Vacuum cleaning robots sure took a far turn from George Jetson's Rosie the Robot Maid. Even without Rosie's wit and charm, the modern-day Roombas and POWERbots that are available to us have taken the world by storm. People love the idea of handing one of their most taxing chores over to a pint-size but powerful droid. The question is, are these robots worth the hype? Can they really tackle the messes made on your floor or have people simply gotten swept up in one of our generation's more practical trends? Let's find out!
Question 1: Can they clean the mess?
Yes...most of the time.
As you might imagine, a light, tiny vacuum is not going to be as powerful as a larger model. It will take care of a good amount of dust, dander, pet hair, and other daily messes, but don't expect these vacuums to tackle the big stuff. They likely won't make the cut when faced with whole pieces of cereal, chips, etc.
Question 2: Are they reasonably priced?
There are quite a few available models of robot vacuums on the market, and there honestly seems to be an affordable option for just about every budget. Decent robot vacuums that can get the job done range from $230-$2,000. These prices may seem hefty at first glance, but when you consider how much time they will save you in the long run it's really not a terribly expensive investment.
Question 3: Do they last?
While it's too early to tell for some of the newer models, it seems that robot vacuums typically last 2-5 years. This may be a bit low on the life expectancy scale to justify the cost to some, but break it down for a minute. Even if your robot vacuum only lasts for two years you can purchase a budget-friendly model ($230) that will end up costing you under $10 a month! No doubt it will clean enough to pay for itself in just a few short months.
Question 4: Will they save me significant amounts of work?
If you like a clean and tidy house and work hard to maintain a certain caliber of cleanliness, then yes! Your robot vacuum will take care of the daily maintenance and small messes that happen throughout the week. It will not, unfortunately, replace the need for you to vacuum entirely. You will still need to take care of deep cleaning and perhaps a bi-weekly run with a more powerful machine, but that's small potatoes compared to having to take time out of your daily routine to get the vacuum out for menial tasks.
Question 5: Is it worth it?
If you can afford it, yes! Daily vacuuming is so, so good for the longevity of your floors whether they are carpet, vinyl, laminate, tile, or hardwood. When you buy a robot vacuum, your investment extends to your time, your efforts, the cleanliness of your home, and your floors. What more could you ask for?
Happy Flooring!