Is Buying A Robot Vacuums Worth It?

We owned a Roomba robotic vacuum virtually a decade in the past as a result of it sounded so good in idea. One thing that does the vacuuming for you when you sit on the sofa? Signal me up. However in actuality, we had SO MANY ISSUES with it. It was extraordinarily loud, regularly obtained caught, and didn’t cowl many areas earlier than the battery died. Did I point out it all the time obtained caught? It felt like babysitting somebody who was poorly vacuuming to the purpose that our time was higher spent really doing the vacuuming. We lastly ended up promoting it on Craigslist.

So at this time we’re breaking down a ton of data for you, like:

• What precise robotic vacuum can we personal?
• How a lot does it price?
• The way it works & what options we love most
• Useful ideas for getting probably the most out of it
• What different individuals love about it

What Is Our Favourite Robotic Vacuum?

Earlier this 12 months we bought a Eufy RoboVac 11S after Sherry’s greatest pal waxed poetic about hers. We mentioned “no we hate robotic vacuums.” However she was unrelenting in how a lot better her expertise along with her newer robotic vacuum has been, and, effectively, she wore us down. So we determined to click on “order” as a result of it was on sale for $159 and totally returnable. That was 8 months in the past and spoiler, it positively didn’t get returned.

We run our Eufy EVERY SINGLE DAY. There’s an excellent handy schedule you possibly can set so it’s autopilot, and it has develop into a vital a part of our home cleansing routine (that’s accomplished by somebody, er, one thing apart from us). It’s most likely a little bit of a stretch to name it “a member of the household,” however even the youngsters handle her by title (“Is Eufy in your room?” “Yeah, she’s cleansing beneath my desk.”).

We tried a extra artistic title – the youngsters referred to as her Cheerio for a short time – however Eufy simply caught. Sherry extremely enjoys listening to all of the intelligent names that individuals have provide you with for theirs on Instagram although. Some favs embody: Meryl Sweep, Dustin Bieber, Sir Sux A Lot, and Optimus Clear.

How A lot Does It Value?

The opposite factor that makes having this specific robotic vacuum “price it” is the fee! Our Eufy RoboVac 11S retails for $199.99 however the value is commonly discounted (in the intervening time there’s a $60 off coupon on Amazon). This makes it probably the most reasonably priced robotic vacuums in the marketplace.

It’s primarily the price of one or two skilled home cleanings, but it’s right here each single day, working away for hours whereas we sit on our butts – and it comes again full every time. Many different fashions could be lots of of {dollars} extra (some effectively over $1,000!) and even probably the most reasonably priced Roombas (made by iRobot, the “large title” in robotic vacuums) are dearer than the one we’ve and love.

Clearly, the dearer the mannequin is, the extra options it’s more likely to have. Pricier vacuums could include wifi connectivity, voice management, cellphone apps, and even self-emptying mud assortment stations. However we’ve been past pleased with our entry-level Eufy.

So for those who’re fearful about not getting your cash’s price out of shopping for a robotic vacuum, our recommendation is to not fret about splurging on bells and whistles. Our Eufy was half the price of the usual upright vacuum we personal, and nowadays we depend on our robotic vacuum waaaaay extra (it does about 95% of the vacuuming in our home). And the very best half is that our home has by no means felt this clear!

How Our Robotic Vacuum Works & What We Love Most

A robotic vacuum automates the vacuuming chore in your home by wirelessly touring round your house, vacuuming because it goes, after which it parks itself again on its charging base when it’s accomplished. Our Eufy 11S model is delightfully uncomplicated, nevertheless it nonetheless has the important options you’d need in a robotic vacuum – which we’ll get into under. However first, right here’s a fast video the place we present precisely the way it works and the way we use it in our residence (psst- for those who fear a couple of dog-poop-smearing incident, we handle that within the video under):

Now on to what we love about it…

It Runs On An Computerized Day by day Schedule

Utilizing the included distant, we arrange our robotic vacuum to start vacuuming at a chosen time each morning. So with none effort on our finish, Eufy “wakes up” (she beeps from her charging base as a warning) after which emerges & does a 90-ish-minute cleansing of our first ground each single day. We are able to additionally manually begin or cease it at any time with the distant or the button on the vacuum itself, nevertheless it’s largely a “set and overlook” kind of routine.

