Are Robotic Vacuums Value It? This is What Modified Our Thoughts

We owned a Roomba robotic vacuum nearly a decade in the past as a result of it sounded so good in principle. However in actuality, we had SO MANY ISSUES with it. It was extraordinarily loud, ceaselessly received caught, and didn’t cowl a lot floor earlier than the battery died. It required a lot babysitting somebody that our time was higher spent simply vacuuming ourselves. We lastly ended up promoting it on Craigslist.

So in the present day we’re breaking down a ton of data for you, like:

• What actual robotic vacuum can we personal?
• How a lot does it value?
• The way it works & what options we love most
• Useful suggestions for getting essentially the most out of it
• What different individuals love about it

We run our Eufy EVERY SINGLE DAY. There’s a brilliant handy schedule you possibly can set so it’s autopilot, and it has change into an important a part of our home cleansing routine (that’s executed by somebody, er, one thing apart from us). It’s most likely a little bit of a stretch to name it “a member of the household,” however even the children tackle her by identify (“Is Eufy in your room?” “Yeah, she’s cleansing below my desk.”).

We tried a extra inventive identify – the children referred to as her Cheerio for a short while – however Eufy simply caught. Sherry extremely enjoys listening to all of the intelligent names that individuals have give you for theirs on Instagram although. Some favs embody: Meryl Sweep, Dustin Bieber, Sir Sux A Lot, and Optimus Clear.

How A lot Does A Robotic Vacuum Value?

The opposite factor that makes having this explicit robotic vacuum “value it” is the associated fee! Our Eufy RoboVac 11S retails for $199.99 however the value is usually discounted (for the time being there’s a $60 off coupon on Amazon). This makes it one of the vital inexpensive robotic vacuums in the marketplace.

It’s primarily the price of one or two skilled home cleanings, but it’s right here each single day, working away for hours whereas we sit on our butts – and it comes again full every time. Many different fashions may be tons of of {dollars} extra (some properly over $1,000!) and even essentially the most inexpensive Roombas (made by iRobot, the “huge identify” in robotic vacuums) are costlier than the one we now have and love.

Clearly, the costlier the mannequin is, the extra options it’s more likely to have. Pricier vacuums could include wifi connectivity, voice management, telephone apps, and even self-emptying mud assortment stations. However we’ve been past pleased with our entry-level Eufy.

So for those who’re fearful about not getting your cash’s value out of shopping for a robotic vacuum, our recommendation is to not fret about splurging on bells and whistles. Our Eufy was half the price of the usual upright vacuum we personal, and today we depend on our robotic vacuum waaaaay extra (it does about 95% of the vacuuming in our home). And the most effective half is that our home has by no means felt this clear!

How Our Robotic Vacuum Works & What We Love Most

A robotic vacuum automates the vacuuming chore in your home by wirelessly touring round your property, vacuuming because it goes, after which it parks itself again on its charging base when it’s executed. Our Eufy 11S mannequin is delightfully uncomplicated, nevertheless it nonetheless has the important options you’d need in a robotic vacuum – which we’ll get into under. However first, right here’s a fast video the place we present precisely the way it works and the way we use it in our house (psst- for those who fear a few dog-poop-smearing incident, we tackle that within the video under):

Now on to what we love about it…

It Runs On An Computerized Every day Schedule

Utilizing the included distant, we arrange our robotic vacuum to start vacuuming at a delegated time each morning. So with none effort on our finish, Eufy “wakes up” (she beeps from her charging base as a warning) after which emerges & does a 90-ish-minute cleansing of our first flooring each single day. We are able to additionally manually begin or cease it at any time with the distant or the button on the vacuum itself, nevertheless it’s largely a “set and neglect” kind of routine.

I do know we discuss lots in regards to the distant within the video, however truthfully, we RARELY use it. As soon as we programmed our day by day begin time, it grew to become very autopilot. We use the button on prime to pause or restart it, if wanted, so our distant often simply lives in a close-by drawer.

