Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

Robot vacuum cleaner types

Robot vacuums

Robot vacuums clean up you home for you. The only thing you have to do is to occasionally empty the dust container. Unfortunately, they are not really suited for carpets, since they lack suction power compared to a conventional vacuum cleaner. They do well if you set them to clean hard floors and carpets with a fibre length up to 1 - 1.5 cm. Due to their low profile, robot vacuums sometimes have problems getting over thresholds and other small vertical obstacles.

Robotic mops

Robotic mops are designed for scrubbing hard floors without your participation. They tend to have two types of cleaning wipes - one for scrubbing and one for dusting. Unlike robot vacuums, they don’t actually vacuum anything, but structurally they are very similar. These devices are ideal for cleaning laminate, vinyl, and PVC flooring or tiles.

What to focus on when choosing a robot vacuum or mop?

Flooring type

Surface	Robot vacuum cleaner	Robotic mop
Hard floor
Linoleum - PVC
Tiles
Carpet - bristle length under 1 cm
Carpet - bristle length 1 - 1.5 cm	selected models
Carpet - bristle length over 1.5 cm

Navigation options

There are two basic ways of how a robot can navigate around the room. If your rooms have a lot of furniture or a more complex shape, we recommend buying a robot with a mapping technology of some sort.

• Without smart navigation - these robots have a buffer, which they use to detect the wall and change the direction after bumping into it. They have no idea what parts of the house they have already cleaned and what parts still need to be done. They are significantly cheaper than the more advanced models, which is nice, but they can cover only about 70% of the room.
• With smart navigation - these models use sensors to first map out the room they are cleaning. They remember what parts are done and what aren’t. They also avoid obstacles and can cover up to 99% of the room. The downside is their higher price compared to the “dumber” models.

Suction power

Robot vacuum cleaners have a lower suction power compared to conventional vacuum cleaners, but it’s enough for routine vacuuming. Of course, they are not suitable for carpets with longer filaments.

Filter types

Robot vacuum cleaners tend to have a two-stage filtration system - input and output filters. The output filter is the more important of the two, as it affects the quality of the expelled air. Basic output filters are made of fabric, but we recommend choosing certified HEPA filters. These are made of fiberglass and are generally more durable and effective than fabric filters.

• HEPA filters are divided according to their efficiency, which ranges from 10 (85% efficiency) to 13 (99.9%). For people suffering from severe allergies or asthma, we recommend HEPA filters 12 and 13.
• iRobot vacuum cleaners have their own filters named Aerovac (in cheaper models) and Aeroforce (in more expensive models).

Types of brushes

Most robot vacuums are equipped with two types of brushes - a side brush and a main brush roll.

• Rotating side brush - some models can have two. These brushes chasing dirt from the corner and extending the reach of the vacuum cleaner. There are also models without side brushes, but their quality is lower cleaning.
• Main brush roll - classic longitudinal brush nadzvedávající impurities into the suction port. They are quieter than rubber, but entangled in them hairs and animal hairs.
• Main rubber brush - more effective than a bristle brush and doesn’t get clogged with hair and animal hair. On the downside, you have to expect higher noise levels than with a simple bristle brush.

Connectivity

Some robot vacuums can be remotely controlled via a mobile app. To do that, the robot must be equipped with a Wi-Fi module. The app lets you set up a cleaning schedule and if you are away from home, the app can show you the current cleaning stage.

Other practical features

• Recharging during cleaning - some robotic vacuums and mops can automatically recharge when necessary and then continue cleaning.
• Stair detectors - nice to have if you don’t want your robot vacuum falling down the stairs.
• Full container indicator - the sensor lets you know when the dust container is full.
• High dirt concentration detection - some models can identify particularly dirty places. They clean these locations first and then continue with their normal schedule.
• Virtual Wall - a transmitter that uses a laser beam to create an invisible barrier that the robot won’t cross. You can use it to prevent the robot from getting too close to anything delicate or dangerous.