Can Roomba Damage Hardwood Floors? Let’s Find Out!

Robotic vacuums have made cleaning more manageable and more convenient. iRobot’s Roomba is one of the most famous and efficient ones out there. But many users have shown concerns about losing the aesthetic beauty of their hardwood floors due to robotic vacuums, including Roomba. Before purchasing a Roomba, you may ask yourself; can Roomba damage hardwood floors?

There are a lot of factors involved when answering this query. Can Roomba damage hardwood floors? What types of hardwood floors? What alternatives do you have? And so on. Keep reading to know all you need to know about Roombas and cleaning hardwood floors. Let’s find out!

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Are Roombas safe for hardwood floors?

No, all Roombas are not safe for hardwood floors. This is because of their plastic spinning side brush, which can create circular scratches on your hardwood floor. However, newer versions of Roomba have been designed to avoid this; they have softer rubber brushes and can adapt to the type of floor they operate on.

The side swivel wheel/brush on a Roomba can also pick up debris and other dirt particles. If not cleaned regularly, these particles are dragged along your hardwood floors as the Roomba continues cleaning. This may create more scratches in addition to the circular ones that the side brush is likely to leave behind.

Is Roomba 960 safe for hardwood floors?

Yes, the Roomba 960 is a considerably safe option for cleaning hardwood floors. Its whole-cleaning ability and combination of three soft-bristled brushes make it optimal for thoroughly cleaning hardwood floors. However, you still need to be careful about keeping the side brush clean to avoid scratches and marks.

I tried this on my hardwood floor, which was made out of pine. It worked normally, but I noticed a few mild scratches in some areas. Other than that, there has not been any significant damage to my floor over the last six months.

Can robot vacuums clean hardwood floors?

Yes, robot vacuums can clean hardwood floors. They are well-suited for these floors as they work best on even bare surfaces where dirt and debris have less space for getting trapped. They can do execute this job better if you regularly clean their brushes to get rid of excess particles that may drag along on your floor and cause scratches.

What is the best robot cleaner for hardwood floors?

Worried about finding the best robot cleaner to maintain your gorgeous hardwood floors? Well, I’ve got the list you need! Amidst all the new inventions lately and ambiguous data regarding their functionality, it can be hard to find robot cleaners that suit your needs.

But you don’t need to worry. I created this list after analyzing hundreds of customer reviews to make it valuable and relevant. Here are the five best robot cleaners that customers trusted with their hardwood floors and saw great results (in no particular order). Let’s see!

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Eufy Robovac 30C Robot Vacuum Cleaner

If you feel that the noise made by robot vacuum cleaners is deafening and are thinking of giving up on them, do not do it. This model by Eufy is considered to be the quietest out of the lot. The mellow sound does not hamper its ability to clean hardwood floors safely and adequately; its suction is still powerful.

Eufy’s cleaners do not have any special brushes, wheels, or other technology, so your hardwood floor has significantly fewer chances of being damaged.

Roborock S6 Robot Vacuum

Roborock’s S6 robot vacuum is famous for its extra-strong suction technology that would clean your hardwood floors very thoroughly, sucking dirt and debris from all cracks. This one is a hybrid machine; it is a vacuum and a mop in one cleaner. The mop provides a fresh and clean look for your hardwood floor, efficiently completing the cleaning process.

The company claims that its robots are designed to work effectively on hard floors. The S6 model comes with a DuPont nylon brush, which takes good care of your hardwood floor while working at full capacity.

Neato Robotics D6 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum

The D-shape structure of this robot vacuum allows it to reach places that are hard to access and clean easily. Its laser guidance allows it to map and navigate around your floor without getting stuck on obstacles.

Neato claims that all of their vacuums have rubber-based brushes and rollers installed in them. This tends to highly minimize the chances of this vacuum scratching your hardwood floor.

OKP Life K2 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

I consider this cleaner a very cost-effective option; this is as budget-friendly as it can get for a good robot vacuum in the market. Even though users claim that this machine was not suitable for carpets, it proved to work well on hard floors. The magnitude of suction suffices for thorough cleaning of a hardwood floor.