I do know we speak quite a bit concerning the distant within the video, however actually, we RARELY use it. As soon as we programmed our day by day begin time, it grew to become very autopilot. We use the button on prime to pause or restart it, if wanted, so our distant normally simply lives in a close-by drawer.

It Navigates Round Obstacles Gently & Doesn’t Bang

Sensors on the vacuum assist it gently transfer round objects like chair legs, cupboard bases, and another obstructions. Sherry has been requested if she strikes the kitchen chairs for instance or does something to “arrange” the home earlier than it vacuums on daily basis. Apart from calling out “Eufy’s beginning, choose up any charging cords that is perhaps on the ground!” to our children, we do nothing (bear in mind: Eufy beeps earlier than rising, which is a very nice warning).

Sherry used to do a lap round the home to verify nothing was going to catch Eufy up, however we’ll share later how we stopped needing to try this. Anyway, it vacuums every thing – together with beneath tables, desks, and chairs… even after we’re nonetheless in them!

Our Eufy feels a lot smarter than our previous Roomba vacuum (which used to bang round much more) and it by no means leaves scuffs or scrapes on partitions, baseboards, cupboards, furnishings, or home equipment. It deftly maneuvers over ridges like thick carpet edges and by no means falls down the steps when operating on our second stage. Actually, it’s a completely completely different expertise than our previous Roomba from 9 years in the past.

It’s A lot Quieter Than Our Outdated Robotic Vacuum

We used to really feel like we couldn’t hear ourselves assume when our first robotic vacuum was operating again in our second home – however fortunately the newer fashions are a lot much less noisy throughout the board. We’ve zero points working or chatting whereas it’s operating, and our canine Penny is totally unbothered as effectively.

It Reaches Spots That We Can’t (Day by day!)

The S in RoboVac 11S stands for Slim, that means this specific mannequin – coming in at 2.85″ – is a decrease profile than many others, which are sometimes 3.5″ or 4″ inches. Whereas which will appear to be a negligible distinction, that inch or so could make an enormous distinction in what furnishings it may well squeeze beneath. In truth, one of many greatest promoting options for us has been how Eufy can simply get beneath issues we couldn’t very simply vacuum in any other case – like beneath our mattress, our loveseat, and the vainness in our lavatory.

We would have tried to scrub these areas throughout an occasional deep clear, however they positively weren’t spots we have been getting commonly, and positively not on daily basis.

If you consider how a lot further mud and dust it eliminates from your house by being slim sufficient to move beneath issues like that, it’s form of mind-blowing. It’s particularly useful if anybody in your home has mud or seasonal allergic reactions, as a result of it’s eliminating built-up mud and dust which have most likely been hiding for years AND maintaining it from coming again.

Its “Whiskers” Get Into Tight Spots

Even when our Eufy can’t go beneath one thing, just like the range or the fridge, the little whisker arms that poke out from all sides of it attain past the footprint of the vacuum itself. This implies it may well seize issues which are hiding beneath the small cracks under home equipment (I like that it cleans past its footprint, which a daily vacuum cleaner doesn’t do). It sounds bizarre to place a lot inventory into these extending whiskers, however they only go away issues so clear that they deserve a shout-out.

Works In Massive & Small Homes Alike

We positively stay in a a lot smaller residence than after we had our previous Roomba (in our final home), however Sherry’s greatest pal who really useful the exact model that we have has a really giant two-story home. She carries it up and down the steps sometimes, identical to we do. Nevertheless, we each discover that we’ve to scrub the upstairs much less regularly since a clear first ground means quite a bit much less will get tracked upstairs within the first place. In brief: you definitely don’t want a small home for this to give you the results you want.

That being mentioned, for those who stay in a big home with two ranges and don’t wish to carry it upstairs, you possibly can all the time get a second Eufy for the second ground. This isn’t your cue to order a number of Eufys proper off the bat, however preserve it in thoughts as an answer for those who discover {that a} second one is perhaps useful down the highway.

