How to Clean Roomba Brushes 

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Written by Michael Hoyt

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The Roomba is a great robot vacuum that will clean the floors, but the robot vacuum also needs to be cleaned as well. 

There are two Roomba brushes that need to be cleaned: the two multi-surface brush rollers and the side brush. 

Depending on how often the Roomba cleans the floor, it’s best to clean the brushes of any debris every one to two weeks. 

This article will cover how to clean Roomba brushes step-by-step. 

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Why Should You Clean the Roomba Brushes?

If you don’t clean the Roomba brushes regularly, they can build up dirt and debris over time which could affect the Roomba’s cleaning and navigation systems. 

Long human and pet hair are the worst culprits when caught in the brushes because they could potentially damage the Roomba and internal components.

The motor could be trying to spin the brushes, but because of hair, the brushes won’t spin. That could lead to potential overheating as the brushes try to spin, but can’t.

To keep your Roomba running smoothly, make sure to clean the Roomba’s brushes at least once every 1-2 weeks. Clean more frequently if you regularly see hair on the floor or in the dustbin. 

What Tools You Need to Clean the Roomba Brushes

You’ll need some tools to be able to clean the brushes. Here’s what you’ll need: 

  1. Standard Phillips-Head Screwdriver – For removing screws from the bottom of the Roomba to access the brushes.
  2. Microfiber Cloth – To wipe down sensors and other parts of grime and dust.
  3. Scissors – For cutting off tangled hair, string, other debris. Roomba Brush Remover Tool – A tool designed specifically for removing the Roomba brushes. It has a special plastic handle with a small screwdriver tip on one end and a hook on the other end
  4. Rubber Gloves (Optional) – If you’re working with electronics, wear rubber gloves to protect yourself from static electricity. It will also help keep your fingers safe if you have any open wounds on them. 
  5. Can of Compressed Air (Optional) – Use compressed air to blow out debris from the brushes and the tight spaces.

How to Clean Roomba Side Brush

The first thing to do is clean the Roomba side brush. Every Roomba model will be slightly different, but the cleaning process for side brushes is the same for the Roomba 500, 600, 800, and 900 series models. 

Follow these steps to clean the side brush: 

  1. Remove the Side Brush – First, turn your Roomba upside down. Use a screwdriver to remove the screw to take off the side brush. 
  2. Clean the Side Brush – After removing the side brush, you can clean the brush of any hair and debris. Clean inside the side brush post when it connects to the Roomba. 
  3. Reinstall the Side Brush – Place the side brush back into the Roomba and use the screwdriver to tighten the screw back in. 
  4. You’re all done!
Roomba Side Brush and Hair

How to Clean Roomba Brush Roller

There are two main brush roller types – bristles and rubber. The bristle brushes are harder to clean if there is hair entangled in it. Hair entanglements are much less likely with the rubber brushes.

The ones with bristle brushes are found on the budget and older Roomba models – Roomba 400, 500, 600, and 700 Series models.

The ones with rubber brushes are found on the smarter and newer Roomba models – Roomba 800, 900, i, e, s Series models. 

Cleaning the main brush rollers will take more work than the side brushes, but once you’ve done it once, it’ll be a breeze the next time you clean.

While cleaning the side brush is easy, you need more effort to clean a Roomba’s brush roller. Just like the side brush, hair and dust inside the brush roller may hinder its motion. This is why it’s paramount to regularly clean a Roomba brush roller.

Here are the general steps for cleaning the Roomba main brushes.

  1. Open the Brush Guard.
  2. Remove the Brush Roller.
  3. Remove Hair and Debris from the Sides.
  4. Wipe Down the Brush Cavity.
  5. Reinstall the Brushes.

Clean the Roomba Main Brushes (400, 500, 600, 700 Series)

Here are the specific steps to cleaning the Roomba main brushes for the 400, 500, 600, and 700 series models. 

  1. Open the Brush Guard – Turn the Roomba over, upside down. Push the two yellow tabs to open and remove the brush guard. 
  2. Remove Both Bristle Brushes – After you’ve opened the brush guard, you can remove the two bristle brushes and the beater brush from the cleaning head module. 
  3. Remove and Clean the Yellow Brush Bearings – This is a common area where hair will accumulate. Remove the yellow brush bearings to clean them and where they were located.
  4. Clean the Bristle Brushes – Remove hair in the bristles by using the Roomba Cleaning Tool on the brushes.
  5. Reinstall Everything Back – Now that the brushes are clean, reinstall them back into the Roomba. 
  6. Close the Brush Guard – Once the brushes are reinstalled, close the brush guard until it snaps back into place. 
  7. You’re all done!

Clean the Roomba Rubber Brushes (800, 900, i, e, s Series)

Here are the specific steps to cleaning the Roomba main brushes for the 800, 900, i, e, and s Series models.  

  1. Open the Brush Guard – Turn the Roomba upside down. Push the tab that’s to the right of the cleaning head module to open the brush guard. 
  2. Remove the Rubber Brushes –  With the brush guard open, you can remove the two rubber brushers. Remove debris and hair from the brushes, and the hex and square pegs from the end of the brushes.
  3. Remove and Clean the Gray Brush Bearings – Remove the brush bearings and clean them. 
  4. Clean the Green Shaft of Each Brush – Each brush’s green shaft should be cleaned of any hair and debris. There could be any gunk that’s sticking on there that you can wipe away. 
  5. Reinstall Everything in the Roomba – Put everything back in. Start with the bearings, then the rubber brushes. Close the brush guard and press the release tab to lock it.  

Cleaning Roomba Brushes Final Thoughts

Cleaning your Roomba brushes is pretty simple, but an important part of Roomba care and maintenance. Be sure to clean the brushes every 1-2 weeks. 

You just have to make sure you keep an eye out for dirt and hair that accumulates around the brush rollers. The best way to do this is to use the Roomba Cleaner Tool, but also just open up the brush guard and look for debris. 

Here are other articles on Roomba you may be interested in:

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Written by:

Michael Hoyt
Michael Hoyt, a seasoned expert in smart home technology and robot vacuum specialist, is renowned for his contributions to home automation. With a deep-seated knowledge of smart devices, he has dedicated his career to enhancing living spaces with advanced technology. Michael's expertise extends from in-depth reviews and recommendations to practical advice on fully automating homes with smart home solutions.