It Navigates Round Obstacles Gently

Sensors on the vacuum assist it gently transfer round objects like chair legs, cupboard bases, and another obstructions. Sherry has been requested if she strikes the kitchen chairs for instance or does something to “arrange” the home earlier than it vacuums day by day. Apart from calling out “Eufy’s beginning, decide up any charging cords that may be on the ground!” to our youngsters, we do nothing (keep in mind: Eufy beeps earlier than rising, which is a very nice warning).

Sherry used to do a lap round the home to verify nothing was going to catch Eufy up, however we’ll share later how we stopped needing to do this. Anyway, it vacuums every part – together with below tables, desks, and chairs… even after we’re nonetheless in them!

Our Eufy feels a lot smarter than our previous Roomba vacuum (which used to bang round much more) and it by no means leaves scuffs or scrapes on partitions, baseboards, cupboards, furnishings, or home equipment. It deftly maneuvers over ridges like thick carpet edges and by no means falls down the steps when operating on our second degree. Actually, it’s a totally completely different expertise than our previous Roomba from 9 years in the past.

It’s A lot Quieter Than Our Previous Robotic Vacuum

We used to really feel like we couldn’t hear ourselves suppose when our first robotic vacuum was operating again in our second home – however fortunately the newer fashions are a lot much less noisy throughout the board. We’ve got zero points working or chatting whereas it’s operating, and our canine Penny is totally unbothered as properly.

It Reaches Spots That We Can’t (Every day!)

The S in RoboVac 11S stands for Slim, which means this explicit mannequin – coming in at 2.85″ – is a decrease profile than many others, which are sometimes 3.5″ or 4″ inches. Whereas which will look like a negligible distinction, that inch or so could make a giant distinction in what furnishings it may possibly squeeze below. Actually, one of many greatest promoting options for us has been how Eufy can simply get below issues we couldn’t very simply vacuum in any other case – like below our mattress, our loveseat, and the vainness in our toilet.

We would have tried to scrub these areas throughout an occasional deep clear, however they undoubtedly weren’t spots we had been getting repeatedly, and definitely not day by day.

If you consider how a lot additional mud and filth it eliminates from your property by being slim sufficient to go below issues like that, it’s form of mind-blowing. It’s particularly useful if anybody in your home has mud or seasonal allergy symptoms, as a result of it’s eliminating built-up mud and filth which have most likely been hiding for years AND protecting it from coming again.

Its “Whiskers” Get Into Tight Spots

Even when our Eufy can’t go below one thing, just like the range or the fridge, the little whisker arms that poke out from both sides of it attain past the footprint of the vacuum itself. This implies it may possibly seize issues which might be hiding below the small cracks under home equipment (I really like that it cleans past its footprint, which a daily vacuum cleaner doesn’t do). It sounds bizarre to place a lot inventory into these extending whiskers, however they only go away issues so clear that they deserve a shout-out.

Works In Huge & Small Homes Alike

We undoubtedly reside in a a lot smaller house than after we had our previous Roomba (in our final home), however Sherry’s finest pal who advisable the precise mannequin that we now have has a really massive two-story home. She carries it up and down the steps often, identical to we do. Nevertheless, we each discover that we now have to scrub the upstairs much less ceaselessly since a clear first flooring means lots much less will get tracked upstairs within the first place. Briefly: you actually don’t want a small home for this to be just right for you.

That being stated, for those who reside in a big home with two ranges and don’t wish to carry it upstairs, you possibly can at all times get a second Eufy for the second flooring. This isn’t your cue to order a number of Eufys proper off the bat, however preserve it in thoughts as an answer for those who discover {that a} second one may be useful down the highway.