It Transitions Over Totally different Terrain

Sherry will get questions on the way it navigates going up onto a thick rug or over a small wooden threshold in a doorway, and it’s positively made for a number of surfaces like rugs, carpet, wooden, tile, and so on. So that you shouldn’t actually have any points with it hopping up and down over small issues like that. For those who do have a big threshold that you just fear about, you possibly can simply let it do one part of the home after which carry it over the brink to try this different space. Actually, it’s very easy to determine small issues like that out. Don’t fret.

It Doesn’t Fall Down The Stairs Or Off Ledges

I’ve mentioned It already, however I felt like this wanted its personal heading too. Eufy has sensors to maintain it from falling down the steps, so we’ve by no means had any points with that. We not solely have a entrance a part of our upstairs steps the place she assessments this parameter, however we even have a straight drop from the aspect, and he or she by no means, ever has any points with both of those. 100% success price of sensing a drop, turning round, and persevering with to scrub the remainder of the realm.

It Mechanically Returns To Its Charging Base

When our Eufy has accomplished its day by day routine, it robotically navigates again to its base to recharge its battery and await its subsequent day by day cleansing. Our base is plugged in beneath the loveseat in our downstairs sitting room, so our Eufy stays fully out of sight when it’s not in use. And since that spot is centrally positioned, it’s good and simple for Eufy to search out. We simply seize it from beneath the couch to empty it day by day – or use the distant to name it out so we are able to choose it up and empty it when it rolls out.

It Comes Again Full (So You Know It’s Working!)

Ours all the time comes again to the charging base with a stomach stuffed with dust and mud. Daily. Folks generally say to Sherry, “it appears to be operating on such a random sample – how do I do know it’s working?” and for us, the visible proof is that our flooring look extraordinarily clear AND it comes again stuffed with mud every time.

Somebody who used to work for a vacuum firm really DMed Sherry on Instagram and mentioned: “regular vacuums are supposed to go over the identical spot 4 instances for it to be thought-about clear.” If you manually vacuum you’re hardly ever hitting the identical spot 4 instances from 4 completely different angles, in order that’s why it may appear to you want Eufy is doing one space an excessive amount of at such a random zig-zag sample, nevertheless it’s simply hitting issues a number of instances to suck up a lot of mud & dust. There’s a way to its insanity in spite of everything.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Robotic Vacuum

Listed here are some ideas & methods to get probably the most out of your Eufy with out having to fret about it day by day. Autopilot cleansing that’s accomplished by a robotic as an alternative of you actually is a life hack… however it could take slightly little bit of prep up entrance. I promise you it’s price it! If you sit on the sofa whereas Eufy cleans for an hour and a half EVERY SINGLE DAY, effectively, it feels nice.

Choose Your Charging Spot Correctly

For those who put your Eufy in the very best spot, you’re going to adore it a LOT. For us, it was vital to discover a spot that was:

• Completely hidden
• Centrally positioned
• Straightforward to entry (for each us and the vacuum)
• Close to an outlet

Bigger properties may need an apparent spot in a laundry room/mudroom/lavatory, however in our small residence, we didn’t wish to dedicate seen ground house to an unsightly charger. Fortunately this spot beneath the loveseat checked all the bins! I scooted the sofa out so you possibly can see what the charging base seems like:

Safe Your Charging Base

We discovered that Eufy can sometimes push the bottom round slightly bit when it parks itself to cost. Typically it might develop into skewed and it might not align itself with the charger as simply. So we used a 3M Command Strip to stay it on to the ground, making certain that it might keep in place. Zero points since then.

Wrangle Your Unfastened Cords

If a nemesis for Eufy exists, it’s wires – particularly the free finish of a cellphone charging wire. She could attempt to suck them up and even pull them out of the wall (at which level she normally beeps and stops, and her cleansing cycle isn’t accomplished till you restart her). So after we obtained Eufy, we took a couple of half hour to corral all of our cords off of the ground, particularly beneath beds and furnishings. This meant tying some up in a bundle with zip ties (they embody 5 within the field!) and placing others into low baskets like this, which we then shove beneath the mattress. Voila: your complete bin of wires is hidden, however Eufy can’t get tangled anymore.

