Everything You Need to Know About Home Robot Vacuums
With increasingly advanced features, robot vacuums (or smart vacuums) are the perfect tool to keep your floors dust free (or almost!) with minimum effort. Lots of homeowners now even find them essential.
Would you also like to enjoy such convenience? But with so many models on the market, you may find making a wise purchase decision difficult. Here are a few pointers.
How Do They Work?
Robot vacuums are autonomous devices equipped with sensors and smart navigation systems. The sensors help them avoid obstacles, detect dirty zones and map the space. They can move around the house freely, suck up dust and other debris and then return automatically to their charging station.
Ideal If You’re a Proud Pet Parent
Cat and dog hair can quickly accumulate on indoor surfaces and affect air quality. Smart vacuums are therefore a pet owner’s best friend: they can program the device to remove animal hair at regular intervals and thus prevent it from building up. Some models have even been specifically designed for this purpose with tangle-resistant brush rollers.
Features to Look Out For
As you shop around, pay attention to the following features:
- Smart navigation: High-end models employ cameras or lasers (LIDAR) to precisely map your home and plan the best routes. Extremely efficient, but also quite expensive.
- Voice-assistance compatibility: Some models offer voice assistance compatibility with services like Google Assistant or Alexa, allowing users to control them by simple vocal command. It’s up to you to determine how worthwhile a feature this might be for you.
- The ability to go over carpets and low thresholds: If you have carpets or height differences between floors (the threshold strip from one type of flooring to another, for example), it’s important to choose a model that can climb over them easily. If not, it may get stuck or start running in circles!
- Run time: Battery life varies between models. For a larger home, make sure the vacuum has a sufficiently long run time to cover a wide surface area before having to return to its charging station. Alternatively, you could exercise a little patience and spread this household chore over a few days (one floor a day, for example).
The Advantages of Smart Vacuums
These devices vacuum for you while you tackle other tasks. They will pick up a good amount of dust on the floor, hands-free, undoubtedly saving you time and energy! Furthermore, once programmed, they can operate unattended, that is automatically. Certain models even allow you to set a cleaning schedule. Plus, they can fit under low pieces of furniture, especially useful for cleaning spots traditional vacuums can’t usually get to.
Also, robot vacuums consume relatively little energy, an added advantage if you’re environmentally conscious. Some models equally come with HEPA filters that improve air quality by reducing the amount of dust and allergens in your home.
Drawbacks to Bear in Mind
While many entry-level models are affordable (relatively, considering the price of a traditional vacuum or a broom), more advanced models can cost hundreds of dollars. Moreover, although they work autonomously, they must still be regularly cleaned for continued optimal performance (see the set-up and maintenance paragraph). Users also often feel disappointed that robot vacuums have difficulty picking up bigger bits of debris. Despite the numerous benefits they offer, they aren’t a magic bullet. They can’t replace thorough hand cleaning, especially in hard-to-reach areas like stairs or cluttered corners. Besides, there’s no substitute for a keen pair of eyes to spot a mess on the floor!
The Most Reliable Models
- iRobot Roomba Series: iRobot, the robot vacuum cleaner pioneer, offer models with advanced features such as automatic dustbin emptying.
- Ecovacs Deebo: An excellent choice for those who want great value for money, with mapping and app control options.
- Roborock: Provides high-performance cleaning for carpets and large surfaces, with a good navigation system.
Set Up and Maintenance
Getting your smart vacuum running is straightforward: simply charge it, download the app (if applicable), and configure your settings. Keep in mind that regular maintenance is indispensable to extend your device’s service life. Empty the dustbin, clean the brushes and filters, and wipe away any dust obstructing the sensors.
To conclude, while a robot vacuum can’t do all the work for you, it’s still very practical to have. As a matter of fact, most people who have bought one now say they couldn’t live without it!