I like vinegar and water for cleaning too!

 

[jlwquilter]

The manufacturer recommends using vineager. It's a lot cheaper than the solution that comes with Scooba.

Irobot does?? I didn't see that in my manual...it says only use the solution. Which I know is more a marketing thing than strictly necessary, which is why I am asking what other users use.

What ratio of vinegar to water do you use?

 

[nicklinneh]

Irobot does NOT want you using other cleaning solutions; they even have a sticker on my scooba that says "use of other solutions may void your warranty". That said, there are several issues to consider in concocting your own formula.
1. you need some detergent to cut the gum, grease, whatever on your floor.
2. the detergent mustn't be too slippery, else scooba's wheels won't have enough traction.
3. pH should be about 7 (neutral), like Irobot's product. the vinegar in most formulas is to pull down the soaps high pH.
4. your formula mustn't be sticky, because there are some small holes inside that could get plugged up.
5. MOST IMPORTANT! don't use Clorox just because they make the stock product; that is completely different stuff.
Roombareview has loads of info on this; go there.
Most formulae contain Mr. Clean or Pine-sol + vinegar.
Happy experimenting! ----ken

 

[Kay H]

What ratio do you use? I like vinegar and water for cleaning too!

1 measure (came with scooba) of white vinegar to filled tank compartment. My instructions recommended it.

 

[jlwquilter]

go to www.roombareview.com and search the forum for just that question. --------------ken

Thanks for the link! I did get a chacne to do a little reading on the site and it seems full of good suggestions.

 

[jlwquilter]

So far, so good

I ran the Scooba for the first time last night, using the solution provided. I did cut back on the amount used per suggestions I had previously read...seemed to work great!

I am not so sure how the spot scubber worked though....but then, my floors were so bad that it really wasn't fair to the poor little robot

I did find that the "bump" between my tile and carpet wasn't enough to stop the Scooba from leaving the kitchen and getting hung up under a dining room chair. No biggie, I just laid my kitchen ladder across the door.

The virtual wall sent out too wide a beam and stopped the Scooba way before I wanted it to. So I have to play with placing that more. I ended up laying the bar chairs on the floor as a "wall" to keep the Scooba out of the family room. This worked well as then the Scooba made the turn and cleaned under the breakfast bar/stool area as well. Ok, it's a bit a pain to have to do the chair thing, but still WAY better than mopping

Overall, for the first try, I am pleased with how it all worked out.