It Transitions Over Completely different Terrain

Sherry will get questions on the way it navigates going up onto a thick rug or over a small wooden threshold in a doorway, and it’s undoubtedly made for a number of surfaces like rugs, carpet, wooden, tile, and so on. So that you shouldn’t actually have any points with it hopping up and down over small issues like that. In case you do have a big threshold that you simply fear about, you possibly can simply let it do one part of the home after which carry it over the brink to do this different space. Actually, it’s very easy to determine small issues like that out. Don’t fret.

It Doesn’t Fall Down The Stairs Or Off Ledges

I’ve stated It already, however I felt like this wanted its personal heading too. Eufy has sensors to maintain it from falling down the steps, so we’ve by no means had any points with that. We not solely have a entrance a part of our upstairs steps the place she checks this parameter, however we even have a straight drop from the aspect, and he or she by no means, ever has any points with both of those. 100% success charge of sensing a drop, turning round, and persevering with to scrub the remainder of the realm.

It Routinely Returns To Its Charging Base

When our Eufy has accomplished its day by day routine, it mechanically navigates again to its base to recharge its battery and await its subsequent day by day cleansing. Our base is plugged in below the loveseat in our downstairs sitting room, so our Eufy stays fully out of sight when it’s not in use. And since that spot is centrally positioned, it’s good and simple for Eufy to search out. We simply seize it from below the couch to empty it day by day – or use the distant to name it out so we will decide it up and empty it when it rolls out.

It Comes Again Full (So You Know It’s Working!)

Ours at all times comes again to the charging base with a stomach stuffed with filth and dirt. Every single day. Folks typically say to Sherry, “it appears to be operating on such a random sample – how do I do know it’s working?” and for us, the visible proof is that our flooring look extraordinarily clear AND it comes again stuffed with mud every time.

Somebody who used to work for a vacuum firm truly DMed Sherry on Instagram and stated: “regular vacuums are supposed to go over the identical spot 4 instances for it to be thought-about clear.” If you manually vacuum you’re hardly ever hitting the identical spot 4 instances from 4 completely different angles, in order that’s why it might sound to you want Eufy is doing one space an excessive amount of at such a random zig-zag sample, nevertheless it’s simply hitting issues a number of instances to suck up a number of mud & filth. There’s a way to its insanity in any case.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Robotic Vacuum

Listed below are some suggestions & tips to get essentially the most out of your Eufy with out having to fret about it day by day. Autopilot cleansing that’s executed by a robotic as an alternative of you actually is a life hack… however it could take somewhat little bit of prep up entrance. I promise you it’s value it! If you sit on the sofa whereas Eufy cleans for an hour and a half EVERY SINGLE DAY, properly, it feels nice.

Decide Your Charging Spot Correctly

In case you put your Eufy in the most effective spot, you’re going to find it irresistible a LOT. For us, it was essential to discover a spot that was:

• Completely hidden
• Centrally positioned
• Simple to entry (for each us and the vacuum)
• Close to an outlet

Bigger properties may need an apparent spot in a laundry room/mudroom/toilet, however in our small house, we didn’t wish to dedicate seen flooring house to an unpleasant charger. Fortunately this spot below the loveseat checked the entire packing containers! I scooted the sofa out so you possibly can see what the charging base appears to be like like:

Safe Your Charging Base

We discovered that Eufy can often push the bottom round somewhat bit when it parks itself to cost. Typically it could change into skewed and it may not align itself with the charger as simply. So we used a 3M Command Strip to stay it on to the ground, making certain that it could keep in place. Zero points since then.

Wrangle Your Unfastened Cords

If a nemesis for Eufy exists, it’s wires – particularly the unfastened finish of a telephone charging wire. She could attempt to suck them up and even pull them out of the wall (at which level she often beeps and stops, and her cleansing cycle isn’t accomplished till you restart her). So after we received Eufy, we took a few half hour to corral all of our cords off of the ground, particularly below beds and furnishings. This meant tying some up in a bundle with zip ties (they embody 5 within the field!) and placing others into low baskets like this, which we then shove below the mattress. Voila: your complete bin of wires is hidden, however Eufy can’t get tangled anymore.

