Remember when robot vacuums were basically remote-control bumper cars with anxiety? They’d bounce around, get stuck under the couch and scare the cat. These days, they claim to do it all – vacuum, mop, empty themselves and learn your floor plan better than your dog has.
Here’s the thing no one wants you to know: Most of them still have quirks. The one that works great in your friend’s apartment might flail in your pet-hair-filled, two-story home with rugs and stairs.
Let’s break it down, so you don’t waste money on a cute little robot that ends up just sitting in the corner.
🐾 Got pets?
Pet hair gets everywhere, and the last thing you want is to clean the cleaner. Look for strong suction and a brush that doesn’t tangle every time it sees a tumbleweed of fur.
The roborock Q7 M5+ and Shark AI Ultra are great picks. Dyson’s robot vac looks cool, but it misses corners and has a hard time with thick fur. Pretty but not practical.
🏠 Hardwood or tile floor?
You don’t need turbo suction here, but navigation is key. The eufy C10 is affordable, quiet and doesn’t ram into your baseboards. Roomba’s 105 combo is also solid but isn’t as good at avoiding obstacles.
The best part? They both mop while they vacuum. Great for spills, paw prints and everyday grime. I’ll never forget my mom saying about her Roomba in that Brooklyn accent, “Watch out, Rosie’s workin’ for a livin’!”
🥿 Lots of rugs or thick carpet?
This is where cheaper vacs usually give up. The roborock S8 MaxV auto-adjusts suction and actually lifts dirt out of rugs.
Roomba Max 705 can manage medium pile, but thick shag? Forget it. Eufy? Often skips the rug edges altogether.
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