How To Choose The Right Robot Vacuum Cleaner For A Small Apartment?

Ah, the monotony of vacuuming. If you are not one of those blessed individuals who actually enjoys cleaning, vacuuming likely feels like a never-ending chore. Is a studio easier to keep tidy than a larger space? Not so fast! With limited airflow, dust can quickly accumulate in a compact apartment, and furniture can crowd up the space and make it hard to manoeuvre a vacuum into every nook and cranny.
In United Kingdom, apartment living is gaining its popularity, with 21.7% of British living in apartments. To address the challenges of cleaning a cramped space, robotic vacuums offer a perfect solution with automated cleaning, slim profiles and intelligent navigation. In this guide, we will explore whether it’s worth getting a robot vacuum cleaner for a cosy flat.

Do Robot Vacuums Work in Small Spaces

Yes, robotic vacuums work well in tight spaces for a couple of reasons. First, their slim design allows them to glide easily under furniture and clean hard-to-reach areas. On top of that, these compact machines will not take up much storage space, perfect for tiny homes. Plus, with advanced technology, these vacuums can further clean various floor surfaces, from carpets to hardwood and tiles, freeing up your time and hands for other important things. 
Smart vacuum cleaners are a great asset in petite residences for several reasons:

• Compact Design: Auto vacuums are small and thus require little storage space, a valuable advantage when space is at a premium.
• Scheduled Cleaning: Robot vacuums can operate on preset schedules, keeping your apartment clean while you’re out or occupied with other tasks.
• Obstacle Navigation: Smart vacuums are built to recognise and manoeuvre around obstacles, even reaching under furniture to clean every accessible corner of the place.
• Going Over Thresholds: Robotic vacuums are capable of going over thresholds between rooms or over carpet edges, an essential feature for rooms with varied flooring.
• Low Noise Level: Equipped with quiet mode, these smart devices are generally less disruptive than traditional vacuums, ideal for tiny flats where noise can easily penetrate thin walls.
• Improved Air Quality: Many models come with filtration systems like HEPA filters to trap allergens and micro-dust, hence improve air quality in cramped spaces with limited air circulation.
• Aesthetic Design: Unlike regular stick or canister vacuums, robotic vacuums and their docking stations feature sleek, modern designs that blend well with home decor.

Best DEEBOT Smart Vacuums For Apartments

DEEBOT X5 PRO OMNI

For tiny home dwellers, the DEEBOT X5 PRO OMNI provides a powerful yet space-efficient cleaning solution. Its slim design (313W x 346D x 95H mm) and compact OMNI station (394W x 443D x 527.5H mm) fit easily into tight storage spaces. Equipped with AINA 2.0 navigation, it glides under low furniture and navigates narrow passages, skilfully dodging obstacles like opening doors in real time. With 15mm Auto-Mop Lifting to protect carpets and 22mm Threshold-Crossing features, it effectively handles everyday messes with 12,800Pa suction power¹. Shop DEEBOT X5 PRO OMNI Now

DEEBOT T30S COMBO

Looking for an all-in-one cleaning machine for your cosy apartment? DEEBOT T30S COMBO comes with a handheld vacuum and four different brush heads for surfaces like sofas, shelves and mattresses, thus freeing up space since you won’t need extra cleaning tools. Despite its many accessories, it maintains a compact design (353W x 351D x 104H mm) with OMNI docking station (554W x 443D x 527.5H mm) for easy storage. The TrueDetect 3D 3.0 Technology enables millimetre-level obstacle avoidance through advanced algorithms, easily avoiding tiny objects on the floor like charging cords.  Shop DEEBOT T30S COMBO Now

DEEBOT N20 PLUS

DEEBOT N20 PRO PLUS is apartment-friendly, featuring a space-saving design on both the floor vacuum cleaner (353W x 351D x 96H mm) and the multifunctional OMNI station (356W x 451D x 380H mm). With smart control via ECOVACS HOME app, you can easily customise cleaning routines and paths to suit your home. Its 20mm threshold-crossing ability allows smooth transitions between rooms. Equipped with 8,000Pa suction² and ZeroTangle 2.0 anti-tangle technology, it effectively handles carpets. Designed for busy city living, PureCyclone Technology effectively minimise suction loss, thereby extending the lifespan of motor and filter and reducing the need for maintenance and replacements.Shop DEEBOT N20 PLUS Now

How To Choose Robot Vacuum For Small Spaces

Consider Your Cleaning Habits

The auto vacuum industry is in a cool space of innovation. Different models have very different capabilities in terms of suction power, navigation technology, smart home compatibility and ease of use. That’s why it’s important to look at your specific needs: do you have pets that tend to shred hair? Look for a robot vacuum for pet hairs, which is equipped with strong suction power and a brush roll for picking up hair, dirt and food crumbs. 
On the other hand, if you work long hours and have limited time for cleaning, a critical feature to look for will be the scheduling function – your robotic floor cleaner can clean without any extra mental exertion on your part.