Even with that accomplished, we nonetheless remind our children (and one another!) to verify their iPad chargers are off the ground. Because of that beep earlier than it begins, no one actually forgets anymore, and it’s a pleasant solution to encourage slightly day by day tidying to verify issues aren’t all around the ground.

Do (Or Don’t Do) A Little Day by day Prep

You don’t need to prep for Eufy on daily basis, however you possibly can develop some routines to verify your home is prepared for her day by day vacuuming. Like we mentioned above, we simply remind the youngsters to select up their charging cords when Eufy sounds that beginning beep. However listed below are another issues you could possibly do (emphasis on COULD):

• Do a fast loop to select up garments, blankets, or towels on the ground in any bedrooms/loos
• Choose up small toys, like tiny Lego items or dolls with hair that may simply get sucked up
• Shut the door to any rooms you don’t need it coming into (like in case your child’s bed room ground is a catastrophe that morning)
• Transfer light-weight furnishings, even simply barely, to let Eufy hit a spot she couldn’t get to the day earlier than. Sometimes we roll a plant out of a nook to offer her higher entry.
• Sherry’s greatest pal sometimes places her eating chairs on the desk so Eufy can clear sooner. We by no means transfer ours, it simply takes Eufy extra time to bounce round ’em, however she will get it accomplished.

Once more, this stuff are completely non-compulsory however they might save Eufy from getting caught making an attempt to eat a wire. It’s not an enormous deal if that occurs, it simply interrupts an in any other case computerized cycle. For us, having Eufy run on daily basis has been an incredible checkpoint to verify we’ve picked up round the home slightly bit every morning. It solely takes a minute and generally it’s so simple as the youngsters simply tossing issues on their beds as an alternative of the ground.

Have Backup Equipment on Hand

Like with conventional vacuums, Eufy makes use of small filters and stuff that may want occasional cleansing or changing. We purchased this $16 pack of replacement parts to have readily available in case one thing breaks, wears out, or goes lacking. It has already turn out to be useful after one of many whisker attachments got here off beneath a rug and wasn’t discovered for just a few days. Fortunately we might simply pop on a spare so Eufy didn’t miss a day.

SPEAKING OF THE WHISKERS: once you get your Eufy it is advisable to snap these suckers on firmly. For those who don’t hear the snap they’re doubtless not all the best way on and also you’ll run it and be like “why the @%#&$ do these preserve falling off?!” So snap them on firmly they usually’ll keep put for the lengthy haul.

Perceive That It Doesn’t Clear Each Spot, Each Day

Since this entry-level mannequin doesn’t have any fancy digital mapping or programable information, Eufy type of simply charts a brand new random path every morning. Some days she spends extra time beneath the mattress, and on different days she does one move across the lavatory as an alternative of ten. However over the course of the week, she is going to nonetheless make it to each spot many many instances. In eight months we’ve by no means come throughout a single spot that she will be able to entry that’s been missed.

I can’t categorical to you the way a lot cleaner our home seems and feels because of operating Eufy on daily basis on such a straightforward autopilot schedule. We even discover that we’ve to do much less dusting as a result of when Eufy is operating day by day to get rid of dust and particles on the ground, they’ve much less of an opportunity of increase and floating up onto tables or cabinets or window ledges.

Know That You’ll Nonetheless Want To Vacuum Typically

Don’t throw out your common vacuum simply since you’ve bought a robotic one. As an illustration, we preserve this one in our utility closet. For one, Eufy can’t do stairs, so we nonetheless vacuum these manually as soon as every week. She can also’t transfer furnishings, so there are positively some corners she will be able to’t get (like behind a plant stand or trash can until we transfer them earlier than she runs). So these are areas we simply deal with ourselves after we do the steps.

Additionally, for those who spill one thing like dust from a pot, Eufy does have a “spot clear” mode on the distant, however we discover it’s not probably the most environment friendly solution to clear up after an enormous mess. We normally simply sweep issues up or seize our small handheld vacuum to deal with that form of process.