Even with that executed, we nonetheless remind our youngsters (and one another!) to verify their iPad chargers are off the ground. Due to that beep earlier than it begins, no one actually forgets anymore, and it’s a pleasant method to encourage somewhat day by day tidying to verify issues aren’t all around the flooring.

Do (Or Don’t Do) A Little Every day Prep

You don’t should prep for Eufy day by day, however you possibly can develop some routines to verify your home is prepared for her day by day vacuuming. Like we stated above, we simply remind the children to select up their charging cords when Eufy sounds that beginning beep. However listed here are another issues you could possibly do (emphasis on COULD):

• Do a fast loop to select up garments, blankets, or towels on the ground in any bedrooms/bogs
• Decide up small toys, like tiny Lego items or dolls with hair that may simply get sucked up
• Shut the door to any rooms you don’t need it coming into (like in case your child’s bed room flooring is a catastrophe that morning)
• Transfer light-weight furnishings, even simply barely, to let Eufy hit a spot she couldn’t get to the day earlier than. Sometimes we roll a plant out of a nook to provide her higher entry.
• Sherry’s finest pal often places her eating chairs on the desk so Eufy can clear sooner. We by no means transfer ours, it simply takes Eufy extra time to bounce round ’em, however she will get it executed.

Once more, this stuff are completely elective however they might save Eufy from getting caught making an attempt to eat a wire. It’s not a giant deal if that occurs, it simply interrupts an in any other case computerized cycle. For us, having Eufy run day by day has been a fantastic checkpoint to verify we’ve picked up round the home somewhat bit every morning. It solely takes a minute and typically it’s so simple as the children simply tossing issues on their beds as an alternative of the ground.

Have Backup Equipment on Hand

Like with conventional vacuums, Eufy makes use of small filters and stuff that may want occasional cleansing or changing. We purchased this $16 pack of substitute elements to have available in case one thing breaks, wears out, or goes lacking. It has already come in useful after one of many whisker attachments got here off below a rug and wasn’t discovered for a number of days. Fortunately we may simply pop on a spare so Eufy didn’t miss a day.

SPEAKING OF THE WHISKERS: whenever you get your Eufy it’s essential snap these suckers on firmly. In case you don’t hear the snap they’re doubtless not all the way in which on and also you’ll run it and be like “why the @%#&$ do these preserve falling off?!” So snap them on firmly and so they’ll keep put for the lengthy haul.

Perceive That It Doesn’t Clear Each Spot, Each Day

Since this entry-level mannequin doesn’t have any fancy digital mapping or programable information, Eufy kind of simply charts a brand new random path every morning. Some days she spends extra time below the mattress, and on different days she does one go across the toilet as an alternative of ten. However over the course of the week, she’s going to nonetheless make it to each spot many many instances. In eight months we now have by no means come throughout a single spot that she will be able to entry that’s been missed.

I can’t specific to you ways a lot cleaner our home appears to be like and feels due to operating Eufy day by day on such a straightforward autopilot schedule. We even discover that we now have to do much less dusting as a result of when Eufy is operating day by day to eradicate filth and particles on the ground, they’ve much less of an opportunity of build up and floating up onto tables or cabinets or window ledges.

Know That You’ll Nonetheless Want To Vacuum Typically

Don’t throw out your common vacuum simply since you’ve bought a robotic one. As an illustration, we preserve this one in our utility closet. For one, Eufy can’t do stairs, so we nonetheless vacuum these manually as soon as per week. She can also’t transfer furnishings, so there are undoubtedly some corners she will be able to’t get (like behind a plant stand or trash can until we transfer them earlier than she runs). So these are areas we simply sort out ourselves after we do the steps.

Additionally, for those who spill one thing like filth from a pot, Eufy does have a “spot clear” mode on the distant, however we discover it’s not essentially the most environment friendly method to clear up after a giant mess. We often simply sweep issues up or seize our small handheld vacuum to sort out that form of job.

