iSweep
iRobot Dirt Dog
As the big 3-0 dawned on me, I realized there were some new things in my life that surprised even myself. I became a neat freak.
Call it “nesting” or “growing up” but I just can’t cowboy my way through life anymore. Call it “self-entitlement”, but the thought of microscopic organisms’ presence in my apartment sends me into a flurry of housekeeping activity.
I remember tweeting once that chores is THE workout of 2012.
Cleaning — mopping, sweeping, wiping, dusting, washing — is exhausting, overwhelming, and sweat-inducing. I suppose you could also describe them as calorie-burning, and sort of a resistance training. I sweat as much as I would climbing up 20 flights of stairs — which, incidentally, was my previous workout of choice.
Somehow, to save me from all that trouble, my sweet Mom gave me an iRobot Dirt Dog (not an Apple product, by the way), which I was able to use once to great satisfaction… then the charger “disappeared”. Mind you, those things aren’t cheap. The sleek new Roombas go anywhere from $100-700, easy. Nonetheless, they’re amazing to have around. Purely plug and play. But, until the charger reappears — and I sincerely hope it does , I resigned myself to my cute “Baguio model” and a dustpan.
But, voilà! On a quick True Value run with my Mom and sister, I saw a promodizer pushing around a rather flimsy, clunky-looking sweeper. Yes, a sweeper!. And it’s not just any ordinary sweeper at that! It was obviously battery-operated, and about the same size as a Swiffer. It was called, (tada!) The La Familia iSweep. Nice!
“Magkano?”, I asked her.
“Ma’am! Sale po kami 50% off. Php1,000 nalang, dating 2,000!”
At this point my Mom shoots me — like a dagger — a meaningful look. So, I went around first, but hard deep inside I knew I was going to get it. Hell, yeah! I fell for the “fake sale” (like how some things are forever on sale, which makes you realize in the end that you’ve been subliminally manipulated into impulse-buying). Oh well. So be it.
No regrets though, as this product, in my humble estimation, delivers as promised, and at what I feel is a reasonable price…Ok, “sale” price.
It doesn’t make an attempt to look cool, and is unobtrusive, plus so easy to store (the ball-and-socket joint allows you to store this under the bed. I store mine upright behind my water dispenser). The charger is every bit likewise. I do appreciate the whole no-wire thing. A little steel-tooth comb and pick to remove hair from the bristles is provided, with a clip that snaps on to the shaft, so you never lose it . Clever. This baby is really amazing at dog hair, which it picks up a lot of; none of which I could even see (white dog, light flooring). Battery charging, though, takes 6-8 hours, max. Still, a single charge would last me a couple of days. Good thing.
Just last weekend I saw it inside SM, where — it goes without saying — it was also on sale. Perfect for quick clean ups, or for those days in between vacuums. Lintek! Just go get one.
