If you’re looking for a quick way to make your life easier, I’ve got the perfect tip: choose the right robot vacuum/mop. Trust me – my robot vacuum holds a very proud position in my top 5 home gadgets ever, right alongside my Crock-Pot.

My kids are always tracking little bits of debris into the house, and I was tired of sweeping all the time and still finding dust and crumbs stuck to the bottom of my feet at the end of the day. Time-saving, useful, and worth its weight in gold, a robot vacuum/mop is one thing I recommend for all mums, and anyone looking to save time for the matter.

Here’s what to consider when shopping for a robot vacuum.

1. How big is your house?

Your first consideration will be the size of your house. There are robot vacuums designed to work efficiently in small spaces like apartments, while more elaborate models are suited to larger homes. Things like how long the robot will last before going back to charge (if it does it automatically, there are cheaper versions that you need to manually charge yourself), and if in case the robot needs to dock and charge before continuing, is it able to pick up where it left off? Checking how long it will take to charge in this instance would be a smart idea, since you want it to charge up as quickly as possible to get the job done.

2. How much clearance do you have?

Take a look at some of the main furniture pieces in your home that you don’t plan to change anytime soon and measure the clearance beneath them. If you just bought a new sofa or bed, a robot vacuum that is too tall to get underneath is a missed opportunity. Keep this measurement handy while you’re shopping so you can make a decision you’ll be happy with.
This said, I’ve been happy to make a compromise and move our sofa to the front, then quickly sweep in front of it when it goes back to it’s place.

3. Consider your flooring

The good news is that most models of robot vacuums are very versatile and can traverse different types of flooring with ease. However, some models are better at cleaning particular types of floors. This means that if your house is entirely hardwood, you might as well focus on models known for working well with wood floors. Also consider any rugs that you may have; some lower-end robot vacuums have trouble with tasselled rugs, or even rugs, for example.

4. Have you got any pets?

Another important consideration is your pets. First of all, if you have cats or dogs, you will quickly realise that you should have bought a robot vacuum a long time ago. We have a bird in our house so this isn’t a big concern for me, but people I know who do have dogs have said that their robot vacuum is a life-saver. Having said that, however, you definitely need to seek out a model that is made to pick up pet hair as some lower-end models don’t handle pet hair well.

5. Do you want a smart robot?

That seems like a silly question because anything that can figure out how to suck up all the dust and debris from my floors without me getting up is pretty smart in my book. But a big selling point for many people is having a robot vacuum that can be controlled with an app. If you’re in love with the idea of mapping out your vacuum’s route, using voice commands to tell your vacuum to start working, or running the vacuum when you’re not home, you might spring for a smart robot vacuum. This is a feature I quite enjoy myself.

6. Research the mopping feature.

If you want to choose a robot vacuum/mop, check out reviews to ensure that the mopping function is up to par. While most robot vacuums do a splendid job at vacuuming, some fall short when it comes to mopping. A little extra investment here is worth it if a mopping feature is important to you.

7. Do you have allergies?

If you’ve got allergies or asthma or dust has a way of reappearing frequently all over your home, look for a model that has built-in HEPA filters. These will need to be changed on occasion, but they can really help you breathe better if you use them regularly.

These robots come in a range of prices and they have come down in price over the years in general, but they certainly cost a lot more than a broom and mop. However, if you take the time to choose the right robot vacuum/mop, you’ll be rewarded with years of clean floors – and feet!

Love,

Nakita xxx