This cleaner does not have any brushes, ensuring no damage is done to your hardwood floor and avoiding entanglement of hair and other debris.

iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550) Robot Vacuum

This model by iRobot seems to work very well for hardwood floors; thousands of customers vouch for that. This high-end robot vacuum works wonders on all kinds of floors with its strong suction capacity and deep cleaning technology.

To avoid any scratches on your floor, you must make sure that you keep all the brushes on your Roomba i7 are clean. You may face damage if dirt and debris collect in your brushes and drag along on your floor. This has been identified as the primary cause of hardwood floor damage.

The company also recommends consulting with your floor manager before purchasing a Roomba to ensure that the technology used in your preferred Roomba won’t compromise your hardwood floor. Other than that, it is safe to say that a well-cleaned iRobot Roomba i7 will not damage your hardwood floor.

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Which Roomba to buy for hardwood floors?

iRobot’s Roomba i7 robot vacuum would be the best option for cleaning hardwood floors. In addition to cleaning your floor thoroughly, sucking in chunky debris, and picking up hair, this model has a very low tendency to damage your hardwood floors. It uses rubber rollers, and the side brush does not pose a threat if cleaned regularly.

When it comes to assessing the compatibility of a robot vacuum with a hardwood floor, online product reviewers often overlook the potential damage they could cause. Only the exceptional suction capacities and other features are focused on. In contrast, the customer is looking for guidance regarding the factor of damage. Hence, customers are often misled.

Most of iRobot’s Roombas have been reviewed to leave scratches on hardwood floors, particularly older versions that had large bristle brushes. Newer versions, including the Roomba i7, can adapt to different types of floors and have been designed as such.

The main features of the Roomba i7 are:

A premium 3-stage cleaning regime. This works with ten times the suction power when compared to other Roomba 600 series models.
It comes with rubber brushes and a soft side brush with very few chances of damaging a hardwood floor.
Compatible with Google Home and Alexa.
vSLAM navigation helps the Roomba learn the entire layout of a home, making navigation almost always accurate.
Self-charging capability.
Keep out zones help you exclude places from the cleaning map.

This extremely smart and fully automated Roomba has been reviewed as one of the best at cleaning hardwood floors without damaging them. This model is priced at a higher amount than other older versions, notably the Roomba 600 series. However, I believe that the extra investment is worth the benefit of preserving the form and beauty of your hardwood floor.

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What is the best way to clean hardwood floors? Without a robot cleaner!

If you are more of a conventional cleaner or just prefer to take care of your hardwood floor yourself, you can do so without a robot cleaner. I have found the best way to make this work during a regular and deep cleaning regime! Keep them looking earthy, fresh, and gorgeous by following these simple steps.

Regular Cleaning Regime

Remove extra clutter from your floor by hand; larger-sized materials or sharp objects. This is to avoid getting any scratches on your hardwood floor while cleaning.
Use a dust mop or a good-quality soft broom to clean the floor. Mops with a microfiber head tend to work very well on hardwood floors.
Start from one point and start cleaning your way through to an endpoint (from one end of the room to the other).
Clean with gentle but firm strokes using the dust mop/broom, making sure you cover the edges and corners.
Gather the dust/dirt at the ending point and pick it up.

Another way to go about regular cleaning would involve using a vacuum cleaner instead of a mop/broom. You could use a manual vacuum or a robot vacuum; whatever you choose, be sure to check the brushes. Beater batter brushes and those with pointy plastic bristles can cause damage to your hardwood floor.

It would be best to check with your flooring manufacturer to see which vacuum would be best suited for your hardwood floor.

Deep Cleaning Regime

Integrate a deep cleaning regime into your schedule on a twice a month basis to make sure that your hardwood floor is being maintained well. Sometimes, stubborn substances like oil, dirt, grease, and other similar ones are not eliminated with regular methods. Hence, deep cleaning becomes essential to protect the health of your floor.

