Does your Roomba leave marks and scratches on your floor?
It can be truly frustrating…
Especially if those scratches are so hard to remove.
Lucky for you, there are vital ways you can stop it from happening.
Talk about having spotless and polished floors again!
Read on to learn:
- Steps on replacing the front caster wheel.
- How often you should clean your Roomba vacuum.
- 9 vital tips to stop Roomba from scratching the floor.
- Pre-cleaning activities you must do before running Roomba.
- And that’s only the beginning…
Why is my Roomba scratching the floor?
Your Roomba is scratching the floor because its front caster and tracked wheels are dirty and worn out. Causing the wheels to get stuck and run in circles, which damages the floor. Likewise, clogged debris on the Roomba’s bottom surface and worn-out rolling brushes can also cause the problem.
How do I stop my Roomba from scratching the floor? 9 tips
#1: Clean the wheels with rubbing alcohol wipes
The tracked wheels are the parts of the Roomba that have direct contact with the floor.
And so, they’re exposed to many types of debris. Which get stuck on their rubber tires in the long run.
Once that debris falls off and gets crushed, it can leave not only dirt. But also scratches on hard floors.
That said, always keep your Roomba tracked wheels clean.
You can’t easily disassemble the tracked wheels from the Roomba unit. So, just clean it by wiping off the stuck debris.
Warning: The Roomba unit isn’t supposed to get contact with any liquid. So, never clean the tracked wheels with water.
To clean the tracked wheel, use a dry brush to sweep off clogged dirt.
Suppose there’s hard-to-remove stuck debris. Use rubbing alcohol wipes. Just make sure that it’s not “too wet.”
Alternatively, you can use a tweezer to pull out the remaining dirt and dust on the corners of the rubber tires.
#2: Remove stuck dirt on the front caster wheel
The Roomba also has a front caster wheel. This guides the Roomba in turning and rotating when cleaning.
Like tracked wheels, dirt and dust can get stuck on it as well. Which also causes scratches on the floor.
So, to prevent scratches, keep the front caster wheel dirt-free.
You can easily clean it by brushing off dirt. Or wiping accumulated dirt using a dry cloth.
Is there dirt stuck inside? Remove the front caster wheel to pull it out.
To remove and clean the Roomba front caster wheel:
- Flip the device upside down.
- Hold the body of the front caster wheel.
- Firmly pull it outwards.
- Remove the wheel from the casing.
- Pull out any debris on the wheels and casing.
- Use a dry cloth to wipe the wheel.
- Return the wheel from the casing.
- Then, reinstall the front caster wheel from the unit.
Tip: For optimal performance, clean the front caster wheel once every two weeks. Or when there’s large debris that causes the wheel to get stuck.
Watch this video about the proper care maintenance for the Roomba front caster wheel:
Reading tip: 5 Reasons Why Your Roomba Keeps Going In Circles + 5 Fixes
#3: Replace the front caster wheel
How long have you been using your Roomba vacuum?
If it’s more than a year already, the Roomba front caster wheel may be worn out.
This can happen, especially if you’re using your robovac frequently.
It’s prone to wear and tear since it’s constantly getting in contact with the floor.
Plus, it’s positioned on the floor. Meaning it can often bump into any clutter. Which can damage it in many possible ways.
You should replace your front caster wheel if:
- The casing has rust.
- It has rough or sharp edges.
- The wheel isn’t turning even with force.
To replace the front caster wheel, just follow the same process mentioned in tip #3.
Then, make sure to replace it once every 12 months.
Buying reminder: Get an iRobot-certified front caster wheel replacement to ensure product quality.
#4: Cover the front caster wheel with electrical tape
Don’t have the budget yet to buy a replacement?
Or is the product out of stock on the market?
You can cover the front caster wheel with electrical tape in the meantime.
Don’t worry! As this won’t affect the performance of your Roomba unit.
Its tire is made of plastic material. So, covering it with electrical tape will actually help smoothen its surface.
Doing this will prevent debris from getting stuck on its worn tire.
