ARTICLE

Can A Robot Vac Save Your Relationship?

February 6, 2024 - 4 min read

Is squabbling over whose turn it is to make the bed – or vacuum last night’s crumbs off the rug – messing with your happy-ever-after? Chore wars – aka fighting over housework – is a major source of stress for far too many couples, says relationship counsellor Amber Rules of Rough Patch Counselling.

“Very often it’s about us not feeling heard, understood or valued by our partner, and having different standards or approaches to housework. Some people don’t mind the house being a bit messy, others can’t bear it,” says Amber.

Adds Julia Nowland of Whole Heart Relationships: “When couples argue over housework, one person ends up feeling resentful and the other feels nagged.”

Sound familiar? Perhaps it’s time to bring the romance back with a robot vac! There’s no need to raise a finger (or your voices!) with one of these groundbreaking cleaning appliances doing your dirty work.

Are Robot Vacuums Worth The Hype?

“Since they first came out over 15 years ago, robot vacuum cleaners have been getting smarter and more powerful, and have become more evolved,” says Nick Trajkovski, The Good Guys Buyer – Floorcare.

“They now have sharper mapping powers to more intuitively navigate your floors, and more great features to save you time and effort, such as automatic emptying and Wi-Fi connectivity for the ultimate in hands-free housework.”

Here are six ways the latest robot vacs can relight that spark by giving you less to bicker about.

#1 Clean Your Home From Your Phone

Curb conflict with a Wi-Fi-enabled robot vacuum such as the wallet-friendly Ecovacs DEEBOT U2 Robotic Vacuum. Give the lounge a quick once-over via your smartphone before your other half gets home. Or set up a fuss-free vacuuming schedule for the whole month. “Sitting down with your partner when you both feel calm and evenly dividing labour and logging details on a shared calendar is a great way to restore household harmony,” advises Amber.

“Sitting down with your partner when you both feel calm and evenly dividing labour and logging details on a shared calendar is a great way to restore household harmony.” Amber Rules, relationship counsellor

#2 Clear The Air With Quality Filtration

Do you sometimes wish your partner had a filter to trap harmful emissions? The latest robot vacuums do! The iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop has a high-efficiency, anti-allergen filter that captures 99 per cent of small particles like dust, pollen, mould spores and pet dander, so they don’t escape back into the air.

#3 Free Up Fun Time With A Robot Vacuum And Mop!

Ready to scratch off two dreary jobs? Multitasker models such as the Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot Vacuum can keep your carpets, rugs and floors free of debris; and give sealed hard floors a maintenance mop, too. More time for sofa snuggles and Sunday lie-ins. Result!

#4 Stop Holding Onto Things With Automatic Empty

What could be better than a hands-free vacuum? One that takes care of its own dirty work! Top-range modern robot vacuums such as the Ecovacs DEEBOT T20 OMNI Robotic Vacuum don’t just return to a self-docking charging station after they’re done cleaning your floors. They empty debris into an attached dustbin after every vacuum, too.

#5 Set Boundaries With Sensor Tech

Don’t let obstacles come between you – or your love of dust-free floors. Top robot vacs like the Ecovacs DEEBOT X2 OMNI Robotic Vacuum are equipped with 3D sensors to detect and avoid obstacles, so they cleverly map out the best route around your home and furniture, detect dust and prevent stair falls. You can also programme them to stay out of certain rooms and spaces.

How To Look After Your Robot Vacuum

Every healthy relationship is built on mutual respect – and your hard-working robot vac needs some TLC, too, for maximum cleaning muscle. Clear floors of potential obstacles such as cords, clothes or your kids’ stray Lego; safeguard sensors by avoiding lifting up your robo vac mid-route; empty dust bin and clean filters as needed; and regularly clean wheels and brushes to remove build-up that may damage the motor. And always avoid using water directly on your automated cleaner to protect all those sensitive electronics!

Make lighter work of your household chores and your relationship! Head in store or online for expert advice and a huge range of robot vacuums at the best prices. Big thanks to Amber Rules of Rough Patch Counselling and Julia Nowland of Whole Heart Relationships for all their advice!