How to Spot Clean with iRobot Roomba J7+ robot vacuum

If you’ve invested in or upgraded to iRobot’s brand new robot vacuum, congratulations! The new iRobot j7+ has a host of new and improved smarts that make it more valuable than before. For starters it can now see, recognize and avoid a host of things that may be on your floor, from cords and cables to shoes and socks and yes, even pet poop. Read the full Roomba J7+ blog and see it in action here but if you’re wondering what happened to the Spot Clean feature… well it’s gone.

How do I spot clean with iRobot Roomba J7+?

It used to be that previous bots would allow the robot to be set down in a certain area, and then with the push of a single button on the vacuum, it would clean in a widening circle, effectively doing a targeted cleaning in small areas. With the j7+, I’m sorry to say that feature is officially gone, and I called iRobot to confirm it.

But that may be for a good reason: That’s because the smarter these new robot vacuums get, the more you can customize what they can do. So with the j7+, you’re supposed to now use your custom created home map to direct your bot to a specific place in the home to do a targeted vacuum. Here’s how to do it:

How to clean small areas with iRobot J7+

In the iRobot app, click on the map. You’re going to create a couple of  what are referred to as Clean Zones: In my home I have the Work Triangle in the kitchen.

• Tap Zones to add or create a new zone.
• Choose Add a Clean Zone and you’ll be presented with a square.
• Drag the corners to adjust the square and then place it where you need it.
• Label the zone.

With your Zone created, you can ask Google or Alexa to Clean the Back Door, for example.  Don’t have a voice assistant? You can create a shortcut on the iRobot Roomba app if you like.

• Touch Favourites.
• Choose the plus + sign to add a new zone.
• Scroll down to see you Clean Zones and then tap to add it as a favourite.

So that’s how you can spot clean a small area in your home with your Roomba. Is this as quick as putting your bot down and pressing a button?… probably not, but it is convenient and completely hands free.

So next time you’ve got a pet hair tumbleweed, some spilled flour or crumbs or some kicked off dirt by the door, just remember you may not have a spot clean button but you can direct your iRobot Roomba J7+ to clean a specific room, or a zone you’ve created.

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