I’ve been reviewing robot vacuums professionally for a few years now, and as a result, I’m regularly involved in conversations about these handy household helpers. Everyone I’ve met outside of a professional context seems intrigued by the idea of a robot vacuum, but there are some misconceptions about what they can and can’t do. In many cases, people underestimate the capabilities of modern robot vacuums.
So let’s set the record straight. Here are eight common misunderstandings about robot vacuums and some information on what you can actually expect…
1. They’re just for vacuuming
News flash: modern robot vacuum cleaners can also clean. In fact, I would go so far as to say that these days it would be difficult to find a robovac that doesn’t have built-in cleaning functionality.
The level of cleaning, however, varies considerably. Inexpensive basic machines such as the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 will have a large, flat water tank with a mop pad mounted on the bottom. You will need to fill it and attach it to the machine every time you want to clean your floors. In some cases, having the tank automatically attached means water will come out, so you’ll need to carry the robovac to any target room, unless you also want your carpets cleaned.
More expensive Robovacs have really quite advanced mop setups. You’ll almost always be able to set no-mop zones, many robot vacuums can lift their mop pads when going through carpet, and some will even drop their mop pads into the dock when they’re not needed. Some high-end robot vacuums have docking stations that will fill water tanks, dispense detergent, and wash and dry mop pads for you.
2. They cannot be used on multiple floors
Autonomous stair climbing is off the table (for now, at least…we’ll talk about that in a second), but that doesn’t mean your robovac is confined to a single floor. All you have to do is carry it up the stairs yourself.
The vast majority of robot vacuum apps can store multiple floor plans, so you can map each floor and then place the robot on the floor to be cleaned. He will not be able to return to his dock during cleaning to load or empty his bin; but otherwise it will work as usual. Cliff sensors mean no falling down stairs either.
3. Roomba remains the best brand to buy
Roomba is still around (although for a while it was simple for parent brand iRobot) – but it hasn’t been at the top of the robot rankings for a while now. Brands like Roborock, Dreame, Ecovacs, and Eufy have overtaken Roomba in terms of features, and in my experience, the latter robots are generally more reliable, better performing, and also offer better value for money. I’m not completely giving up on Roomba just yet, but it’s not currently disrupting my best robot vacuum roundup.
4. They are not intended for pet hair
Pet hair is notoriously “sticky,” so removing it from carpet is a challenge for any vacuum cleaner – let alone a robot vacuum. However, robot vacuums can still be very useful for owners of shedding pets, simply because they can clean as regularly as you want, without you even needing to be awake or in the house.
These regular, light cleansing can help prevent hair buildup. So when you do a deep clean with a manual vacuum cleaner, you don’t have enough hair to fill a king-size comforter. Robot vacuums are also great for cleaning hard-to-reach places – under the bed, for example – where hair can easily accumulate.
There are some key things to look for if you’re looking for the best robot vacuum for pet hair. Decent suction specs (around 6,000Pa or more) are a must, as is an automatic vacuum bin, unless you want to constantly pull hair out of the small built-in dust bin. On the latter point, it’s worth spending more on a higher-end dock, as cheaper units can end up filled with fur during the self-emptying process.
5. They are super technical
If you want to understand how robot vacuums work, you’ll need to be pretty technical. However, if you choose a good one, using it will be quite simple. Any decent modern robot vacuum will walk you through the setup process, which usually involves little more than downloading the right companion app and connecting the robot to the internet (I’ve never had issues with this, but here are a few things to try if your robot vacuum loses internet connection).
Most will then prompt you to do a quick mapping, during which the robot will walk through each room and create a base map that you can edit. You could tidy up, lift chairs, etc. for this part; but even if you don’t, your bot will likely discover any previously inaccessible areas during a subsequent run.
In general, with robot vacuums, there’s a lot to dig into if you’re tech-savvy: precisely editing your maps, setting up complex schedules, tweaking settings, etc. However, if you don’t want to go into all that, most will have a big Go button that you can press and the vacuum will do a good cleaning of your house with no more information required than that.
6. They can’t stand clutter
Modern robot vacuums come with navigation technology which means they will be able to navigate around any obstacles. The most advanced options can also accurately identify the exact type of footprint and determine what requires a wide berth and what doesn’t. In short, a little mess usually won’t be a problem.
That said, there are some limitations. In particular, shallow obstacles are often missed – I’ve never encountered a robot vacuum that wasn’t desperate to eat charging cables like spaghetti. And I would never trust a robovac’s object avoidance enough to let it loose in a house with an untrained pet either.
7. They can replace a manual vacuum cleaner
Robot vacuums can be great, but they are unlikely to replace a manual vacuum. There are some things that even the most expensive and advanced robot vacuums can’t do. An obvious solution is to vacuum the stairs (although there are various ongoing prototypes from Eufy and Dreame, and more recently Roborock, which are looking to change this). Bungalow dwellers aren’t in the clear either: a robovac can’t vacuum your couch, your mattress, or be used to dust cobwebs off your bedroom ledges.
In addition, I would like to point out that robot vacuum cleaners still cannot really compete with the best manual vacuum cleaners in terms of suction. They’re great for doing regular, light cleaning, but for a good, deep dusting session, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves.
8. They cost a fortune
It depends on your definition of “a fortune.” You’re unlikely to find high-end flagship robot vacuums for less than four figures, and for features like automatic mop cleaning and water dispensing you’ll need to fork out upwards of $600/£600. However, there are plenty of good basic models under the $400/£400 mark – my best cheap robot vacuum guide has more information. It’s still an investment, but perhaps not as ruinous as one might imagine.
Discounts aren’t hard to come by either. Robot vacuums almost always feature in sales events such as Black Friday sales, and considering how quickly the market moves, it’s common to see relatively new models discounted to make room for an even newer range companion.
The best robot vacuum cleaners
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