Empty Your Robotic Vacuum Every day

The built-in mud canister on our Eufy is usually fully full after each cleansing. At first, I assumed we had been simply exceptionally soiled (how is there THAT MUCH mud EVERY DAY?!) however we’ve heard a number of others report the identical factor. Now I’ve determined to be glad these piles of mud make their method into the trash and aren’t nonetheless on our flooring.

Our Eufy doesn’t have an computerized self-emptying characteristic (they name it dust-collection and a few fancier fashions switch it into their charging base, just like the Roomba i3+ EVO or Eufy RoboVac L35 Hybrid+, each $550). These nonetheless should be emptied ultimately, and we don’t thoughts the day by day routine of simply manually emptying ours so it’s able to replenish once more the subsequent day. We suggest setting an alarm in your telephone for those who discover that you simply neglect, or group this motion with one thing else you do day by day (like whenever you take your nutritional vitamins, for instance).

It’s fast & simple to empty – the compartment simply pops out of the underside. So we often simply attain below the loveseat and pull it off its charging station for a fast empty. You can too decide it up when it begins vacuuming to empty it from the day earlier than (it mechanically pauses when lifted off the bottom). Then simply put it again down and press the button on the highest & it’ll decide up the place it left off.

What Different Folks Suppose About It

We thought it could be useful to listen to from different Eufy house owners as properly (maybe with greater, hairier canine), and due to the nice individuals of Instagram, Sherry has heard from numerous different Eufy house owners. You’ll be able to learn extra within the archived circle on Instagram below our bio referred to as Robotic Vac, however right here’s a sampling under:

“Between our previous doggies and sandy soil this has been the most effective buy I’ve ever made.”

“My life is modified. We’ve got 3 canine (!!!) and three kids and I used to be vacuuming day by day. Now Eufy does it each night for me. I don’t understand how, nevertheless it’s higher than my Dyson. Is it simply that I don’t should do it? Possibly, however I’m right here for it.”

My husband was adamant that we’d by no means have a robotic vacuum. Purchased the one you advisable and ran it proper after the cleansing woman left. It was fully full after operating on our most important degree (not even below the sofa or on the rug) simply mainly all open areas that had simply been cleaned. Husband has been transformed and now appreciates the robotic vacuum.”

“Final week whereas watching your tales, I assumed if I received that, it’s potential that it may take away an enormous stressor for me. I purchased it that day (which I by no means do) and have LOVED it day by day since! It vacuums my kitchen whereas I’m cooking dinner, gives leisure to my two littles, and cleans up no matter filth my boys at all times handle to herald. I simply didn’t suppose it was potential for one thing to carry such aid!”

“I introduced it to my dad and mom’ home whereas visiting them for the weekend. They’d vacuumed in preparation for my go to, and we had been all SHOCKED at how a lot it nonetheless picked up!”

“Bought a robotic vacuum nearly instantly after your story final week… ten days later and I’m dwelling a complete new life. And right here’s the most effective half: it solely runs on our most important degree, however I haven’t wanted to scrub upstairs as a result of there isn’t a particles to trace up!”

It’s LIFE CHANGING! We received a brand new canine that sheds all over the place and I used to be able to lose my thoughts. Our loving and ever-so-hard-working Eufy has made the canine hair a non-issue. And now my mother and sisters have purchased one!

“We had our home professionally cleaned, received a Eufy the subsequent day, and have run him 3X a day for the final 3 days. Our home appears to be like spotless and and not using a crumb, however by some means he comes up with a full dustbin each time! Recreation changer. Greatest cash we now have spent in a very long time.”

And so ends this lovefest for an merchandise we had actually sworn off nearly a decade in the past. Hooray for smarter robots that may clear your home however will hopefully by no means take over the world sometime.

Oh and if you wish to see another methods we automate and simplify our house, these posts may curiosity you:

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