Should You Buy a Robot Vacuum Cleaner? 5 things to consider

Robot vacuum cleaners sound great in theory. Your floors are cleaned daily by a robotic assistant, giving you one less task to do when you wake up or come home from work. Unfortunately, theory does not always translate well into practice.

Robot vacuum cleaners have real benefits

A robot vacuum is exactly what it sounds like: a small, autonomous cleaning device that automatically deploys to clean up behind you. Once you’ve made the initial investment, they’re incredibly cheap to run and only require regular attention from you in the form of emptying like you would a standard vacuum cleaner.

Robot vacuums are much smaller than your standard cylinder, handheld or stick vacuum. They don’t have to be ergonomic because you’re not “using” them in the traditional sense. Also, since they don’t need to be human-safe, they can do without much of the metal tubing and heavy-duty plastic you might find on a Hoover or Henry.

By far the biggest benefit of a robot vacuum is that it cleans your floors without you having to do it. For most, you can program them or deploy them manually, often through a smartphone app or web interface. They work on a set-and-forget basis, and if you work away from home during the day, you might never see one in your hallway.

Not only do they automatically clean your house, but they return to their charging stations at the end of a cycle so they’re ready to go next time. You can’t forget to charge a robot vacuum, and most will even notify you when it’s time to empty the dust compartment.

Because they are much smaller than a traditional vacuum cleaner, they are also much quieter. They use additional tricks like small brushes that sweep debris towards the main intake, and some can even detect the type of surface being cleaned and adjust if necessary.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of all is that your cat can simply sit on top of the robot vacuum and gift you with an endless supply of Instagram fodder, as shown in this post from the RealDumbcats account. Be prepared for this to go the other way and for your cat to hate you for also introducing a new opponent into their domain.

Your residence (and your life) must be compatible

By far the most important question to ask yourself before investing in a robot vacuum is: Is my house, and therefore my life, compatible?

Home layout is an obstacle. Not everyone lives in a modern apartment with even carpets and square walls. Some people live in older homes, while others have quirky floor plans that can pose a problem.

If your home has a combination of carpet, tile, and hardwood floors, chances are you have transitions between the surfaces. These can be bumpy and uneven, and your vacuum may not be able to handle them. You may live in a split level home with stairs leading from one living area to another, which currently has no solution in the robot vacuum world. Dyson is reportedly working on the issuehowever.

But the layout is only one piece of the puzzle. Most of us have a little jungle of interestingly shaped furniture and objects in our homes, like shoes in the hallway or clothes on the bedroom floor. Cables are another unsightly but necessary evil, and renting them may not adequately address the problem.

If you have kids or pets, chances are you’re used to having toys and activities lying around on the floor. These articles are like Czech hedgehog common to most robot vacuums and can cause them to avoid large areas entirely. It’s not always possible to clear the way before your robot does its job.

This is not a problem if you do a weekly cleaning or spot touch up problem areas. But the whole point of a robot vacuum is convenience, so consider how much maintenance you’ll need for your autonomous assistant to work as advertised.

TIED TOGETHER: Dyson aims to fix the biggest problem with robot vacuums

They do not completely replace your standard vacuum cleaner

Robot hoovers were never designed to be the only vacuum cleaner, but rather to keep the room a little tidier. With that in mind, you might find that you’re better off spending your money on an all-around device instead.

Take a second to think about all of this Miscellaneous Things you could use a vacuum for, aside from cleaning your floors. This could include:

• Dusting hard-to-reach places
• Clean your car
• Refresh cupboards and drawers
• Crawl between the pillows on your sofa
• Vacuum sealing bedding and other fabrics

You may also want to consider the things that you are not so good at. Some struggle with darker floors and mistakenly believe they’re about to dive. While most handle pet hair to some degree, they often do pale in comparison to a standard vacuum specially developed for animal hair.

TIED TOGETHER: Should you get a robot vacuum or a regular vacuum?

They’re still pretty expensive

The best robot vacuums will still cost you an arm and a leg, and with good reason. These are the best out there, with fancy features like smart home integration, long battery life, and self-cleaning or draining mechanisms.

For example the iRobot Roomba s9+ still costs over 1000€. iRobot claims it’s their smartest and most capable model, but it’s still limited in terms of what can be achieved. It can’t navigate steps or move your dog’s favorite chew bone, although its performance is among the best in its class.

Cheaper models are much more popular, but like any cheaper version of a high-tech product, they have their own drawbacks. At the other end of the spectrum is the Roomba s9+ Left M201 at less than $150. At this price point, the internal components are much less reliable and prone to breakage, and many reviews (even the positive ones) complain of poor software and build quality.

Budget robot vacuums often lack the smarter features that make them attractive in the first place. You should expect to get what you pay for, but even the best can fall short.

They can do more harm than good

Did you see the news that circulated a few years ago where A dog owner got a nasty surprise home? Dubbed the “poopocalypse,” the problem is so widespread that iRobot now uses AI to avoid what most of us would consider a nightmare situation.

Dogs and cats have accidents, it’s part of having pets. The vast majority of robotic vacuums in homes around the world don’t use AI to avoid those gifts your dog or cat leaves around the house from time to time.

What starts as an oopsie in the hallway can quickly become an ordeal for the whole house. Most stories end with only a small area of ​​the house being affected (in addition to the robot vacuum itself, of course), but then there’s always this one guy.

This problem will likely go away as more vacuums are able to identify unwanted matter, but for now, keep this in mind if you live with furry friends.

TIED TOGETHER: This Roomba uses sophisticated AI to avoid dog poop

Vacuum robots suck

In many situations, a robot vacuum will save you hours every month. They’re especially ideal in places where you might not want to take a heavy vacuum with you, such as. B. in open attic conversions, basements, fitness studios or carefully planned office environments.

They’re just not ideal for everyone, and if robot vacuums aren’t your life, your money might be better spent elsewhere (for now). Wondering which one is the best of all? Check out our recommendations for robot vacuums.

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