LivingYourSeniorLife is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Buying A Robotic Vacuum Cleaner? A Step by Step Guide

Are you tired of the endless chore of vacuuming? Do you wish there was a way to have a cleaner floor without the manual labor? Look no further than a robotic vacuum cleaner. In this article, the benefits of buying a robot vacuum cleaner will be explored, as well as how they work and what to look for when purchasing one.

Quick Answer: What Is A Robotic Vacuum? A robotic vacuum is an autonomous cleaning device equipped with sensors, brushes, and suction mechanisms that move around a room or space to clean floors and carpets.

Key Takeaways

  • Robotic vacuum cleaners are a great way to keep your floors clean without manual labor.
  • When purchasing a robotic vacuum, it is important to consider the options available to find the best one for your needs.
  • Understanding how robotic vacuums work can help you make an informed decision when purchasing one.

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Buying A Robotic Vacuum Cleaner?

Robotic vacuum cleaners offer a range of benefits for homeowners who want to keep their homes clean with minimal effort. Here are some of the key benefits of using a robotic vacuum cleaner:

  • Efficient cleaning: Robotic vacuums are effective at cleaning up dirt and dust, and their slimline design makes them perfect for getting around and under furniture.
  • Obstacle avoidance: Robotic vacuums have sensors that allow them to avoid obstacles, making them more efficient at cleaning.
  • Scheduling: Most robotic vacuums can be scheduled to clean at specific times, which means you don’t have to worry about cleaning the house only when you’re home.
  • Pet hair removal: Some robotic vacuums are specifically designed to remove pet hair from carpets, rugs, and hard floors, making them ideal for pet owners.
  • Allergy relief: Robotic vacuums can help reduce allergens in the home by removing dust, pet dander, and other allergens.
  • Multiple floor types: Many robotic vacuums can clean multiple floor types, including hardwood floors, tile, and carpet.

Overall, robotic vacuum cleaners are a great investment for anyone looking to make cleaning their home easier and more efficient.

Video: What Is A Robotic Vacuum?

YouTube player

How Does a Robotic Vacuum Work?

Robotic vacuums use a variety of sensors, such as cameras, lasers, and infrared, to navigate around the area. These sensors allow the robot to detect obstacles, such as furniture and walls, and avoid them. The robot also uses object recognition to identify and avoid debris on the floor.

With mapping technology, the robot remembers the path it has taken for future cleaning cycles. Once the cleaning is complete or the battery is low, the robot returns to its charging station aka dock.

What To Look For When Buying A Robot Vacuum

Before clicking that “buy now” button, it is important to consider the options available. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

Anti-Allergen

For those who suffer from allergies or have respiratory issues, an anti-allergen vacuum is a must. Look for a robot vacuum with a HEPA filter or allergen bags to help capture dust mites, pollen, and mold.

Boundary Strips

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide - Boundary Strip

Boundary strips are a great feature to have if you want to prevent your robot vacuum from going to certain areas in your home. Some vacuums come with boundary strips, while others do not.

For example: Let’s say you have pets, and you don’t want the vacuum hitting their water bowl – you can put a boundary strip down, and it will let the vacuum know not to go into that area.

Boost Technology

Boost Technology is a feature that automatically increases the suction power within 1.5 seconds when extra vacuuming strength is needed for a better clean.

Charging Station

A charging station, also known as a charging dock, is where your vacuum will recharge. There are two types of charging stations: manual and automatic. With manual charging stations, you need to take the vacuum to the dock to charge it. With automatic charging stations, the vacuum knows when its battery is low and returns to the dock to charge on its own, and then resumes cleaning where it left off.

Charging Time

Consider the charging time of the vacuum. Charging times can vary by model, but generally, it takes 2-3 hours for a complete charge.

Run Time

Consider how long the battery charge will last. Some robotic vacuums are suitable for smaller homes, apartments, or townhouses, while others are designed for larger homes. Robotic vacuums will hold their charge from an hour up to 120 minutes.

Climbing Threshold

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide - Threshold

The climbing threshold is the height of a threshold that the vacuum can transition over. Make sure your vacuum can accommodate the height of all the thresholds in your home.

If the vacuum doesn’t have enough climbing ability, the robotic vacuum will stop and turn and go in another direction if the threshold is too high.

Mapping

Mapping is the ability of the vacuum to learn a home’s floor plan, allowing it to clean your home more efficiently. Robotic vacuums come with and without smart mapping features.

Mapping tends to do a better job of cleaning areas, and it allows the vacuum to know where it has already cleaned so it doesn’t repeat itself. This is also important if the vacuum needs to recharge in the middle of cleaning – once it recharges, it will start where it left off.

Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide - Automatic Emptying

As your vacuum makes its way through cleaning your floors, it will pick up debris, much like upright vacuums or canister traditional vacuums. Your vacuum will come with a bin that collects the debris.

Self-emptying models are usually more expensive, but they allow for virtually hands-off vacuuming. A well-known, trusted brand, iRobot, which has this as a feature, is the iRobot Roomba i7.

