Roomba Vacuum Brush Not Spinning: Reasons & Solutions!

Roomba is a good buddy who cleans the room in all the corners but suddenly the side brushes stop spinning. I’ve looked for solutions everywhere and guess what, I’ve got the answer!

Technically, you’ll find 5 reasons why the Roomba vacuum brush not spinning or operating like it used to. These are:

If this ever happens to you, then I’ll just show the solutions to bugs in-depth. Let Me Lift The Veil For You!

Here’s How To Fix A Roomba Vacuum Brush That’s Not Spinning

Depending on the causes, you can take action to fix the Roomba vacuum side brush not spinning issue. Take a look at the given methods based on the causes to solve this kind of bug:

Fix #1: Align The Side Brush

In case the side brushes are aligned in an improper manner, then it’s the solution that’ll help the brush to spin accurately. Let me show you the directions:

1. Turn the Roomba in the Off position.
2. Upside down the device to see the back area.
3. Take a screwdriver and remove the one screw on top of the side brush.
4. Use your hand to adjust the side brush.
5. Then, put on the screw using the same tool.
6. Test it out!

Fix #2: Clean Dirt In The Brush

Just flip the vacuum and inspect the side brush to spot the debris hidden inside the bristles. If you find some, just grab the cleaning tools that Roomba offers with the package to clean the side brushes, or use a tiny brush to remove the dust and hairs. When cleaning the side brush, make sure to also check the main brush and remove any debris that may be caught in it. Once the brushes are clean, you can easily reassemble the vacuum and continue with your cleaning routine. And if you’re wondering how much Tide for floors, it’s recommended to use one capful of Tide detergent for every gallon of water when mopping or cleaning hard surfaces. Just mix it in and you’ll have clean, fresh-smelling floors in no time.

Fix #3: Regain The Bristle Shape.

While inspecting the side brush, check if its bristle seems okay or terrible in shape. In case it seems bad in condition, here’s what you need to do:

1. Grab a screwdriver to unscrew the bolt that holds the side brush.
2. Store the screw in a safe place.
3. Use slight pressure to pull out the side brush’s upper part.
4. On the other side, boil water for around 7 – 11 minutes in a pot.
5. Place the bristle part in the hot water for 20 seconds by holding the side brush’s middle point.
6. Do the same thing on other bristle parts too.
7. Let the side brush air dry for 4 – 8 hours.
8. Put it inside its place and add the screw on top. Secure it by tightening the screw with a screwdriver.

Fix #4: Clean The Side Brush Motor

The most common cause why the side brush doesn’t spin is due to the motor that contains hair and dirt. To solve the issue, do the following steps:

1. Unscrew all the bolts (6 – 8 screws) in the rear of the Roomba.
2. Detach the side brush upper part.
3. Take out the back guard.
4. Unscrew another 2 bolts in the side brush compartment.
5. Take the compartment out.
6. You’ll find one screw in the bottom part of the compartment. Unscrew it using a screwdriver.
7. Separate the 2 parts of the compartment to see the interior surface.
8. Take a brush to wipe out the side brush compartment properly.
9. In one part of the compartment, you’ll see 2 screws to remove the motor.
10. Simply clean the motor using a tiny brush and a soft rag. If it contains burnt marks, then you have to replace the motor by inserting a new one.
11. Put everything back in place by doing the opposite steps of removal.

Related: iRobot Roomba Not Vacuuming Troubleshooting![Complete Guide]

Fix #5: Replace The Side Brush

When you do all the things and still the device shows the same error, then it’s time to replace the side brush. Follow the given steps:

1. Grab the screwdriver or screw gun to remove all the screws on the back side of the Roomba. It’s in total 6 – 8 screws that you have to take out.
2. Remove the side brush upper part that contains bristles.
3. Pull out the back guard and ensure all the screws are in a safe zone.
4. Take out the 2 tiny screws in the side brush compartment.
5. Detach the side brush compartment.
6. Insert the new side brush compartment in the same spot.
7. Secure it using 2 tiny screws in the compartment.
8. Attach the back cover and place screws in the hole. Tighten out the screws using the same tool.
9. Place the new side brush upper part back in its spot.
10. Add the screw on top of the side brush using the screwdriver or screw gun.
11. Turn on the vacuum to see if everything works fine or not.

Fix #6: Reboot The Side Brush

If nothing works for you, then this is the trump card that needs to be used to resolve the error of the side brush. Here’s the procedure:

1. Place the device on a flat and level surface.
2. Click on the CLEAN button for 10 – 12 seconds to reboot the vacuum. On some devices, you might need to press the HOME + DOCK + SPOT buttons at once for 10 seconds.
3. Wait for the indicator to go off and then let the buttons go that indicate successful reboot.

Overall Thoughts

In the end, it’s up to you to try the above techniques to fix the Roomba vacuum brush not spinning issue in a minute.

I know it might seem easy when reading in confidence but in reality, the procedure will be a little challenging if you are a newcomer.

Be sure to get help from iRobot Customer Care to get the solution if you have a first year of ownership or fix the bug by trying the upper techniques. Good Luck!