Here are a few things that you should keep in mind:
- Use a thin electrical tape.
- Cover the entire tire completely.
- Avoid covering the wheel casing.
- Ensure that the tape lies flat on the wheel.
Since an electrical tape is sticky, make sure to replace the tape cover a few times a week.
This will help avoid dirt from accumulating on the sides of the electrical tape. Which can cause the same problem again.
#5: Replace worn-out rolling brushes
“But the scratches on my floor seem larger than the width of the wheels…”
If that’s the case, perhaps the issue is with the Roomba rolling brushes.
Aside from the dirty wheels, worn-out rolling brushes can scratch the floor too.
Worn-out brush bristles can extend and fall off from the cleaning head module. And they can get in contact with the floor and create unwanted marks.
This can happen, especially if you’ve been using your Roomba for 6 to 12 months already.
To resolve the problem, replace the rolling brushes of your Roomba.
Here’s how to do it:
- Flip the unit upside down.
- Open the brush frame release tab.
- Remove the brushes from the casing.
- Put the replacements.
- Then, close down the brush frame release tab.
Note: The actual process can vary depending on your Roomba vacuum model. So, make sure to refer to your user manual as well.
Tip: For optimal performance, clean the rolling brushes once per week. Twice per week if you have pets at home.
You may also wonder: How often should you run your robot vacuum?
#6: Clean Roomba device regularly
Dirt and dust can’t only get stuck on the wheels and brushes. But also to the entire surface of the Roomba.
And that includes the tiny gaps on its bottom cover.
This dirt can fall off once the Roomba starts running.
And once this happens, the wheels can “press” the dirt on the floor. Which can either leave scuff markings or scratches.
So, make sure to clean your Roomba unit regularly.
Here’s a quick guide on how often you should clean your Roomba:
- Side brush: once per month.
- Sensors: once or twice per month.
- Dustbin: after every cleaning session.
- Front caster wheel: once every two weeks.
- Filter: once per week. Twice if you have pets at home.
- CHM brushes: once per week. Twice if you have pets at home.
Warning: Most Roomba parts aren’t designed to be washed with water or any liquid. So, please refer to your user manual.
Also, refer to iRobot care procedure frequency to know when to replace Roomba parts.
#7: Empty the dustbin after every cleaning session
As mentioned, dirt can cause scratches on the floor.
So you should empty your Roomba dustbin after every use.
Doing this prevents your Roomba from not picking up dirt properly. Which causes scuff markings and scratches on the floor.
To empty the Roomba dustbin:
- Press the dustbin release tab.
- Slide-out the dustbin.
- Open the bin door.
- Remove the collected dirt.
- Close the bin door.
- Then, return the dustbin from the Roomba unit.
While you’re at it, clean the filter once per week as well.
But make sure to avoid washing it with water. As it’s not designed to be washed.
#8: Sweep off the sand and large dirt on the floor
A Roomba is designed to pick up a good amount of dirt. But it can sometimes have difficulty picking up large debris or sand.
Sand is comparably heavier and has a rough surface. Which can easily scratch any type of flooring.
So to avoid scratches, make sure to sweep off the sand and larger debris on your floor first.
Doing this also helps your Roomba to clean effectively. Not to mention that it helps your vacuum last longer too.
Isn’t that a win?
So, before running your Roomba to clean, do a pre-cleaning session.
Sweep off larger debris. And remove clutter that can block your Roomba vacuum.
#9: Wipe off the spilled liquid on the floor
Aside from sweeping off larger debris, you should also wipe off any liquid on the floor.
That’s because a Roomba isn’t supposed to get in contact with any liquid.
But not only that…
Once the clogged dirt on the Roomba wheels gets in contact with liquid, it can get wet.
And wet dirt isn’t something you’d be happy to find on your floor.
As it can be difficult to clean. And it can potentially scratch the floor as well.
So, roam around your house first before running your Roomba to clean. And mop off any spilled liquid on the floor.
Do this, especially if you have pets at home.
Editor’s pick: 27 Roomba Tips And Tricks To Keep Your House Clean