Introduction: How to Clean a Roomba
Roombas are a great way to keep your house clean without you needing to do any work, but they do require regular cleaning to keep them running and cleaning properly. This instructable will show you how to properly clean your Roomba so you can get longer run times, more dirt out of your floor per run, and extend the life of your Roomba's components. I will be showing you how to clean your Roomba at several deferment levels of difficulty.
Level 1 Beginner
Level 2 Beginner
Level 3 intermediate
(only do this Level if you feel confident that you can get your Roomba back together without breaking anything.)
Level 1 Beginner
Level 2 Beginner
Level 3 intermediate
(only do this Level if you feel confident that you can get your Roomba back together without breaking anything.)
Step 1: Before We Get Started
Before we get started it's important to make sure that your Roomba is a 500 series Roomba. To see what series you have turn your Roomba upside down and look right above the right rear wheel, you should see a number printed in white. If your number is between 500 and 599 this means that you can move on to the next step without worry. If your number is not between 500 and 599 proceed with caution because your Roomba will be an earlier series than the one used in this instructible and most if not all of the following steps will not directly apply to your series Roomba.
Step 2: Cleaning Level 1 Beginner
This level describes basic cleaning that should be conducted every run or every other run depending on how dirty your floor is.
First remove the dust bin and empty any dirt inside of it. Second pull out the filter drawer by pulling on the yellow tab(see photo) then emptying any of the dirt inside. Finally close the filter door and reattach the dust bin to Roomba.
First remove the dust bin and empty any dirt inside of it. Second pull out the filter drawer by pulling on the yellow tab(see photo) then emptying any of the dirt inside. Finally close the filter door and reattach the dust bin to Roomba.
Step 3: Cleaning Levle 2 Beginner
This level of cleaning describes how to do a slightly more advance level of cleaning compared to level one, you should do this step once every 3-10 runs depending on the conditions of your flooring.
First turn your Roomba upside down and push down and hold on both of the two yellow plastic tabs at the bottom of the brush unit and lift so you can access the brushes. Now that you have access to the brushes you can pull the brushes out of Roomba and remove any hair, dirt, string, acc. You can use a small scissors to carefully cut away at hair or other things stuck around the brushes, just be careful not to damage the brushes when doing this. Now pull off the yellow plastic cap located at the one end of the brushes. Once you have removed the cap set it in a safe place and use a tooth pic to remove anything stuck in the indentation where the cap used to be. After that reattach the cap to the brush it should just snap in and put the brush back into Roomba. Finally repeat the steps already mentioned on the other brush and re close the brush cover.
Now here comes a very important step that is offend overlooked, so pay attention.
First find the swiveling wheel located at the front end of your Roomba. Then pry up with your fingers along one side of the wheel until it pops up then do the same for the other side and remove the wheel from Roomba. Then pull up on the swiveling mechanism and remove it. remove any dirt located in the crevices where the swivel and wheel sat, being careful not to damage the sensor in Roomba. Then pick up the wheel and remove the axle by pressing on the one side of the axle till it is flush with the wheel and then using a small screwdriver to push it the rest of the way through. Clean any dirt off the axle and reinsert the axle into the wheel. Finally reinsert the wheel into the swivel by snapping it into place and push the swivel back into Roomba.
First turn your Roomba upside down and push down and hold on both of the two yellow plastic tabs at the bottom of the brush unit and lift so you can access the brushes. Now that you have access to the brushes you can pull the brushes out of Roomba and remove any hair, dirt, string, acc. You can use a small scissors to carefully cut away at hair or other things stuck around the brushes, just be careful not to damage the brushes when doing this. Now pull off the yellow plastic cap located at the one end of the brushes. Once you have removed the cap set it in a safe place and use a tooth pic to remove anything stuck in the indentation where the cap used to be. After that reattach the cap to the brush it should just snap in and put the brush back into Roomba. Finally repeat the steps already mentioned on the other brush and re close the brush cover.
Now here comes a very important step that is offend overlooked, so pay attention.
First find the swiveling wheel located at the front end of your Roomba. Then pry up with your fingers along one side of the wheel until it pops up then do the same for the other side and remove the wheel from Roomba. Then pull up on the swiveling mechanism and remove it. remove any dirt located in the crevices where the swivel and wheel sat, being careful not to damage the sensor in Roomba. Then pick up the wheel and remove the axle by pressing on the one side of the axle till it is flush with the wheel and then using a small screwdriver to push it the rest of the way through. Clean any dirt off the axle and reinsert the axle into the wheel. Finally reinsert the wheel into the swivel by snapping it into place and push the swivel back into Roomba.
Step 4: Levle 3 Intermediate
This level of cleaning isn't overly necessary and is somewhat difficult so only do it if you feel it is necessary. First remove the screw on Roomba's rotating brush and set it in a safe place. Second grab Roomba's rotating brush by two of the brushes and pull up, Roomba's brush should snap off. Now remove the screws holding Roomba's bottom faceplate on (see photo). Lift the faceplate and blow out any dust you find under neath the faceplate. Warning do not turn Roomba right side up when the face plate is off because the battery will fall out if you don't remove it first. You can now start reassembling your Roomba.
Step 5: Your Done!
After following these steps you should notice that your Romba is slightly quieter and is running longer.