We educators are on a smaller budget than most. If we’re going to make a big purchase, we have to know we’re making a good decision or we’ll be making that same purchase again before we want to. Are robot vacuums worth it for teachers? I’ve used a variety of robot vacuums, upright vacuums, and stick vacuums. I’ll let you know my honest opinion, and hopefully help you make the best decision for you and your home.
Are Robot Vacuums Worth It?
If you’re looking for an easy way to clean up your home without having to lift a finger, then a robot vacuum might be right for you. These devices are designed to work autonomously, so you won’t need to spend any time setting them up or maintaining them. They also tend to be more powerful than other models, meaning they can pick up dirt and debris better. However, there are some downsides to using a robot vacuum as well. First, they aren’t cheap – typically costing between $300 and $600. Second, they require regular maintenance, such as replacing filters and emptying dustbins. Finally, they can be difficult to set up correctly, especially if you’ve never used one before.
Do robot vacuums work on carpet?
YES! Many people incorrectly think that robot vacuums will only work well on hard floors. This has not been my experience. Maybe older models don’t perform very well, but most of the modern robot vacuums work just as good on carpet as they do on bare floors. If your house is nothing but carpet, robot vacuums are a great option! Even switching between hard floors and carpet, most of the robot vacuums on the market today have no problem switching between the two types of floor.
Do they work as a pet hair vacuum?
YES! I have a big 60 pound white dog and a chonk of a black cat. Black cat hair and white dog hair. Why would I do that to myself? I obviously wasn’t thinking about the cleaning when I chose my pets. In spring and fall it looks like it’s snowing when I pet my dog and I find chunks of black cat hair on the floor.
If you’re looking for an easy way to clean up pet hair, then a robot vacuum might be right for you. They work by using sensors to detect when there is something on the floor, such as pet hair. Then, they automatically start cleaning. However, some people find them too loud, and others say they don’t pick up everything. So, before you buy one, check out our review to see what other people think.
Are they reliable?
If you’re looking for an affordable option, then a robot vacuum might be right for you. However, there are some drawbacks to consider before making a purchase. First, you need to make sure that the robot has enough battery life to cover the entire floor area. Some may require going back to the base to recharge before being able to finish vacuuming your entire house. Second, you need to remember that just like a normal vacuum, they require maintenance. Third, you need to make certain that the robot is easy to set up and operate. Finally, you need to ensure that you prepare your home for vacuuming by picking up a bit before setting it to clean.
Top Robot Vacuums for Teachers:
Most Reliable Robot Vacuum
Neato Robotics robot vacuums – I have 2 Neato robot vacuums – the D3 and D7. My D3 has been running strong for 5 years. We moved to a larger home a few years ago, so we added the D7. Both vacuums have been power-houses. One runs over hard floors and rugs (with a dog and a cat) and the other runs on carpet and tile. We have them clean 3 days a week, and we only need to empty them once a week. The dustbin capacity is the largest on the market. Other robot vacuums need to be emptied more often, especially if they’re running on carpet.
The Neatos also have a unique D shape that helps them get into corners far better than the round shape of most of the other robot vacuums. In terms of a pet hair robot vacuum, a lot of pet hair gets into the corners and against walls, so having a vacuum that can get into the corners is essential. What I also like is that my Neatos can run at night and can go under tables, couches and beds because it uses LIDAR technology to navigate. Most robot vacuums do not use LIDAR technology, so they either will not go under beds or will not be able to run in the dark. Our downstairs vacuum runs at night with no light and we can all sleep upstairs with no problem!
Most Budget Friendly Robot Vacuum
Eufy Robovac robot vacuums are generally more budget-friendly robot vacuums than many of their competitors. They are generally highly rated for the price. This is the brand that my brother has. In his home he has 2 dogs and 2 cats, and he uses it exclusively on hard floors. He is generally pleased with it, though he says that he does need to use another vacuum to really get in the corners and along the walls. He also said that it does not like going in dark places like under the couch. With the way that it uses to get around, some of the eufy robovacs struggle to run at night or on dark floors. With that said, I’m a big fan of the Eufy brand. I chose the Eufy video doorbell over the Ring video doorbell because of their lack of monthly subscriptions and local storage. I also have the Eufy outdoor floodlight camera for security (and to catch the wild animals in my backyard, including my daughter). It’s a solid brand that’s helped me turn my house into a smart home.
