bit-tech Shopping: iRobot Side Brush 3-pack for Roomba 500 Series Vacuums

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Good at pulling dirt from edges and corners

Weaknesses: Arms rip off too easily - We lose on every few days

Summary: I have a Roomba 550 and I love it. It's nice to have clean floors without cat fur, without the effort of vacuuming myself. I wish the dust bin were bigger and these side brushes lasted longer, but it's a small price to pay.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 6 Months

Strengths: easy to install

Weaknesses: Doesn't last as long as it could - wings break off too frequently

Summary: These are the most replaceable of the parts on the Roomba. They really help when the Roomba is close to the walls or edges. They do sweep the dirt into the path of the Roomba. The problem is that they tend to break off because they are so fully utilized. It would be very helpful if IRobot could figure out a way to make them last a bit longer.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Easy to replace and maintain my robot!

Weaknesses: Brushes do break off rather easily...

Summary: My Roomba saves me time every day. I have 2 kids and a dog that sheds like crazy. Ever since I bought my Roomba my house has never been so clean. The only downside is that the unit does take some routine maintenance and cleaning to keep it performing....but its worth it! These brushes are very easy to replace.

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: The six brushes do an amazing job in helping the Roomba 500 series vacuum accumulate surface debris from hard surfaces to shag-type carpet.

Weaknesses: These unfortunately have a tendency to break off quite easily when getting caught up in cords or objects for which the vacuum struggles to free itself. They're also too expensive!

Summary: The side brushes need to be re-designed in order to accommodate varying circumstances that people have in their homes. Of course they may remain as they are now so that we who own these vacuums will have to continue to overpay for this design flaw as an over priced maintenance item! I'll rate this as a good working item; however, as a part of the verbiage of this rating process, I'm forced to purchase this item again, and again, and again.....

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Works well getting along walls and in corners.

Weaknesses: Had the Roomba a month and one of the brush legs has already broke.

Summary: I bought the Roomba 560 a month ago and already I have to replace the side brush. The legs are made from an extremely flexible rubber so I'm not really sure how it even broke. None-the-less I am replacing it earlier than I would have expected. The brushes do work extremely well brushing dirt away from walls and out of corners. If you are considering buying a Roomba it is worth the money. Especially if you have tile or wood floors.