You will need a wood floor cleaning product and a wood floor mop for this. Consult with your flooring manufacturer before buying a cleaning product. If you do not trust chemical products, you could make a solution at home.

Here’s how you can go about deep cleaning your hardwood floor:

Start with your regular cleaning routine as instructed above.
After removing all dust and debris from the floor, prepare the cleaning solution you will use. Use a bucket.
If you are using a cleaning product, dilute it in the bucket following the instructions given on the label.
Immerse the cleaning mop into the solution and then wring it to remove excess water. You will need the mop to be damp, not wet.
Now, start mopping the floor. Insert the mop in the solution again if it gets too dry, and then wring it the same way.
Keep repeating till you have cleaned the entire floor.
While cleaning, ensure that you do not leave any water standing on your floor. Wipe excess liquid off of the floor immediately to prevent damage to your floor.

You can, of course, clean your hardwood floors well without a robot vacuum. It may take you some time, but that glow after a successful deep cleaning regime will surely be worth the effort and time!

Which is the best mopping robot?

Once your robot vacuums (or you) are done vacuuming a floor clean, robot mops step in to finish the job. They do what they are best at: they leave your floors streak-free, mopping away to give your hard floors a fresh look. If you have a hard floor, investing in a mopping robot is probably what you have had on your mind.

Cutting your chase short and sparing you the hassle, I have curated a list of the best three mopping robots you can find in the market today. These three have been tried and tested, with thousands of positive reviews from users around the globe. Let’s take a look!

iRobot Braava Jet m6

This is by far the best mopping robot out there. Although it is priced somewhat higher than the rest, users and experts love this smart robot mop. Why it’s incredible:

The Braava Jet m6 has electrostatic pads for dry sweeping and two separate pads for wet cleaning (you can buy reusable or disposable ones). Dry sweeping and wet cleaning capabilities in one mopping robot!
It can clean up to 1,000 square feet in a single charge. When needing charging, the robot mop will go to its charging dock itself and resume cleaning once sufficiently charged.
Its square shape helps remove grime and dirt even from hard-to-reach corners of your room.
It is the smartest robot mop out there. You can program it to avoid certain areas of your room and switch on or shut off automatically. The Braava Jet m6 can adapt to the cleaning area you use it on; the more you use it, the more intelligent and more efficient it gets in navigating its way around your house.

Jetbot Robotic Cleans

This robot mop by Samsung Electronics is one of the best ones in the market. It has its drawbacks when it comes to being ‘smart’ (it is not as smart as the Braava Jet m6 in navigation), but here is what makes it a good robot mop:

The Jetbot has eight different cleaning modes to cater to edges, random clean spots, focus on specific, dirtier spots, and more.
It has two sets of microfiber pads- one caters to wet cleaning, and the other is used for dry buffing, helping produce streak-free results.
It comes with a handheld mode to help users mop stairs and other above-the-floor areas using the machine’s effective cleaning methodology.

Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI

This invention by Ecovacs is a hybrid robot vacuum and mop, making it an ideal component of every smart home. Here is why it is on my list:

It automatically knows that it needs to vacuum and mop when you install the mopping pad into it.
It will not go onto your carpets when it is in mopping mode.
A combination of vacuuming and mopping ensures effective and efficient cleaning altogether.
It now comes with improved obstacle detection, reducing the need for you to clean up before turning this robot on.
More accurate multi-mapping makes Ozmo T8 a more efficient cleaner.

Concluding my thoughts on Roomba damaging hardwood floors!

Many say that Roomba damages hardwood floors; you must have concluded that after your research. I agree that older versions of Roomba have this drawback, but the newer ones perform better. I cannot vouch for all Roombas, though. Hence, it would be best to check with your flooring manufacturer.

If a Roomba is not suitable for your specific hardwood floor, do not worry! You have other options as well. If you are still skeptical about using a cleaning robot, you can clean your house yourself just as effectively. Just make sure you are ready to commit to it!