Top 10 Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Artificial intellect significantly improves our life; day by day, machines replace humans in different tasks. For homeowners who value their free time and do not want to spend it cleaning, the robotic vacuum cleaner is one of the helpful tools. These robots can perform dry vacuuming and mopping, clean hard floors and carpets, and collect sand, milk, and other residues. The most advanced models automatically go to the docking station for recharging, empty the dust bin, and refill with fresh water. If you install the working schedule, you can forget about your robotic cleaners for a couple of weeks while your floor is perfectly clean.
If, after reading all these abilities of robotic vacuum cleaners, you decide to buy one, the below top 10 factors are essential to consider for choosing the best one.
Top 10 Factors to Consider
This article summarizes the most crucial characteristics to consider from a technical point of view; such factors as shape and color, which might be essential for you, will be factors eleven and twelve in your list. The factors are listed from the most important to less.
Functionality
You should determine where you need to use a robotic cleaner. Some robotic cleaners perform only dry vacuuming, and some combine it with mopping. On the market, you can also find a robot mop, which mops and then dries the floor. Robot cleaners typically for carpets ensure only dry cleaning; dry and wet cleaning is possible for hard floors. The most functional model is the one that can do all functions at the same time and separately.
Suction power
Modern robotic cleaners have suction power up to 5000 Pa. But for efficient cleaning and long cleaning time without recharging, the robot should have several modes – standard, eco, max, and carpet. Altogether with carpet and dirt sensors, it allows using the max mode with maximum power only on the dirtiest spots to save power. The 2000-2500 Pa suction power is enough for everyday hard floor cleaning. If you prefer to clean at night, you need to check the noise level. Noise levels below 65 dBA allow one to sleep calmly.
Battery life / runtime
Battery capacity or runtime determines the time that your robot can work without recharging. If you have a large house, you need a 3600 -5200 mAh Li-Ion battery and higher. The runtime indicated in the specification is the working time in the mode with the lowest suction power, in the highest mode, or sweep and mop mode. For example, in silent mode, the robot can work for 260 minutes and cover all rooms in sweep and mop for only 140 minutes. Unfortunately, large-capacity batteries have a significant recharging time of up to 7 hours. Meanwhile, most budget robots have resumed functions to return to the place left for recharging. So, choose the model based on your home size.
Navigation and mapping
Robotic cleaners navigate using multiple sensors, cameras, gyroscopes, LiDAR, or SLAM. The most advanced robots use LiDAR for navigation, even at night. Such robots create the most efficient and shortest paths for cleaning. You can check their current location in the smartphone application. The standard sensor random navigation is enough for a small home without obstacles, toys, and a dog’s unpleasant surprises. Unfortunately, such budget cleaners do not remember your rooms, and you can’t set no-go and no-mop zones. But you can still install manual obstacles to prevent them from going on the expensive carpets.
Type of docking station
A docking station can be used not only for charging the robotic cleaner. In addition, it can be a storage place for all accessories or a full-cycle robot cleaning station. For example, Deebot’s OMNI station can refill the water to the clean water tank, empty the dust to the dust bin and store it for up to 60 days with clean and dry mopping pads. Of course, the more functional a docking station is, the more expensive a robotic vacuum cleaner is.
Dustbin/ water tank size
The dustbin and water tank size only matters for cleaners with a standard charging station. All cleaner’s tanks are typically designed to hold water and dust for at least one cleaning cycle. That means you must clean a dustbin and refill a water tank after each use. Keeping a dustbin full of garbage is not recommended for efficient cleaning. So, nowadays, you are choosing between a standard charging station and a more functional one.
Filter type
Most robotic cleaners have washable, high-efficiency cartridge filters, not HEPA filters. It can capture particles up to 10 microns. You need to wash the filter after each use and let it dry. Otherwise, the cleaning will not be efficient. If you have allergic people at your house, you need to choose HEPA filters and smart docking stations, as they keep seamlessly dusting for 60 days. Every 6-12 months, the filter should be changed.
Type of brushes
Each robot cleaner has a main rotating/floating brush. If you have pets or long hair, we recommend you search for non-tangling brushes. On the bottom, you can also find one or two side brushes that help to collect dust and debris from angles. Two side brushes and one main rubber brush are good for a bigger cleaning path.
Control
There are several ways to control your robotic cleaner: buttons on the cleaner, a remote control, a smartphone application, voice, or a smart home integrated platform. The budget models usually have remote control and start buttons on the cleaner. The most advanced have all possibilities. It would be best if you chose based on your needs.
Height
Most homeowners purchase robotic cleaners to clean below furniture, where standard vacuum cleaners or telescopic brushes can’t reach. If you have low-profile furniture, you must search for a model with minimum height to fit your tightest spots.
Conclusion
Going through the provided list, you can determine what type of cleaner you need. Before checking all these parameters, we recommend you estimate your budget. The most advanced models with all described functions are the most expensive, but you may not need voice control or a HEPA filter. Responding in detail to each factor allows you to navigate your choice into the most suitable model for cleaning your home.
