Robot Vacuum Cleaners

Think of them like little disk-shaped assistants that roam around your house cleaning the floors. Most are about the size of a large dinner plate and maybe 3-4 inches tall. They work by using sensors to navigate your space while their brushes and suction pick up dirt and debris.

The basic idea is that you can schedule them to clean while you're at work or doing other things. Most will automatically return to their charging dock when they're low on battery or finished cleaning.

Are Robot Vacs Worth it?

They're worth it if:

• You have pets that shed regularly (they're great at keeping up with pet hair)

• You work long hours and struggle to find time to vacuum

• You have mostly hard floors or low-pile carpets

• You hate vacuuming but want to maintain clean floors daily

• You have mobility issues that make regular vacuuming difficult

• You're okay with light maintenance cleaning between deeper cleans.

Want to Clean Every Surface With Ease

Most modern robot vacuums can handle multiple floor types, but here's how it typically works in real life:

Hard Floors (Wood, Tile, Vinyl): These are what robot vacuums do best. They can easily glide across these surfaces and pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair effectively.

Low-Pile Carpet: They handle this pretty well too. Most models automatically increase suction when they detect carpets, and their brushes can get decent cleaning done on thinner carpets.

Area Rugs: This is where it gets interesting. Most newer models can detect the transition from hard floor to rug and climb up onto them without getting stuck. Some even lift their cleaning head slightly to avoid catching rug fringes.

High-Pile Carpet: Here's where many robot vacuums struggle. They might move across it, but they often:

1. Get bogged down in thicker fibres

2. Use up battery faster due to increased suction needs

3. Don't clean as deeply as a traditional vacuum

One thing that's helpful to know: some higher-end models like Roomba j7+ or Roborock S8 have "carpet recognition" - they'll automatically adjust their cleaning method based on the floor type they're on. But even these more sophisticated models sometimes need help with very thick carpets or shag rugs.

Get The Most Thorough Clean With These Multi-Taskers

These are the multi-taskers of the robot-cleaning world. Think of them as robot vacuums that can also wipe your floors clean - kind of like having a tiny housekeeper that both vacuums and mops. The basic idea is that they have a water tank and usually some kind of microfiber pad or mop attachment along with their regular vacuum features. When they're in mopping mode, they'll release small amounts of water as they go, wiping the floor clean behind them.

They're great for keeping up with daily dirt and small spills, but you might still want to break out a regular mop for tough messes or deep cleaning. One thing that's pretty cool about the newer models is that some of them can actually detect when they're on the carpet and automatically lift their mop pad to avoid getting it wet. Some even have vibrating mop heads that can scrub a bit harder at stubborn spots.

Other categories include:

Vacuum Cleaners | Stick & Handheld Vacuums | Canister Vacuums