Are robot vacuums still relevant in 2024?

Main points

• Robot vacuums clean faster but still require preparation; best for singles or couples without kids or pets.
• Expensive options have hit-and-miss software and don’t provide perfect cleaning results.
• Brands like Shark, iRobot, ECOVACS, Yeedi, etc. are the best-selling robot vacuum cleaners on the market.

As I test these and other great products designed to make our lives easier, I can say many great things about robot vacuums. I mean, that’s the real purpose behind technology, isn’t it? We know it evolved to meet human needs or to try to solve a problem. However, in the process of making our lives easier, we sometimes come up with ideas or solutions that end up causing us more trouble than we started with. This brings us to a very important question: Do we really need robot vacuum cleaners in our homes by 2024?

I have to be 100% honest with you. I did believe that robot vacuums were extremely popular and one of the best-selling smart home products, but my research showed otherwise and my experience ultimately made me realize I was wrong. FYI, the first robot vacuum cleaner was released in 1996 when Electrolux launched the Trilobite, the first robot vacuum cleaner. It doesn’t seem like a bad product, but it has some issues with avoiding obstacles, and apparently, it doesn’t do a good job of keeping floors spotless as it can’t clean certain areas, especially when they’re close to walls.

So now, we have to fast forward to 2024 and discover that twenty-eight years of development of the robot vacuum market has not been so smooth. Data shows that by 2018, 14.2 million U.S. households had robot vacuum cleaners, an increase of 1.2 million from 2017. Despite these growing numbers, only an estimated 14% of U.S. households have space in their home for a vacuum cleaner. 2023. In fact, surveys show that 13% of households currently plan to buy one, but I can tell you right now that a robot vacuum cleaner won’t eliminate all your problems, especially if you’re married with kids.

They’re a very handy tool, but unfortunately, they still have a long way to go

I honestly believe they are a very handy tool, but unfortunately, they still have a long way to go before they can truly provide a clean and tidy floor. Unfortunately, they don’t work as efficiently as Rosie the Robot or Wall-E. Heck, I’d be happy too if they could go to the refrigerator and make me a sandwich or get me something to drink. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, let’s get back to basic cleaning. I’ll start with what I like because this growing group has more right than wrong.

OK

• – Cleaning is done faster
• – Robot vacuum cleaners can easily pick up debris from hard-to-reach places
• – Excellent help for seniors
• – Bragging rights

One of the best things about robot vacuums is that they help you clean your home faster because you only have to select the areas you want to vacuum. You can also configure the device to use voice commands and your favorite digital assistant, but I’d rather use the app to select specific areas to clean, which mostly includes the kitchen and dining room. This is useful if you live alone or don’t have that much time to clean all the time.

One of the best things about robot vacuums is that they help you clean your home faster

Some vacuum cleaners are very quiet, even though you may want to program your robot vacuum to make two passes to ensure it picks up everything in one pass to get the job done while you’re away at work or sleeping. Sometimes here or There’s something left there.

It can also be a pain to remove all the junk from under your bed and furniture, especially if you try to clean everything with a broom or regular vacuum cleaner. However, robot vacuums can easily get into under your bed, your favorite couch, and any other small space where dust may accumulate over time. You just need to be careful not to put shoes or toys in these areas, as this will certainly prevent the robot vacuum from picking up as much dust.

As I mentioned above, I believe robot vacuums are great for seniors. My mother is almost 68, which means she likes to spend her time having fun rather than caring about cleaning and other household chores. Her robot vacuum does most of the cleaning, and she likes to leave it on three times a day. You could say she has a love-hate relationship with vacuum cleaners, though. In fact, it helps remove most of the dirt she carries around her home, but things get more complicated when she brings her grandchildren over because the stains become more difficult to deal with.

Of course, having a robot vacuum is always nice to show off, especially when you have visitors. You can easily tell them that it will help you keep your floors clean and you won’t have to worry about any mess left behind after a small gathering. Just make sure to pick up any food scraps or things that might damage the product.

not good

• – You still need to clean up before using the robot vacuum
• – Not the most affordable option for keeping your home clean
• – Cleaning is not perfect
• – Software can get tricky

First of all, you have to understand that I am a father of three beautiful children, two of whom are great at making as much mess as possible, which means I regularly have dirt, mud, juice, milk, water, etc. on my floors. This also means there are toys on the floor almost all the time. You’ll also find shoes, socks, bottles, toys, crayons, and more scattered around most of the time, which brings me to my first problem: Robot vacuums can’t tell the difference between Legos and pieces, which means you’re telling Everything must be packed away before the robot vacuum can start cleaning. You also have to tuck away cables and other things that might get stuck in your robot vacuum because, yes, that can negatively impact your investment as well.

Robot vacuums can’t tell the difference between Legos and debris, which means you have to pick everything up before telling the robot vacuum to start cleaning.

The second issue is the price tag. I’ve reported on some of the best deals on some of the best robot vacuums on the market, and I can tell you that they’re not the most affordable products you can buy. In fact, you can find options for as low as $110, but these options lack suction; they often arrive without self-cleaning stations and sensors to help them navigate your home without bumping into your furniture and floors that might otherwise of anything. You’ll also have to purchase replacement brushes, dust bags, filters, etc., which ultimately adds to your initial investment and makes it more expensive.

The software may also succeed or fail depending on the brand of your robot vacuum. I honestly have to say that roborock has some of the best software I have ever tried and the vacuum always knows where it is in my house. The Ecovacs experience is also great, but other brands of robot vacuums make you pick it up and place it in front of a charging station after it gets “lost” while cleaning your home. The funniest thing is that I also forgot to mention this small and annoying incident, but luckily my mom’s robot vacuum reminded me just in time when I was about to pack my things. I also wish the app would follow certain guidelines to make the cleaning process easier. Some of these apps don’t let you edit the map after scanning it, you know separate the dining room from the kitchen and so on. So we have to select the area we want directly from the phone again, it would be easier to tell your digital assistant to clean a specific area of ​​your home.

In the end, the results were not ideal, simple as that. Don’t get me wrong, I like most dirt and debris to be picked up, but I own a Roborock model that normally costs $1,000 and it doesn’t pick up everything on the floor, especially in the kitchen and dining room Room size. It came with a mop combo which I’m sure also helped keep everything tidy but even after a few passes it left streaks on the floor which could easily be explained by a dirty mop but not after a few passes. I’ve also seen results from other brands, including ECOVACS and Yeedi, which also provide the same results. Eventually, my wife or I have to grab a mop and clean the floors again to keep everything as clean as it should be.

Robot Vacuum Cleaners: Final Thoughts

All in all, there are a few things you need to know about a robot vacuum. If you don’t have kids or pets, these products will take care of most of the cleaning in your home, making them perfect for singles or couples who aren’t planning on having kids anytime soon. Anyone living in a small city apartment will be very pleased with their performance. However, I can’t recommend these products to households with babies, toddlers, or very young children as they will make your robot vacuum’s job a bit difficult, meaning you’ll most likely be disappointed after getting one, especially if you For high-end models, the price can easily cross the $1,000 mark.

Anyone living in a small city apartment will be very pleased with their performance.

Ultimately, I believe robot vacuums are still evolving, and I hope they continue to improve and evolve to provide a great cleaning experience. Until then, I’ll continue to test various models until I find one that does the job the way it’s supposed to. But if you’re still itching to own one, I highly recommend checking out products from Shark, iRobot, ECOVACS, Yeedi, and eufy, as they make some of the best-selling robot vacuums on the market.