Are Robot Vacuums Worth It?

Heather Robbins
by Heather Robbins

Most people like to keep a tidy home, however, most people push off vacuuming since it’s a little harder to see the dirt that sits around the edges of your floor or in your carpet. Leaving it for a day or two won’t do any harm, but it is more likely that you’ll continue to push it off.

So, what about getting a robot vacuum? Are they worth it?

Robot vacuums are worth it if you have limited mobility or prefer a more routine vacuum job. However, they do not replace the abilities that hand-held vacuums have.

Therefore, you should have realistic expectations before purchasing a robot vacuum to know whether it’s worth it.

Below we will discuss some things that you should think about before getting a robot vacuum, so that you know whether it’s the best option for you! Let’s get started.

Do Robot Vacuums Work Well?

Modern robot vacuums work well on a variety of surfaces and rarely require a completely illuminated space to complete their tasks. Even models like the iRobot Roomba 694 and the Roborock S4 Max can detect carpets intelligently and increase suction.

Shag carpets are still a firm no, though. The robot’s wheels don’t allow enough clearance to travel over the rug smoothly, and its roller brushes could damage the rug. The robot may also become trapped because the shag obscures its sensors.

So, whether or not a robot vacuum is worthwhile to you depends on a few more factors that we will discuss below.

Are You Able To Move Around Easily?

While time-saving devices for busy individuals, robot vacuums can also be useful for elderly people who are unable to operate a traditional vacuum.

Robot vacuums often have little dustbins that are simple to detach and toss into a trash receptacle. A robot cleaner with a self-emptying base may be the solution if bending down is a problem.

Do You Have Any Pets?

Furry family members are among the main justifications for purchasing a robot vacuum. Regular vacuuming reduces the amount of dust, dander, and hair and prevents it from being embedded in the carpet.

Think about how much time you spend per week vacuuming to keep up with your animal’s shedding. Remember, your fur baby isn’t always the only shedder in the home.

Anyone with hair, sheds. Even though you don’t see it as much when it happens, hair gets everywhere! This is another great part about having a robot vacuum — it cleans up with out the effort on your end.

How Much Time Do You Have To Clean?

Robot vacuums have one key distinction from conventional vacuums: Since they are unmanned machines, they will attempt to pick up anything in their path. This implies that the kids—or, more likely, you—will need to clean their rooms before setting the bot wild.

If your kids leave Legos and other toys lying around, make sure to move them before letting the cleaning monster go. Any vacuuming activity, whether manual or automated, needs some preliminary cleaning.

It is advisable to pick up and move things like shoes, dog toys, and children’s and infant toys off the ground. The house still needs to be vacuumed, though.

You will need to do all pre-cleaning prior to the robot vacuum running. You’ll wind up on your own pre-cleaning schedule if it’s on a timetable.

The great news is that your work will then be finished. Additionally, you can throw the items in a corner and deal with them later if the robot vacuum offers no-go regions or room-specific cleaning.

Should You Buy A Robot Vacuum?

The ability of modern robot vacuum cleaner technology to displace conventional vacuums in homes is still an open subject. There are certainly high-quality robot vacuums available on the market that effectively clean your floors.

However, they cannot reach places like curtains or upholstery, so many people will find that a standard vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment is still necessary to keep your home spotless.

Are Robot Vacuums Worth The Money?

One of the top producers of robot vacuum cleaners worldwide is iRobot. Prices for their Roomba models range from $300 to $900. Considering that the vacuum cannot completely replace your current vacuum cleaner, this price will be out of reach for many individuals.

Given the continued advancement of robot vacuum cleaner technology, it is not improbable that one day they would be able to thoroughly clean a house from top to bottom.

However, it’s essential to consider how much time a robot vacuum cleaner may potentially save you. As they say, time is money. If you’d like, you can program your robot to clean your house every day of the week; they’ll operate effectively and spare you the tedious task.

It is hardly surprising that these devices are becoming so popular, since people are busier than ever. Many people who struggle to find the time, find these devices to be cost-prohibitive, even if they save one or two hours each week.

Families where both parents are working, frequently employ a cleaner to perform their vacuuming, but using a robot vacuum cleaner could help you save money by taking one of the cleaner’s responsibilities off your plate. For a large home, these savings might more than cover the Robot vacuum cleaner’s price over a year.

How Do You Find A Good Robot Vacuum?

Finding out about the features and functionality of the most recent models is simple by looking through online reviews on Amazon of the robot vacuum you want. You might wish to think about the following while choosing a robot vacuum:

  • Level of intelligence: Intelligent navigation systems, advanced scheduling features—your robot should gradually understand the layout of your house so that its productivity increases.
  • Batteries: Look for lithium-ion batteries, the most recent technology, for the longest battery running and recharging times.
  • Filters: HEPA filtration is used to make sure that the majority of dust particles are completely trapped and are not re-released into the atmosphere;
  • Replacement parts: Easy-to-find replacement parts are preferred, such as brushes, batteries, and wheels, and vacuum filters from third parties are less expensive than those from the manufacturer. Internal electronics, however, should be purchased directly from the manufacturer to avoid nullifying your warranty or harming your robot.

Should You Buy A Robot Vacuum?

The past few years have seen a rapid advancement in robot vacuum technology. Older machines would repeatedly clean the same region while completely omitting another.

Additionally, the trade-off between the suction hose and battery life has been enhanced, and many models now have mid-cleaning recharging, which means the robot will return to its dock, charge, and then pick up where it left off with the cleaning task.

Many robot vacuums can map your entire home and let you choose which rooms to clean and how frequently, but the cost of all that technology is high.

The best vacuums, on the other hand, typically cost less yet offer more suction while requiring more physical labor. They are all manual labor, in actuality.

There is currently no automated way to notify your Dirt Devil canister vacuum to clean your living room, much less set up a weekly cleaning routine for it.

Robot vacuums are worthwhile for routine vacuuming in between sporadic deep cleaning periods, since they eliminate the trouble of pulling a vacuum out of a hall closet and performing it yourself.

However, they do not completely replace the deep-cleaning capacity of a traditional vacuum. Due to how readily fur and dander can build in families with dogs, they are particularly useful.

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Heather Robbins
Heather Robbins

Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.

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