I recently upgraded to a cordless vacuum cleaner, and I wish I had done this sooner. I also wish I had done this before buying the robot vacuum because it just works better for me. There are two vacuum trends that are very popular now. One is the robot vacuum type – most notably championed by the iRobot Roomba. The other one is the wireless vacuum type – completely mobile. Both can do the job they advertise, but are they worth the switch? From my perspective – absolutely yes! You can definitely save time with this newer generation and they are just easier to operate.
Robot Vacuum Cleaners
We got our robot vacuum cleaner around the time when my wife was pregnant. I though that any little help around the house will help. And it did BUT it didn’t quite hit the mark. And while I don’t think I can speak for all products out there, there are some basic elements that are inherent to those vacuums.
Here are a few reasons you might love robot vacuum cleaners:
- They require minimal supervision – you set them on their way, and they do their job
- You can program many of them to come on so they don’t interrupt your routine
- They can fit in most places, including low couches/sofas
- They can automatically detect stairs and obstacles, then intelligently re-plan the route to complete the cleaning
- The newer models have significantly lowered the operating noise
But there are a few items that you may not appreciate about them…
- They are, generally, not as powerful as the regular vacuums. While they do clean well, I felt like the regular vacuum just do a more thorough job
- They’re a bit slow… It’s not a deal breaker – but while you can clean up an entire room in minutes, the time it takes for the robot to navigate the same area and do a thorough job is significantly longer.
- They’re still a bit dumb. They will try their best to cover the entire area, but there are spots they will miss.
- They won’t get into crooks and nooks smaller than their own size, so that tangle of chair and table legs you were hoping to get all the crumbs from under? Not so much…
- Eventually, you will need to replace the battery and yes, you need to recharge after each use.
Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
We upgraded our trusty wired cleaner this year when Black Friday came around. One of the reasons I wanted to get it is because our living room just never stayed clean. Whether you have kids learning how to use their plates, or pets, you know that your floor just never stays clean for long. And the process with the regular vacuum just took too long for me to do it often. It was a chore. That changed a bit with the new wireless generation.
Here are a few reasons you might love cordless vacuum cleaners:
- They are 100% mobile and let’s you get in hard-to-reach places with ease
- They are much lighter than their old cousins and you can navigate the room easily – often just with one hand
- They tend to be much quieter than the wired kind
- Getting them to work is just faster – practically as fast as getting a broom – except you don’t need a dust pan
- The new models are quite powerful – you will get a lot
But there are a few items that you may not appreciate about them…
- Eventually, you will need to replace the battery and you do need to recharge after each use
- They are more expensive than regular vacuums