Do robotic vacuum cleaners really work

[cyclonefence]

9. We've had one since about the third year they were available

and our machine has been excellent in cleaning up food detritus under the table between normal vacuumings. It doesn't substitute for a regular vacuum; its suction isn't as strong and it doesn't hit every inch of the floor. But it does an acceptable job in keeping the floor clean enough for every day.

We have a cat, and it does an excellent job in keeping cat hair under control, to the point that allergic people who visit after a Roomba-ing are not bothered by the cat's shedding.

My biggest complaint is that it gets stuck under furniture, and I have to prepare the room for its use. I place cushions in front of the couch, for instance, and line up the dining room chairs to create a clear passage. It also gets tangled in bits of yarn and kleenex that I don't notice under the chair. It's never had a problem with rug fringe, but sometimes gets trapped by the edge of thin throw rugs. You have to straighten up the room--or at least the floor--before you run it.