Why waste time vacuuming yourself when you can do the job yourself? That’s the promise of the robot vacuum cleaner, and it represents a real relief when it comes to household chores. But to make the most of this investment, it’s important to make the best possible choice.
Criteria for choosing the ideal robot vacuum cleaner
The best robot vacuum cleaners may not satisfy you if you don’t have a clear idea of your needs. Here are the features to consider.
Navigation system
You can choose between random movement and a mapping system. In the first case, the vacuum cleaner works somewhat randomly, changing direction only when it encounters an obstacle. The very first robot vacuum cleaners were designed in this way. For a home of less than 60 m², a robot vacuum cleaner with random movement is perfectly suited. Beyond that, it risks getting lost.
A robot with a mapping system is much more precise. Thanks to its laser rangefinder (LDS) and optical camera, this device maps the entire house. It’s much more advanced, and also has applications that enable it to locate itself in space and go into every room to clean without getting lost. It’s programmable, so you can choose when it’s on and where it’s not.
Program types
Programming options are very important when it comes to robot vacuum cleaners. In general, they allow you to program:
- The days, times and duration of cleaning,
- Rooms to be cleaned,
- Cleaning mode (along walls, circle, auto, etc.),
Depending on the appliance, some programs are even more comprehensive, allowing you to set the cleaning power, for example.
The number of fall and obstacle sensors
Obstacle sensors are located at the rear of the robot vacuum cleaner, and fall sensors at the front. The more sensors there are, the fewer drops the robot will have. As far as obstacle sensors are concerned, some are infrared and effective only in full light. The most effective are ultrasonic sensors, which work well even at night. There are also cameras and gyroscopes to help the device avoid bumps and find its way around.
The suction system
One or two side brushes enable the robot vacuum cleaner to direct detritus towards its main suction mouth. There may also be a brush for greater efficiency. In this case, the machine is particularly effective on carpets and rugs.
The filtration system
It depends on your needs, but there are three types of filter. Normal filters are the most widespread, but they are not anti-allergenic and cannot retain all particles. HEPA filters do, and there are two types: HEPA quality filters.
Dust collector capacity
For low-capacity models, this is just 200 ml, and for larger models it can be as much as 600 ml. That’s not a lot, which means you’ll need to empty the plastic bin quite regularly. A robot vacuum cleaner with a self-draining refill base can help a lot. There’s also a mop function for added efficiency.
Conclusion
All these criteria will help you find the ideal appliance. However, some robot vacuum cleaners are bulkier than others. These are often models equipped with a laser rangefinder. Their dimensions range from 11 cm to 13 cm in height. Others are slimmer, barely 5.7 cm high. As for the battery, it’s rechargeable. It’s also important to choose a device with as much autonomy as possible. As for weight, the heavier the better. The heaviest robot to date weighs around 4 kg.
