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Original poster

Is a robot vacuum worth it?

28 replies

Tunacan6 · 09/10/2024 10:56

i see there’s a cheap one on prime.
can I ask- do they move from room to room or just stay in one room?
do they move through chairs legs/under tables etc?
how much of a difference do they really make?
thanks!

OP posts:
Wonderballs · 09/10/2024 11:03

I have a cheap no-name one and I find it makes a big difference if you run it every day, though I work from home so can retrieve it, charge it, restart it and hear it if it gets stuck somewhere. However, for the cheap ones of course you need to think about the layout of the house and furniture as it will just randomly go everywhere (the more expensive ones can be programmed). I also would avoid with pets in the house where there could be a poo lurking around as it would spread it throughout the house.

Chypre · 09/10/2024 11:03

Yes 100% worth it! I have Roborock with mopping function, it moves daily throughout the whole first floor no problem (but our floors are generally free of free-standing objects - there are no vases, plant pots, shoes etc). Now in the wet muddy weather it goes round 2 times a day in the hallway - no way I would mop 2 times!

Monkeybutt1 · 09/10/2024 11:04

Absolutely worth it, we have ours running on a schedule so it does the downstairs overnight whilst we are asleep. They map the rooms, so know where to go and yes they move from room to room. If there is something in their way they just avoid it, ours will gently nudge it if it senses an obstacle and then avoid it. The only thing I would say is be mindful of thick mats as they can get stuck on them. Ours mops as well which is a god send as we have a large open plan area which is all hardwood floors. You can set them to run from the app too, so sometimes whilst we are out we will set it to have a run around, if its looking like it needs it. The only vacuuming I do now is the stairs.

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MrSeptember · 09/10/2024 11:21

I absolutely love my robot vacuum. I suspect I'm not using the more sophisticated aspects because I put it on at different times, on different floors, in different rooms but it works brilliantly.

If you have carpets, especially thicker carpet, it really is worth spending a bit more to get one with more suction. If you've got plain floors or very thin carpet, that's less of an issue.

Chowtime · 09/10/2024 11:26

I think robot vacuums are worth it.

Its the old fashioned "plug it in and push it along" ones that aren't worth it any more.

coffeesaveslives · 09/10/2024 11:30

Be careful if you have pets or children who drop and spill things...

Aposterhasnoname · 09/10/2024 11:34

100% worth it. Yes they move from room to room and yes they go under furniture and around legs if there’s room. I got a basic one that just bumbled randomly around to begin with, and I thought it was life changing. Then it broke and I got one with mapping. Life changing all over again!

Costacoffeeplease · 09/10/2024 11:38

Love mine. I have three

Ronnie1234 · 09/10/2024 11:38

Literally Ben thinking about getting one too on time
Torn between Robovac & Eufy L60 SES just a mid range

notmoredirtywashing · 09/10/2024 11:40

I got one and took it back.
It's so slow! I found it was quicker to just hoover and mop the floor in the time it took to set it off.
Waste of £300.

nottaotter · 09/10/2024 11:42

Yes we have one and the amount of dust/bits etc that it picks up that normal hoover doesn't is amazing.

It has a rubber bumper that doesn't damage furniture etc and is very gentle when it meets an object. I am very careful with our dogs though, and make sure they are shut in another room, a tail or paw of any animal could be horrible.

Monkeybutt1 · 09/10/2024 11:45

notmoredirtywashing · 09/10/2024 11:40

I got one and took it back.
It's so slow! I found it was quicker to just hoover and mop the floor in the time it took to set it off.
Waste of £300.

But the point is they hoover and/or mop whilst you do other things.

Anonymous2224 · 09/10/2024 11:57

my mum got us one for Christmas last year and it’s the best gift I have ever got! We have 2 toddlers so oh my god the crumbs everywhere! We program ours to come on every night at 1am when we are sleeping (it’s never woke me up) and the difference getting up to a clean floor is amazing! Obviously we still have a big hoover for the big proper cleans but it does a really great job of just keeping on top of the floor between big cleans.

AvaJae · 09/10/2024 12:02

Only if you turn it on!

Note to self!

I have one, really excited to have it set via my ipad, to hoover automatically every day…but we've got out of the habit of having it turned on so hardly use it.

Another gadget that has gone the way of others!

TemuSpecialBuy · 09/10/2024 12:10

Depends on your house and flooring.

ours is 💯 worth it.
it mops and hoovers and I love it.

He is my little helper… he boops and bops about with his little mop and then pootles back to his docking station congratulating himself on a job well done when his battery is low

Eufy X10 we got it for about £600 on offer.

MrSeptember · 09/10/2024 12:11

notmoredirtywashing · 09/10/2024 11:40

I got one and took it back.
It's so slow! I found it was quicker to just hoover and mop the floor in the time it took to set it off.
Waste of £300.

Yes, it's much slower. But the point is that it's working while you're doing other things surely? I put mine on this morning while I was cleaning the bathroom and the stairs. I often put it on before I head out or will put it on upstairs while I'm cooking dinner or whatever.

mammaCh · 09/10/2024 12:13

Best thing I ever bought!
Even when it looks clean and no visible dirt, it will always pick up dust!
Goes to any room if doors are open. I have an eufy and it can't fall down stairs etc.

Aposterhasnoname · 09/10/2024 12:15

notmoredirtywashing · 09/10/2024 11:40

I got one and took it back.
It's so slow! I found it was quicker to just hoover and mop the floor in the time it took to set it off.
Waste of £300.

Sure, it’s faster to do it yourself, but I’m not sat there waiting for it to finish. I’m usually at work, or in bed, and get home/up to nice clean floors and one less job to do.

TrobadoraBeatrice · 09/10/2024 12:16

Not worth it for us - clearing a path for it to do its work takes longer than hoovering in the first place, plus it scares the cat! (To be fair, he also hates the normal hoover.)

EducatingArti · 09/10/2024 12:18

I've found it worth it but I wouldn't get the cheapest!

I had a cheap one but it broke quite quickly. My roomba has been going for years.

Gumbo · 09/10/2024 12:23

I got a cheapish one and thought it would be a gimmick. It's not , I love it and wouldn't choose to be without it!
It's programmed to run each morning, I'm constantly shocked by how much dirt (fur) it collects from what looks like a reasonably clean house. My pets ignore it, if it bumps into them it just turns and goes elsewhere which is great.

username3678 · 09/10/2024 12:25

No. I bought two and no longer use them. They're tiny and you have to keep emptying them, things get trapped on the wheels as well. I want to get rid off mine.

doodleschnoodle · 09/10/2024 12:26

We have one upstairs and one down! Love them. They have names too, obviously.

CMOTDibbler · 09/10/2024 12:42

I have a Roomba and it's brilliant - it empties itself, very very rarely gets stuck and cleans beautifully on carpet, rugs and hard floors. The best bit is it does under the beds and sofas so no more dust bunnies. The dogs and cats pay no attention other than moving if he bumps into them

user1496146479 · 09/10/2024 12:48

notmoredirtywashing · 09/10/2024 11:40

I got one and took it back.
It's so slow! I found it was quicker to just hoover and mop the floor in the time it took to set it off.
Waste of £300.

I think you have missed the point of these! Smile