Some robot vacuums have a bagless self emptying base, while others use bags. Having to purchase bags will be an added expense you might want to consider in your purchasing options.

Suction Power

Suction power is the amount of pull the vacuum has. The higher the power, the more it will be able to suction or suck in. Consider a higher suction capacity if you have pets that shed, children, or grandchildren that seem to have dirt follow them.

Without getting too technical, the suction power is listed as the number of PA or KPA – the higher the number, the higher the suction power.

Type of Flooring

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide - Flooring Types

Consider the type of flooring in your home. If you have a mix of hardwood floors, carpet, and tile floors, look for a robotic vacuum that will transition between them. If you have only hardwood floors, then there won’t be a need for your robot to have the ability to do carpet. If you have a high pile carpet, but you chose a vacuum that does only hardwood floors, tile, and laminate flooring, you will surely be disappointed.

Do be aware that robotic vacuums cannot go up and down stairs as of the writing of this article. If you have stairs in your home, you will need to find another way to clean them.

Combination Vacuum/Mop

Some robotic models have a combination of a vacuum and a mop. This might be a viable option if you have tile floors that you mop. An example of this is the Roborock S5 Max.

WiFi

WiFi is not required to run a robotic vacuum, but it allows you to take advantage of features such as scheduling, cleaning preferences, mapping, and the ability to control the vacuum from a smartphone while away from home.

If you decide on purchasing a robotic vacuum without WiFi capability, some benefits will not work, so be sure to research what ones do and do not need a WiFi connection.

App Control / Alexa and Echo

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide - Schedule

Some vacuums can connect with Alexa or Echo, which allows you to control them using voice commands. Also, by using Alexa/Echo, you can ask them to have your vacuum perform such tasks as start cleaning, return to the dock, or even schedule a cleaning.

Scheduling

One of the features I find helpful is scheduling cleanings. I can program my vacuum to clean on certain days, and it will automatically do so on that day and time—effortless cleaning at its best.

Replacement Parts

Are replacement parts readily available? Can you buy them at a local store, or do you need to order them from the manufacturer? This might not seem too important, well, until you have company coming over this weekend, and your vacuum needs a particular part, and you need it now. No time to wait for parts that take three weeks to arrive. Just something to keep in mind.

Warranty/Guarantee

A warranty or guarantee is something you’ll want to look into. Though most products today offer this type of service, there are still some that do not.

A couple of items to consider – how long is the warranty for? Is there a money-back guarantee, and if so, how soon do you need to return the vacuum to qualify. Are there specific conditions you need to meet, and what are the conditions that can terminate your warranty/guarantee? Who’s responsible for shipping costs?

Though your machine is new, you never know when you might need to use a warranty, and you will be glad you have one if you do.

Cost

Consider the cost of the vacuum. There are affordable robot vacuums available, but you may need to compromise on some features. Determine your budget and look for a vacuum that meets your needs and is within your price range.

The price of a robot vacuum cleaner will depend on the features that you are looking for and the brand. However, the starting price point of a budget robot vacuum is around $100, and then they go up in price from there. Additionally, be sure to factor in the price of filters and replacement parts, as these will become essential over time.

One way to help you decide on what you want in your purchase is to make a list of options available with robotic vacuums. Then think about which options you can live without and which are most important to you. This will give you a starting point as to which vacuum is the right choice for you.

Robot vacs are more costly than ordinary vacuum cleaners, making them a significant purchase in your cleaning program, so you want to be sure to get the most bang for your buck.

Where to Buy a Robotic Vacuum?

When looking to buy a robotic vacuum, there are several options available. Consumers can shop online or in brick-and-mortar stores to find the best deals and prices. Amazon is a popular option for purchasing robotic vacuums, as they often offer prime deals and discounts. Other stores may also have sales, so it’s important to keep an eye out for those.

FAQs

Which Brands Offer the Best Robotic Vacuums?

Several brands offer high-quality robotic vacuums, including iRobot, Eufy, Shark, and Neato. Each brand has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

What are the Advantages of a Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum?

A self-emptying robot vacuum has several advantages, including the ability to clean for longer periods without needing to be emptied, and the convenience of not having to manually empty the dustbin. This feature is particularly useful for pet owners or those with allergies, as it reduces the amount of dust and allergens released into the air during the cleaning process.

What is the Ideal Suction Power for a Robot Vacuum Cleaner?

The ideal suction power for a robot vacuum cleaner will depend on the type of flooring in your home, as well as the amount of dirt and debris that needs to be cleaned. In general, a suction power of at least 1000 Pa is recommended for optimal cleaning performance.


Additional Reading:


A Few Final Words

In conclusion, robotic vacuum cleaners are becoming more popular due to their convenience and efficiency. Overall, the options and features available with robotic vacuum cleaners can be overwhelming, but with proper research and consideration, you can find the best one that fits your needs.

Do you have a robotic vacuum cleaner? What are your thoughts on it? Please leave a comment and share your experience with us. We would love to hear from you!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *