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Scooba Use Tips

Maintaining Your iRobot Scooba

Tip: Scooba's cleaning cycle

While Scooba cleans it calculates the best path to clean your floor. For best cleaning performance, first clear the floor of chairs and other removable objects. Scooba cleans more effectively because it covers your whole floor, cleaning most of the room an average of 5 times in 45 minutes. When it’s finished cleaning, Scooba enters a 5-minute drying mode that dries its brush and cleaning system.

Tip: Placing Virtual Walls
To keep your robot from moving through a doorway, place the Virtual Wall just outside the doorway or area you wish to block.

Set the Virtual Wall beam to the shortest setting appropriate to extend battery life.
Here's how Scooba's Power indicator displays battery status:

Tip: Battery Storage
For best battery performance, iRobot recommends storing Scooba's battery in a cool dry place immediately after charging completes. However, if you have received a Scooba osmo and have installed the update in your Scooba, you may allow the battery to remain in the Scooba while connected to the power supply for up to two weeks.
If you do not intend to use the Scooba for two weeks or more, please unplug the power supply, remove the battery from the Scooba, and store it in a cool, dry place.

If you charge Scooba’s battery in the external Charging Base, we recommend unplugging the power supply and removing the battery once the charge cycle is complete. Store it in a cool, dry area until you are ready to use the battery.

Tip: Battery Life
Scooba is powered by a rechargeable battery. Scooba's battery will last for hundreds of cleaning cycles before needing replacement. Fully charge Scooba's battery (3 to 4 hours) before each cleaning cycle. When fully charged, Scooba's battery will always last longer than a full Clean cycle. If you would like to run Scooba more frequently, you can purchase additional batteries and chargers online at the iRobot store. If Scooba cannot complete a cleaning cycle when fully charged, the battery needs to be replaced.

Tip: 16-Hour Refresh Charge

With regular use, Scooba's battery will fully charge in about 3 hours. In some circumstances, a longer, 16-hour refresh cycle will be required. This longer charge reconditions the battery when it is depleted, and helps extend Scooba's battery life. 
When will Scooba require a 16-hour refresh charge?
· Before you use Scooba for the first time

· When Scooba has been unplugged for an extended period
Tip: Charging iRobot Scooba

To charge Scooba's battery, see Plugging in iRobot Scooba. Scooba's Power light will turn colors and pulse at varying speeds to indicate the battery charge status.

Here's how Scooba's Power indicator displays battery status:

To charge Scooba’s battery using the external Charging Base, simply insert the two tabs on the back of the battery into their guide holes on the Charging Base and snap the battery into place. Then, align the arrow on the power supply with the arrow on the Charging Base. The power light should illuminate solid green, and the charging light should pulse green. When the battery is completely charged, the pulsing charging light will go out. Remove the battery and unplug the Charging Base when charging completes.

For details about Scooba's battery, see Scooba's battery performance and tips.
If the battery appears to be fully charging (Power indicator is solid green if charging in Scooba; or power indicator is not illuminated if charging in Charging Base) but the robot stops running early in the cleaning cycle, you may need to replace the battery. To purchase a replacement battery, visit the iRobot Store.

Tip: Filling Scooba's Tank
When filling Scooba's tank, it’s important that you only use specially formulated iRobot Scooba cleaning solution. This high-traction cleaning solution enables Scooba to easily move across the floor while it cleans. It also produces less foam than most cleaning solutions, making it easy for Scooba to remove all of the solution from the floor as it cleans. Other cleaning solutions can produce foam build-up that can harm Scooba’s electronics.
Note: If you choose, you can also use plain white vinegar in place of the recommended amount of iRobot Scooba cleaning solution. Scooba 5800 works with tap water.