DIY Life

2) Next, flip the Roomba over and get a good look at the underside. Those two fancy rollers may have some hair, lint, or string wrapped around them which could impede their smooth movement. Get at them by pushing down on the two yellow clips indicated below which releases the protective screen covering the rollers. Then simply lift them out one at a time by gently pulling up on the right side of the roller, then the left.

3) The right end of both rollers have little pins that keep them securely fastened inside the Roomba while it's in use. Before you begin cleaning the rollers, temporarily remove the pins by twisting them counter-clockwise a quarter-turn or so until they're free, and then set them aside. You'll want to make sure you take these out because they have a tendency to slip off on their own and fall to the bottom of the trash can. They're awfully small so retrieving them is no fun -- trust me.

The rollers can be cleaned a couple of different ways. iRobot makes a special tool for the job but if your vacuum didn't come with one, just substitute an old fork instead and use it it to "comb" the hair and lint out of the bristles. For hair or string that's wound itself tightly around the roller, use a small Exacto knife to or a razor-edged letter opener to carefully cut it away.

Before replacing the roller and screen, hold the disemboweled Roomba over the trash can (with the open end facing down) and shake it gently several times to loosen any remaining dust and dirt. Then reassemble the vacuum -- and don't forget to replace the tiny roller pins you took out earlier.

4) Take a moment to clear away any hair trapped underneath the front wheel near the battery pack. It's amazing what gets caught up in there. Now your Roomba is ready to be placed back into service.