Popular Self-Propelled Vacuum Cleaners
If you're looking for research on popular self-propelled vacuum cleaners, you're on the right track. Self-propelled vacuum cleaners, also known as robotic vacuums, are hit and miss; sometimes they work well, sometimes they don't.
Self-propelled vacuum cleaners do the work for you. They're battery powered, so there's no cord to worry about. While you sit, or do something else, they vacuum. They pick up dirt, small bits of debris and dust bunnies. However, they are not so effective that you can completely ditch your regular vacuum. But a self-propelled vacuum can save you a lot of time. That having been said, self-propelled vacuums won't necessarily save you money, as they can be expensive. The ultimate question when shopping for one is, "is the convenience worth it?"
There are two leading manufacturers of self-propelled vacuum in the United States: iRobot, makers of Roomba, and Neato. There are several versions of the Roomba, while there is just one Neato model. Samsung and LG sell self-propelled vacuums in other countries.
Neoto XV-11
The Neoto XV-11 cleans all floors, carpet, wood, tile, etc. It uses a laser to continuously create a digital map that it uses to avoid obstacles. The laser scans the room finding doorways and objects. It starts with the perimeter of the room, and then cleans in a straight-line path, including up against baseboards and in corners. The rectangular front allows vacuuming close to walls and in corners. It has a low profile so it won't get stuck under furniture and won't go under furniture that it's too tall for. It doesn't bump into furniture or objects or fall down stairs. It cleans one room at a time. You won't have to pick up the vacuum and move it to the next room, as it will know when it's time to move on. You can tell it to keep out of a room or area by laying down a magnetic strip boundary-marker that comes with the vacuum. To begin cleaning, you simply press the start button. The vacuum returns itself to its charging base when it is done. You can program the Neoto XV-11 to start at predetermined times, daily, weekly or several times during the day if necessary. The XV-11 uses high-powered suction to remove pet hair and debris, and won't leave an area until it’s clean. The dirt bin is accessible from the top of the vacuum. Neato recommends emptying the dirt bin after every cleaning for best results.
Roomba
iRobot makes seven different Roomba models: the 572, 560, 530 and 510, the 610 Professional, and for pets, the 572, 570, and the 562. Roomba self-propelled vacuum cleaners cost between $200 and $600.
The Roombas feature counter-rotating brushes and detects dirtier areas. They have spinning side brushes for baseboards and adjust between carpets and hard floors. They won't get caught on tassels and cab be preprogrammed. Each Roomba comes with two virtual wall lighthouses that guide the machine as it cleans a room. Roombas automatically return to their chargers when they're done cleaning or when their batteries are getting low.
According to the iRobot website, the 562 Pet Series is their top-selling vacuum. It features two interchangeable bins to keep up with pet hair. This is a must if you're a pet owner, but can also be great on rugs or carpet in your home. The bins are also high capacity, another plus with pets or if you have debris in high traffic areas. The 562 includes extra brushes and filters, which is helpful for keeping up with maintenance. It also has a spot clean mode for cleanup of concentrated stains or dirt. Again, this is useful whether you have pets or not. The 562 sells for about $399 and gets 4.5 stars from customer reviews and ratings on the iRobot website.
The Roomba 610 has two interchangeable bins. It also has three cleaning modes. The vacuum makes a calculation of the room size and uses the optimal cleaning. It features a "Max cleaning mode" for cleaning large areas. If the battery runs out while cleaning a large area, the 610 will return to its charging base, recharge and then head out to finish the rest of the cleaning. This is a must if you truly want "set and go" cleaning. The 610 can also clean isolated spots. It has an accessory kit and a compact home base charger. The compact charger is especially nice if you want your vacuum cleaner out of site. The 610 retails for about $600. It gets 4.5 stars from customer reviews and ratings on the iRobot website.
