Robot Vacuums: Easy Clean or Big Con?
Robot Vacuums: Easy Clean or Big Con?
Are robot vacuums worth it? Like… really, really worth it?
They look cool — but do they actually clean?
Spoiler alert: Yes. Robot vacuums can do a surprisingly good job.
After just one week with ours, I was wondering:
“Why did I wait so long to get one of these? They’re brilliant.”
Why We Got a Robot Vacuum
Our home has mostly hardwood floors, so any dust or grit is instantly noticeable. That gritty-underfoot feeling? Major pet peeve. It used to lead to me vacuuming the kitchen and living areas multiple times a day.
Not anymore. Now that’s Gary’s job.
Yes, we named our robot vacuum. Why Gary? Because it’s fun to yell “Go Gary Go!” (bonus points if you remember the ad from the mid-2000s — IYKYK).
Choosing a Robot Vacuum
When I started comparing models, I narrowed it down to three major brands:
All three brands get great reviews. Honestly, I think you'd be happy with any of them.
The differences come down to personal needs — your budget, floor type, home size, and whether you want fancy features like auto-emptying or mopping.
Which Robot Vacuum Did We Choose?
TL;DR: We went with the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI.
Besides the mouthful of a name, we’re super happy with it.
All three brands have entry-level and premium options, but we noticed iRobot tends to be more expensive across the board. Case in point: we picked up the Ecovacs for $999 — the equivalent iRobot S9 retails for ~$2,899.
Is an iRobot S9 2.9 times better than the Ecovacs DEEBOT?
I doubted it.
So, we narrowed our decision to Ecovacs vs. Roborock, specifically:
What Tipped the Scales for Us?
1. Auto-Empty Station (Optional Upgrade)
We liked that Ecovacs gave us the option to add an auto-empty station later if we wanted. At the time, Roborock didn’t support that.
Ecovacs Auto-Empty Station. Source: Ecovacs
2. Better Mopping Functionality
The Ecovacs OZMO Pro mopping attachment doesn't just drag a wet cloth — it oscillates to scrub.
OZMO Pro Mopping System. Source: Ecovacs
Mopping: Not All Robots Are Equal
Most robot vacuums fall into two buckets:
- No mopping at all
- Drag a damp pad behind them
iRobot, for example, doesn’t include mopping in its vacuums — it sells a separate robot: the Braava Mops. Great solution, but more expensive.
Roborock falls into the second camp, dragging a wet pad.
Ecovacs’ OZMO Pro mops by actively scrubbing. It’s not a replacement for deep cleaning, but for daily maintenance? Gold.
Smart Home Integration
Robot vacuums aren’t just nifty gadgets — they can slot right into your smart home setup.
All the brands mentioned offer voice assistant support. You can say things like:
- “Alexa, start vacuuming”
- “Hey Google, pause the robot”
You can also include them in smart routines. For example: when you leave the house, have the lights switch off and the vacuum kick in automatically.
Nice.
For more, check out how smart speakers power smart homes.
So, Should You Buy a Robot Vacuum?
Absolutely.
If you've got room in the budget, a robot vacuum is one of the most satisfying smart home purchases you can make. Less sweeping, less nagging, more clean floors.
Still unsure? Browse my Ultimate Smart Home Guide (Australia).