Manoeuvrability and Mobility

Prioritise manoeuvrability and mobility when shopping for a robotic vacuum for petite spaces. Opt for a model with a narrow, low-profile design to tackle tight corners and slide under furniture. Intelligent navigation technology, such as LiDAR or 3D sensors, strengthens the vacuum’s ability to detect obstacles and navigate confined areas without getting stuck. Pay attention to thresholds in your place, too; a vacuum with a threshold-crossing feature can handle minor floor level changes, like transitions between different flooring types or carpet edges. A compact, multifunctional docking station is also ideal, providing easy storage without taking up much space.

Check Lowest Clearance

A robot vacuum and mop for small spaces should be able to reach every corner, otherwise it’s leaving a percentage of the already modest space untouched. Measure the height between the bottom of furniture and the ground to ensure your little housekeeper can fit under all the furniture without getting stuck. This is especially important in tiny homes where significant portions of ground are obscured by furniture and appliances.

Height & Size

In terms of size, choosing an auto vacuum under 90mm in height can generally help it access hard-to-reach areas, such as under low-sitting furniture in a modest residence. The overall dimensions also impact its ability to manoeuvre in tight spaces and corners; typically, models with a diameter between 305-356mm are compact enough to be studio-friendly. Consider the docking station's size to ensure it fits well within your space.

Cleaning Performance

Vacuum robot cleaning performance is mainly determined by suction power, brush type and filtration system. Many homes are built with a mix of hard and soft flooring, and strong suction power is necessary in extracting fine dust and micro particles from between floor crevices and carpet fibres. For a frame of reference, several DEEBOT models have suction power of 10,000Pa and above. To handle more kinds of messes, consider a device with multiple cleaning modes like spot cleaning and edge cleaning.

Dust Bin Capacity

The next step in choosing the best vacuum robot for a small apartment is to check the capacity of its onboard dustbin. Taking convenience to the next level, DEEBOT robotic vacuums feature automatic emptying, where debris from the device’s bin is hoovered into the docking station. As a result, users can go longer in between manual empties, which in the case of DEEBOT, up to 60 days³.

Battery Life

Now have a close look at the automatic vacuum’s battery life, including its run time on a single charge and recharge time. Ideally, the vacuum robot should cover your entire place in one pass, given that it’s already a petite space. DEEBOT vacuum cleaners can vacuum for up to 320 minutes⁴, which is sufficient for a cosy flat. While they can take up to five hours to fully recharge, the intelligent charging feature allow the device returns to its station when it’s running low on battery, then resumes unfinished cleaning tasks on its own.

Navigation & Mapping

Next up, one of the most important factors of selecting a robotic vacuum for space-challenged homes is navigation and mapping. Smart vacuums with mapping capabilities utilise sophisticated sensors and technologies to ‘see’ and move around your space effectively, as well as planning an efficient cleaning route. For instance, camera sensors can analyse and recognise obstacles, while LiDAR technology help with detailed environment mapping. Many models can even store multiple floor maps, which come in handy if, for instance, there is a loft in your place.

Noise Output

Finally, consider the decibel level the device is rocking during normal operation. For an apartment-friendly smart vacuum, noise can be a make or break if you have thin walls or need to concentrate on work. Smart vacuums are generally quieter than normal handheld models, but what constitutes ‘loud’ is subjective. As a guideline, look for a noise level around 69dB, which is about the same level as an average conversation. DEEBOTs can go as low as 65dB on sweeping mode.

FAQ

Disclaimer(s):

1. 12,800Pa: The data is based on testing from the ECOVACS laboratory. The suction power of DEEBOT X5 PRO OMNI can reach 12,800Pa.
2. 8,000Pa: The data is based on testing from the ECOVACS laboratory. The suction power of DEEBOT N20 PLUS can reach 8,000Pa.
3. up to 60 days: This data comes from ECOVACS laboratory, which is based on the statistics of the number of times users disposed of traditional dustbins. The actual performance is subject to change due to frequency and cleaning area. DEEBOT T30S COMBO and X5 PRO OMNI come with 3L disposable dust bag.