Is it worth buying a robot vacuum cleaner?

Technological progress has long affected not only industries, but also everyday issues of everyone. It is much easier to entrust laundry, dishwashing and cleaning to machines than to do it yourself. If earlier technological advances only simplified such processes, now they are fully automated and only require setting the task in the settings.

An example is the popularization of robotic vacuum cleaners, which greatly simplify the cleaning process. The device, however, has its own characteristics, which are worth familiarizing yourself with before making a purchase.

What is a robot vacuum cleaner

A robot vacuum cleaner is a low, round device on wheels that moves around the house on its own, cleaning as it goes. The robot's compact size allows it to penetrate under sofas, cabinets and other furniture. The functionality of a machine is largely determined by its price.

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The first robot vacuum cleaner Roomba was released in 2002 in the US by iRobot Corporation. References to its development were presented back in 1997. Then the Swedish company Electrolux showed the concept of the device on the British BBC television channel.

The trajectory of budget models is chaotic. More expensive options are equipped with a camera and artificial intelligence, which allows the car to build a map of the area, clean in a thoughtful manner, avoid obstacles in its path and return to the charging station.

Models with wet cleaning function are available. This will allow you to cope with contamination of laminate, linoleum or tiles.

Other differences between cheap and expensive vacuum cleaners include:

• waste bin volume;
• shock resistance;
• battery life;
• type of sensors used for movement;
• possibility of antibacterial cleaning;
• room aromatization function.

Advantages of the robot

The robot vacuum cleaner has become a part of life and successfully copes with the task of cleaning the homes of many satisfied owners. Pros of a robot vacuum cleaner:

• the device is autonomous and does not require control; you just need to indicate the desired duration and frequency of cleaning sessions;
• greatly simplifies the process of general cleaning in the future;
• copes well with collecting pet hair;
• ideal for people with dust allergies;
• makes daily cleaning possible in hard-to-reach places under furniture;
• self-charging function;
• Possibility of control from a smartphone.

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The robot vacuum cleaner is the embodiment of humanity’s long-standing dream of automating household appliances, first described by science fiction writer Robert Heinlein in the novel “The Door to Summer” back in 1956.

Disadvantages of the robot

Despite the impressive list of advantages, there is an opposite list of disadvantages of the machine:

• the robot cannot completely take over cleaning responsibilities, its goal is only to help;
• due to its round shape, it is not able to clean corners;
• is a source of background noise, which, however, is not difficult to get used to;
• high price;
• small capacity of the garbage container due to the compact size of the device;
• the device is not suitable for apartments densely packed with furniture;
• the need to pre-prepare the apartment by removing all small objects and wires from the floor;
• May be frightening to small children and animals.

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Depending on their character, some pets, on the contrary, accept the vacuum cleaner as a friend. The Internet is full of videos of pets playing with the robot or riding on it.

How to make a purchasing decision

Should I buy a robot vacuum cleaner or should I not buy it? Is he really needed?

Taking into account all the features of automated vacuum cleaners, we can summarize. This device is an expensive purchase that may not always be useful.

The robot performs best when cleaning large private houses and spacious apartments with a large floor area. Its purchase is advisable if you are too busy and do not have time to clean yourself.

It can also serve as an excellent gift for elderly parents, as it will take on some of the cleaning responsibilities. An equally significant reason would be the presence of people with dust allergies, pets and children in the house. Daily cleaning on your own is really inconvenient; these tasks can be easily performed by a robot vacuum cleaner.

If you live in a small apartment, where furniture takes up a significant part of the space, and you have plenty of time in your schedule to continue using a regular vacuum cleaner, it’s best to hold off on buying a robot, or even abandon this idea altogether.

Indeed, in this case, its potential will not be used to the maximum and the chances are high that it will become just a toy on a shelf, symbolizing money that was once wasted.