When investing in smart technology to make your home life easier and more manageable, it’s easy to spend a lot of money on something that does not work optimally or suit your needs the way you imagined it would. A robotic vacuum cleaner is an amazing piece of equipment to invest in, but as Bianca Leonard, Marketing Manager at lifestyle technology company Solenco, points out, not all robotic vacuum cleaners are created equal.
“There are many robotic vacuum cleaners on the market, and at varying price points ranging from anything between R2,500 to R20,000. This makes it even more important for customers to know what their needs are, so they can invest in a robotic vacuum cleaner that works optimally,” she says.
Things to consider include the size of your home, whether you have pets and children, your type of flooring, desired frequency of cleaning, and ease of use. Brand reliability and after-sales service are important factors as well.
Leonard notes that some of the most frequent customer frustrations include having to scrub areas that the robot couldn’t clean, intervening when a robot gets stuck, and constantly refilling and emptying water and trash compartments that are just too small.
Tips for Avoiding Buyer’s Remorse When Purchasing a Robot Vacuum:
Mopping Capability:
If you live in a home with pets or children, the most effective robotic vacuums to tackle stains are those with reciprocating mops, meaning the mops move back and forth repeatedly to mimic scrubbing. Fixed mop pads don’t effectively remove stains and require more intervention. Look for a vacuum that sprays water or cleaning solution onto the floor ahead of mopping to loosen dirt or stains.
If you have multiple floor types, such as hard floors with rugs, look for a robotic vacuum that has at least a 7mm auto-lift mop feature, which allows your robot to seamlessly transition between surfaces.
Navigation and Battery Life:
It’s the difference between a robot vacuum constantly getting lost, stuck, or falling off stairs, versus a hands-off experience where the robot maps and learns the best cleaning route for your home’s unique layout. Look for a model with multi-sensor navigation, such as Laser, Encoder, Gyro, E-compass, and Position Estimation, rather than just one or two sensors, which could lead to issues.
The robot’s mapping functionality is another factor to consider. Many entry-level robots don’t have the ability to map and store information for future use. This is especially important for open-plan or larger living spaces, where a robot may run out of battery before completing the job. The ability for a robot vacuum to pick up from where it left off is a feature more prominent in mid-to-premium models. Leonard also advises looking for a cleaner with at least 150 minutes of battery life for larger spaces.
Refilling and Emptying:
The dustbin and water tank capacity will tell you how often you’ll need to refill water and empty the trash compartment if you don’t have an automatic cleaning and filling station. Look for a water tank capacity of around 300ml and a dustbin that can compact dust, debris, and hair for uninterrupted cleaning.
“Investing in a robotic vacuum cleaner is a very good idea for busy people, but you must identify what your needs are first. At Solenco, we realise that technology is supposed to make your life easier, not more complicated. While technology continues to improve, we make sure our robotic vacuum cleaners, like the top-rated Hobot Legee range, stay abreast of our customers’ preferences and needs,” Leonard says.