Robotic vacuums are more popular than ever as people try to find ways to clean their homes with less effort. They save time and effort for those who don’t want to spend their weekends trying to clean up after themselves.
If you’re like most people, you might be wondering how these helpful devices work. Well, we’ve got you covered.
What Is a Robotic Vacuum?
A robotic vacuum is a self-propelled floor cleaner that uses brushes, a rotating brush, or an air-driven turbine to pick up dirt and debris from carpets and hard floors. They work on their own without any human intervention.
Robo-vacs have sensors to detect obstacles in the way, such as furniture, doorways, and stairs, so that they can navigate around them. They are designed for those who want to do less housework but still maintain cleanliness in their homes.
Robotic vacuums are either corded or cordless, have different brush types for different surfaces, and run on electricity or rechargeable batteries.
How Does a Robotic Vacuum Work?
Robotic vacuums clean your carpet and floors the same way traditional vacuums do: brushing and sucking up dirt. However, Robo-vacs can do this without any human intervention through the help of sensors.
High-end robotic vacuums use infrared lasers to navigate spaces, while cheaper models map the floor using physical boundary stripes. Using either sensor, robot vacs can detect obstacles, measure the distance they’ve traveled, detect hazards, and find new areas to clean.
The sensors a robotic vacuum uses and how it works depend on the manufacturer and the device model, but what’s common is the use of sensors to navigate spaces.
Robotic vacuums are a must-have for those who have difficulty using traditional vacuums or would like to save time cleaning their homes.
3 Advantages of Robotic Vacuums
Let’s look at some reasons why you may need one of these devices for yourself!
1. They Save Cleaning Time
One of the major advantages of having a robotic vacuum is that it frees up time otherwise spent cleaning. With one of these in your home, you can spend time doing what’s most important to you and still be assured that your home is clean. Furthermore, because you can program the robot vacuum cleaning schedule, it won’t get in your way when you’re trying to get other stuff done.
2. They Can Clean Underneath Furniture
Cleaning is never fun, but kneeling or raising furniture to clean underneath them makes the cleaning experience much worse. Robotic vacuums come in handy in these situations.
Their small sizes allow them great maneuverability, such that they can easily clean underneath beds and sofas.
3. They Can Be Used for Emergency Cleaning
We’ve all had those days when you don’t feel like cleaning. Which usually ends up with us giving a bad impression of ourselves when we have unexpected guests. A robotic vacuum cleaner can be a reputation saver at times like this!
5 Limitations of Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
Robotic vacuums have proven to be an invaluable tool for people with mobility issues and for those who just hate vacuuming by themselves. But as helpful as they are, they are not without their limitations.
1. They’re Not Entirely Hands-off
A Robot vacuum isn’t as hands-off as you’d expect. They still require human assistance because they get stuck a lot. Not only that, but they also tend to get stuck under things like furniture and doorways or snag on other objects.
The chances of your robotic vac getting stuck while cleaning and requiring your attention are very high, especially if you leave stuff lying around in the house. Plus, some models also require manual intervention when they need to be emptied.
2. They’re Expensive
Robotic vacuums are more expensive than standard vacuums. This is because they require extra technology to function, such as sensors, computer brains, and a complicated cleaning system.
A robotic vacuum cleaner can be anywhere from $200-$1000, while you can pick up a decent regular vacuum for less than $100. Robotic vacuums also have a higher repair cost due to the complex technology that goes into them.
3. They Don’t Work Well on Carpeted Surfaces
Robotic vacuum cleaners are not as effective on carpeted surfaces because they can’t move and glide easily. Some models have a habit of becoming stuck in the carpet fabric, which causes them to stop working.
In addition, it can be hard for these vacuums to differentiate between clean and dirty areas on carpets because of their shaggy nature.
4. They Don’t Clean as Well as a Traditional Vacuum Cleaner
Robotic vacuums don’t pick up as much dirt and debris as a standard vacuum cleaner. They usually have a smaller intake, meaning they don’t suck up large amounts of dust from the floor. Furthermore, depending on the shape of your room, your robot vacuum won’t make it into the corner, as it simply cannot reach.
5. They May Dent Furniture
Robotic vacuum cleaners are programmed to bounce back after hitting obstacles and may chip away paint at the edges of doors and furniture if they hit them frequently.
Regular Vacuums vs. Robotic Vacuums: Which Should You Buy?
The pros and cons of robotic vacuum cleaners shared above pretty much covers all you need to decide which of the two vacuum cleaners makes sense the most for you.
Matching the pros and cons with factors like your schedule and the size of your home will help to determine which of the two would be best for you.
If you have a busy schedule or have a large house with lots of furniture and other obstacles, it might be worth it to buy a robotic vacuum as it can navigate through those spaces more easily.
However, if you’re a hands-on person who does not find it difficult to push around a vacuum cleaner, then the best option for you would be a regular vacuum. After all, they’re cheaper and easier to use.