How to Clean Roomba Side Wheels and Everything?

Last month, my Roomba started doing donuts in the living room instead of cleaning. After checking the wheels, I found a massive tangle of pet hair wrapped around both side wheels. Twenty minutes of cleaning later, it was running like new. If you're dealing with the same issue, this guide will walk you through the exact troubleshooting steps I used.

Unlike internal parts that are isolated from the outside environment, the wheels are where most dust, hair, and debris accumulate. This often causes navigation and performance problems. But since there are many Roomba vacuum models, you're probably wondering how to clean Roomba side wheels for your model.

This guide works for all Roomba models and will have your wheels running smoothly again. These detailed instructions will help you apply this knowledge to most Roomba vacuum models with little trouble.

Certain wheel maintenance is still required for your automatic butler

What You Will Need to Follow This Tutorial

Before starting, check your Roomba's manual or iRobot's support site to identify your model's wheel design. This will show you the exact design of the wheels on each model and how you can clean them most efficiently.

Usually, your Roomba robot vacuum comes with the standard setup of two side wheel modules for driving the unit and one front wheel for steering and navigation. So, you'll need to clean the side wheels to maintain momentum and unclog the front wheel if your machine is having navigation problems.

Hairs are easily captured by vacuum wheels and brushes

Here's what you need and why you need them:

• Vacuum cleaner: Most of the time, you'll be dealing with dust and hair that are slowing down the machine. So, you'll need a vacuum cleaner to pick up all the dirt and tiny debris that remains inside the crevices.
• Small, thin scissors: You'll need a pair of small but thin scissors so you can get into the narrow spaces and cut off the tangled hair.
• Phillips screwdriver: To disassemble the parts and access the wheel modules, you need to read the instruction manual and find a fitting Phillips screwdriver.
• Small containers: It would be helpful if you can prepare small containers where you can keep all the screws together and different screws separated.
• Clean cloths: A few clean cloths are needed if you wish to deep clean the outside of the wheel modules, especially the dirty rubber wheels.
• Warm water and dish soap (optional): You can use just warm water, but if you want to degrease certain parts, normal dish soap will do the job.
• Lubricating spray (optional): You can add any multi-purpose lubricating spray like WD-40 to the axle so it can function more effectively and be less prone to issues. Any product will do the job—just make sure that it can reach between the narrow edges.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Following these simple steps, you can learn how to clean Roomba wheels on any of your models, including the iRobot Roomba 960 and products from other series. You can then apply this knowledge to any future cleaning projects.

To start the cleaning process, make sure that you've turned off your unit and have all the mentioned tools ready.

Step 1 – Remove the Bottom Cover and the Wheel Modules

To begin removing the wheels, place the vacuum bottom ups

Don't worry – this looks more complicated than it actually is. Once you've done it once, it becomes second nature.

First, place the vacuum upside down to reveal all the bottom screws. On most Roomba vacuums, you'll find several larger screws connecting the bottom cover to the body of the machine. Use the prepared Phillips screwdriver and turn it counter-clockwise to remove the screws. Remember to put the removed screws in a container so you can access them later.

Once the screws are out, remove the bottom cover with a light pull. Continue to look at the bottom of the vacuum to locate all the different screws that are connecting the wheel modules to the unit. Then proceed to do the same to have them all removed and stored in a separate container. Depending on different models, the designs and positioning of the wheel modules can vary, but you can almost always be able to take them out without much effort.

Quick tip: It's possible to remove the wheel itself instead of the entire module. So, you might consider prying out the front wheels, which is available on most Roomba models, if the machine's navigation is still good.

Step 2 – Unclog and Vacuum the Wheels

Human and pet hairs can enter the wheels and cause them to move more slowly

Start working on each module one at a time. Use the scissors to get inside the wheel axle where hair is clogging up and cut off any excessive strands. Do this a few times, and you don't need to work too hard—the rest of the hair will eventually come out when the long ones are cut. Just spin the wheels a little so that the small pieces of hair can fall out. Also take a look around the wheel modules to locate any hair that's caught in other places and use the scissors to cut it off.

You can use the crevice and dusting tools on your vacuum cleaner to get rid of remaining hair while also vacuuming any dust particles that are stuck on the wheel modules. Run it and brush around the body of the wheel and the module until you're satisfied with the result. Also work your vacuum on the bottom of the robot vacuum where you've just removed the modules to make sure that the spots are dust-free.

For those with pets or long hair in the home – expect to find significant buildup. You might need to repeat the cutting and vacuuming process several times to get everything out.

And for those wondering how to clean roomba side wheels and front wheels, as mentioned, you can take out the wheel part to do some dusting and unclogging. Or if you chose to remove the entire unit, the process is similar, but there will be more areas that you need to cover.

FURTHER READING: What Are Irobots And How Do You Reset A Roomba Robot Vacuum For Your New Home?

Step 3 – Wipe and Dry the Outer Shells

If there are dry stains and other sticky stuff stuck on the wheels and the modules, you will need to scrape them off. Use sharp and pointy scissors to get rid of all the remaining dirt. Dampen your clean cloth with warm water and start wiping the scraped stains to remove them from your wheels. You can add soap to effectively clean greasy spots and deal with odors. Finish the job with a dry cloth and leave the module out in the air for a few minutes so it can dry.

And remember, unless you can remove just the wheels themselves, never submerge the side wheel modules underwater. The modules contain electrical components that water will damage, requiring expensive replacement.

Step 4 – Lubricate and Reinstall the Wheel Modules

After cleaning, replace the wheels

Before inserting the modules back into the machine, apply your multi-purpose lubricating spray to the metal axle on the wheel. This will stop squeaky noises and protect the wheels from future corrosion.

To finish this repair guide, place the Roomba robot vacuum upside down on the floor or table. Insert the wheel modules back into the unit, then put back the screws. Cover the bottom with the cover and secure it with the rest of the screws. You can then test your Roomba to make sure that there is nothing wrong with it.

RELATED: Roomba's Battery Life: A Detailed Guide to Enhance Performance

Keep Your Roomba Running Smoothly

Cleaning Roomba side wheels is challenging for people who aren't tech-savvy, especially with the different models and designs, but with our straightforward guide on how to clean Roomba side wheels, you'll handle the job confidently. Most people complete this maintenance in under 20 minutes.

Regular wheel maintenance not only keeps your Roomba running smoothly but also extends its lifespan and improves cleaning efficiency.

Quick Recap:

Remove bottom cover and wheel modules, cut tangled hair and vacuum debris, wipe wheels clean and dry completely, then lubricate and reinstall. That's it – you're done.

And if you ever have any questions like Roomba not connecting to wifi or do robot vacuums work, check out our troubleshooting guides for more Roomba repair and maintenance solutions.