Convenience has become a prized commodity in today’s busy way of living. We crave convenience and comfort in every aspect of our lives, which is part of the reason that robot vacuums have become so popular.
Robot vacuums are exactly what they sound like — vacuums that essentially control themselves. They can be programmed to clean your house at specific times, and can even be programmed with a course to follow.
But do these autonomous cleaners work as well as they are made out to? Let’s find out.
What Robot Vacuums Can and Can’t Do
Whether you are the kind of person who cleans three times a week, or three times a month, the idea of robotic cleaners is appealing either way. The robot vacuums of today are much different from when they were first created.
There are quite a few models of robotic vacuums available these days, all with varying prices and features. They generally feature a low-profile design, which allows them to reach under places like beds and couches, and is the main part of their appeal.
A common misconception that most folks have is that robot vacuums cleaners are meant to replace standard upright vacuums. In reality, they are meant to supplement upright vacuums and should be used to perform daily or weekly touch-ups.
These touch-ups should take place between your regular vacuuming sessions. However, if you are someone who does not vacuum very often, robot vacuums can help you get your floor cleaner than usual.
Most robot vacuums are able to map out the layout of your house and plan a cleaning course accordingly. They generally have sensors that are used to detect furniture and other obstacles to avoid them.
However, robot vacuums can’t climb up or down stairs, at least not without getting damaged. They can’t clean outdoor surfaces, though that probably goes without saying for most folks.
How do They Work?
Before a robot vacuum can begin cleaning, it needs to create a ‘map’ of the layout of your home. This is generally done using laser technology, cameras, sensors, or a combination of those.
It maps the floor space, including furniture, and determines where to clean and where to avoid. Many of them come with smartphone apps that allow you to designate these areas as well, and create virtual barriers that the robot cannot cross.
More often than not, the mapping process is accurate, and the robot does not encounter any major issues. It may become stuck on something, like a rug, every now and then, but other that, they don’t run into any other problems.
Most robot vacuums are round in shape, but there are some that are D-shaped. The D-shape design helps the robot get into hard-to-reach spaces where dirt and debris tend to accumulate.
They usually start to encounter problems when the robot moves too far from its docking station and runs out of battery life. When this happens, you will have to manually pick it up and place it in its docking station, defeating the purpose of a hands-free vacuum.
The sensors can also become blocked over time by dirt and dust, and your robot vacuum will not be able to navigate your rooms properly. This is never a permanent issue, though, and can be easily solved by giving the machine a good wipe-down.
Should You Buy a Robot Vacuum?
There are a number of things that you should take into consideration before buying a robot vacuum. While they are able to help you with the tedious chore that is vacuuming, you will need to do some homework before deciding which one to buy.
A great place to start is by surveying your house. If you’ve lived there for longer than a month, you probably know it like the back of your hand, but it’s worth looking over again anyway.
Are you floors made from hardwood, tiles, or carpet? Do you have pets, and if so, do they shed often? How much furniture and how many appliances do you have?
All of these things can greatly influence the effectiveness of your robot vacuum. If your rooms are not packed with things, your robot vacuum should not have a hard time cleaning them.
However, if you do have a lot of furniture and appliances, it may struggle to map your rooms out and will end up getting stuck every now and then. While this isn’t a huge issue, it kind of ruins the whole convenience aspect of robot vacuums.
So how well do robot vacuums work? It is important to know that some robot vacuums do not perform as well on certain surfaces, especially rugs and carpets. If you have a lot of carpeting in your home, you should look for a robot vacuum that has a high suction power, so that it does not miss any dirt inside the fibers.