Shark IQ robot vacuums are one of the highest rated vacuums that also self empty. Here at Picture Book Brain, we’re all about saving teachers and librarians time, so a vacuum that empties itself is something that we can get behind. You still need to empty it, but much less often than most robot vacuums. Many of the other robot vacuums require emptying after each cleaning (or like my Neatos, about once every 3 cleanings). What makes the Shark the best self empty robot vacuum is that it’s much more teacher budget friendly than most other self empty models like the Roomba i3+ or Roomba i7.
If you have people with really long hair in your home, expect to need to clean out the roller or clean out clogs in the self empty system here and there, but you’d have to do the same thing with any normal vacuum as well.
Best Pet Hair Robot Vacuum
Neato Robotics robot vacuums again are one of my favorite dog hair robot vacuums. Their D shape help them get those balls of hair that tend to pile up along walls and in corners. They also have brushes along the side to pull those dog and cat hairs into the vacuum. Their huge dustbins also are big enough to store all of the normal house dust and pet hair.
Roomba i7 is also an excellent pet hair robot vacuum. This is the most expensive vacuum on the list, and it’s also one of the largest. It requires some extra space for that reason. It’s very highly reviewed. Personally, though, I worked helping a woman with 3 dogs with medium length hair that had 2 of these Roombas. She was not as diligent about emptying her robot vacuums and each one became clogged beyond use. With their round shape they also left a lot of corners with piles of white dog hair piled up like snow that I had to clean up with a standard upright vacuum.
Best High End Robot Vacuum
Roomba s9+ – I’m not going to lie, I’ve met few educators who would be able to justify this purchase. Would I love to make this purchase? YES! I can’t do it, though. It’s the most expensive one. It also has some of the most bells and whistles. The s9+ self empties to require less emptying. This robot vacuum is also D shaped, so it can get right along walls and in corners like the Neatos. It can even sync with the iRobot Braava m6 mop robot! It has technology that navigates around objects without touching them. Major downside, though, is that without the LIDAR technology that the Neatos have, it cannot clean in the dark. It can clean dark surfaces, but it needs light to navigate.
Best Overall Robot Vacuum
Neato Robotics robot vacuums – Other brands get a lot of talk especially iRobot Roombas. Why are Neatos, in my opinion, the best overall robot vacuum?
Pros:
- Reliable and long-lasting with proper maintenance
- D shape gets into all the corners and along walls
- HUGE dustbin = less emptying
- LIDAR means it can clean at night and in dark places
- Low cost for teacher budget
- smart mapping to avoid certain areas or clean certain areas of the home
Cons:
- lacks some of the more expensive features of high-end vacuums
- Soft touch navigation means that sometimes it can get stuck on things (as most robot vacuums will)
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Conclusion: Are Robot Vacuums Worth It?
Robot vacuums can be great for saving time, which is what I love. Instead of begrudgingly vacuuming once a week, you can schedule a robot vacuum to clean a few times a week or every day at whatever time you want. Those weekends when many educators work on lesson planning (unless they’re part of the Picture Book Brain Trust) and cleaning, can really take back a lot of their time because they won’t need to clean near as much. There are many price points to allow almost anyone looking for a good vacuum to choose a robot vacuum as their main vacuum.
Any of the vacuums on this list would be a worthwhile purchase. As with all vacuums, robot vacuums require emptying and periodic maintenance, but they have the added benefit of not requiring a human to run them! For a TON more information if you want to take a deep dive, you can check out this Youtube channel.
Are robot vacuums worth it to you? Let me know in the comments!
