The following pros and cons of robot vacuums can help if you’re thinking about getting one for your home.:
Pros
Less noise
When comparing robotic vacuums to standard vacuum cleaners there’s no contest…the robot vacuum makes less noise than traditional vacuums.
More convenient
A robotic vacuum is a little like having extra help around the house.
It can be cleaning your floors while you’re doing something else, saving you time and energy when cleaning your home.
Scheduled cleaning
Because you can program a robot vacuum you’ll be able to run it on the days and times that fit your schedule.
Want to only run it while you’re at home or right before you get home?
Just set the times and days you want your floors vacuumed and let the robotic vacuum do the rest.
Thorough cleaning
A low profile means your robot vacuum can clean up the dust bunnies and dragons that can accumulate under your sofa, bed and other hard to reach areas.
Compact design
A robotic vacuum is smaller than more traditional vacuum cleaners. Since it takes up so much less space you have more storage options than with other types of vacuums.
Dual function
Some models come with a mopping function built right in that works well for floors that require both vacuuming and mopping.
Intelligent Mapping
Unlike a traditional vacuum that can only go where you push it, a robotic vacuum has the capability of mapping out a cleaning route.
Both for purposes of efficiency and preserving battery life, a robotic vacuum scans each room first. Then it will map out a cleaning route that has the least number of obstacles.
Wifi Connectivity
For followers of smart home technology, it should come as no surprise that many robot vacuums can be wirelessly connected to your home hub.
This means your vacuum can be controlled by voice or through an app on your smartphone.
Auto Return
As noted earlier, the smaller profile of a robot vacuum means you don’t need a large space to store it.
Even better, however, is the fact that once it’s finished its job, your vacuum will also return to its storage dock for recharging…no muss, no fuss!
Tight Corner Cleaning
As noted earlier, since the robotic vacuum reaches under furniture you’ll get a more thorough cleaning. In addition, you avoid much of the stretching and straining that can occur when trying to clean tight corners and under furniture with a standard vacuum.
Spot Cleaning
Spill your popcorn?
No need to get off the couch…with the swipe of a few buttons or a verbal command the robot vacuum cleaner gets to work, letting you get back to your movie.
Limited Mobility Assistance
Mobility issues don’t prevent many people from living independently.
However, a standard vacuum cleaner may prove difficult for these individuals to manage.
Because of its remote operation capacity and small profile, robotic cleaners are truly helpful tools for individuals with disabilities.
Cons
Need to “vacuum-proof” first
You need to pick up small toys, socks, papers, etc. before – or while you’re vacuuming with a standard vacuum.
This fact doesn’t change with a robotic vacuum.
When you’re at home using it this isn’t a problem. But if you’re not, your vacuum could end up sucking things up you’d prefer it didn’t.
Gets stuck
Most robotic vacuums are very similar in size and shape, however, some can be taller than others.
This means some vacuums will bounce off of your cabinets or furniture, whereas others could get wedged underneath and possibly get damaged.
It can’t find its docking station
Sometimes, robot vacuum cleaners can fail to find their way back “home” after their cleaning session.
This means you could come home to find your vacuum in the middle of the floor, dead because it didn’t make it back to the docking station in time.
Need to be frequently emptied
The small dirt containment bin means more frequent trips to the trash for you.
Depending on the dirt and pet hair your home collects this could be a problem or just a minor inconvenience.
Either way, it’s an important thing to know about robotic vacuum cleaners.
You’ll probably still need to vacuum
While it’s great for overall cleanliness, there are likely crooks and crannies your robot vacuum just won’t be able to reach.
Hang onto your old vacuum to reach areas that your robotic cleaner misses.
Noise
As noted earlier, the noise of a robot vacuum is much less than a standard one.
However, because it can take so long to vacuum (on average 90 minutes or more) you’ll be hearing the vacuum white noise longer than you otherwise would.
Cost
What’s expensive to you may seem cheap to someone else, but on average, robotic vacuums are more expensive than their standard counterparts.
The technology isn’t quite up to par with the old, manually operated vacuum cleaner. This means you’ll need to keep your old vacuum on hand, making the purchase of a robotic vacuum seem a bit extravagant.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
Flooring type
If you have deep pile carpets your robotic vacuum is going to work harder than if you have hardwood or vinyl flooring.
Pet hair can get ingrained deep within carpet fibers, making your robot vacuum work even harder, potentially shortening its life span.
Or, it may require you to run your old vacuum to get everything up…defeating the purpose of having a robot vacuum in the first place.
Battery Drain
As the robot cleaner’s battery drains it depletes the device’s ability to “think”.
This is why you may end up picking up the device yourself and putting it in the docking station to let it recharge.
Ineffective on stairs
Let’s just say your stairs would not get along with a robot vacuum.
Final thoughts
In summary, while robotic vacuums are a marvelous idea, they’re still a long way from completely replacing standard vacuum cleaners.
In some instances, such as for an individual with mobility issues or in a home with an open floorplan they can be a great help in keeping a home clean.
Hopefully, now you have a good idea of what you can expect if you’re considering a robot vacuum for your home.