Empty It Day by day

The built-in mud canister on our Eufy is usually fully full after each cleansing. At first, I assumed we have been simply exceptionally soiled (how is there THAT MUCH mud EVERY DAY?!) however we’ve heard a lot of others report the identical factor. Now I’ve determined to be glad these piles of mud make their method into the trash and aren’t nonetheless on our flooring.

Our Eufy doesn’t have an computerized self-emptying function (they name it dust-collection and a few fancier fashions switch it into their charging base, just like the Roomba i3+ EVO or Eufy RoboVac L35 Hybrid+, each $550). These nonetheless need to be emptied ultimately, and we don’t thoughts the day by day routine of simply manually emptying ours so it’s able to replenish once more the subsequent day. We suggest setting an alarm in your cellphone for those who discover that you just overlook, or group this motion with one thing else you do on daily basis (like once you take your nutritional vitamins, for instance).

It’s fast & simple to empty – the compartment simply pops out of the underside. So we normally simply attain beneath the loveseat and pull it off its charging station for a fast empty. You may as well choose it up when it begins vacuuming to empty it from the day earlier than (it robotically pauses when lifted off the bottom). Then simply put it again down and press the button on the highest & it’ll choose up the place it left off.

What Different Folks Assume About It

We thought it might be useful to listen to from different Eufy homeowners as effectively (maybe with larger, hairier canine), and due to the nice individuals of Instagram, Sherry has heard from quite a lot of different Eufy homeowners. You possibly can learn extra within the archived circle on Instagram under our bio referred to as Robotic Vac, however right here’s a sampling under:

“Between our previous doggies and sandy soil this has been the very best buy I’ve ever made.”

“My life is modified. We’ve 3 canine (!!!) and three kids and I used to be vacuuming on daily basis. Now Eufy does it each night for me. I don’t know the way, nevertheless it’s higher than my Dyson. Is it simply that I don’t need to do it? Perhaps, however I’m right here for it.”

My husband was adamant that we’d by no means have a robotic vacuum. Purchased the one you really useful and ran it proper after the cleansing woman left. It was fully full after operating on our essential stage (not even beneath the sofa or on the rug) simply principally all open areas that had simply been cleaned. Husband has been transformed and now appreciates the robotic vacuum.”

“Final week whereas watching your tales, I assumed if I obtained that, it’s attainable that it might take away an enormous stressor for me. I purchased it that day (which I by no means do) and have LOVED it on daily basis since! It vacuums my kitchen whereas I’m cooking dinner, supplies leisure to my two littles, and cleans up no matter dust my boys all the time handle to herald. I simply didn’t assume it was attainable for one thing to carry such aid!”

“I introduced it to my mother and father’ home whereas visiting them for the weekend. They’d vacuumed in preparation for my go to, and we have been all SHOCKED at how a lot it nonetheless picked up!”

“Acquired a robotic vacuum virtually instantly after your story final week… ten days later and I’m dwelling a complete new life. And right here’s the very best half: it solely runs on our essential stage, however I haven’t wanted to scrub upstairs as a result of there isn’t any particles to trace up!”

It’s LIFE CHANGING! We obtained a brand new canine that sheds in all places and I used to be able to lose my thoughts. Our loving and ever-so-hard-working Eufy has made the canine hair a non-issue. And now my mother and sisters have purchased one!

“We had our home professionally cleaned, obtained a Eufy the subsequent day, and have run him 3X a day for the final 3 days. Our home seems spotless and and not using a crumb, however someway he comes up with a full dustbin each time! Recreation changer. Greatest cash we’ve spent in a very long time.”

And so ends this lovefest for an merchandise we had actually sworn off virtually a decade in the past. Hooray for smarter robots that may clear your home however will hopefully by no means take over the world sometime.

Oh and if you wish to see another methods we automate and simplify our residence, these posts may curiosity you:

*This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, so we could earn a small fee once you make a purchase order via hyperlinks on our website at no extra price to you.

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