All the Smart Gadgets You Need for a Self-Cleaning Home

Cleaning is one of those necessary chores that most of us don’t have much enthusiasm for. It’s often demanding and tedious work, and while you’re taking care of it, you do so with the knowledge that you’re going to have to do it all again next week.

There’s some good news, though, for the cleaning-averse: Modern day tech can handle a lot of these jobs on your behalf, as smart cleaning gadgets continue to get better and better. In recent years, they’ve become more reliable and more effective, and you’ve got a host of different models to choose from.

This introduction to smart cleaning technology will bring you up to date on the products that are available, and what they can do for you. Yes, you can have a home that’s neater and cleaner—with just a few button presses.

The pros and cons of cleaning tech

The big positive from investing in smart cleaning gadgets is, of course, that you won’t have to do these jobs yourself, so the hours you save can be put towards doing something you actually enjoy.

These gadgets don’t get tired, sick, or irritable, and will work at any time of the day or night—though you don’t necessarily want a robot vacuum humming away at 4 a.m.. In many cases they can be operated remotely and work autonomously, so they can be taking care of the chores while you’re out at work or on vacation.

You are going to have to make an initial investment in the technology, and, for some devices, a rather sizable one. The argument can be made that hiring someone to do your cleaning is a better option than getting robots to do it: They might do a more thorough job, depending on the person and the gadget you’re comparing them to, and you can give them more specific instructions. However, getting cleaners in does involve giving someone else access to your home, and finding a mutually convenient time. It will also be an ongoing expense.

There are a few more cons to consider. One is that a certain amount of tidying up and preparation work is often required before the robots can take over. You may have to pick up toys and clothes, for example, so the robot vacuum can vacuum. By the time you’ve done that, you might think it makes more sense to just do the whole job yourself.

Many smart devices can be controlled via an app.
Credit: iRobot

What’s more, these gadgets require a certain level of maintenance: Depending on the device, you need to empty them out, supply them with power, water, and cleaning products, and perhaps even clean parts of them yourself. Like any piece of hardware, they will experience wear and tear, and will eventually need to be replaced.

There’s one other consideration to think about, which is that manual cleaning is a great way to exercise. Studies have shown that domestic duties can give you enough of a workout to extend your lifespan and improve a host of different health markers, so you might want to use some of the time that these gadgets are saving you to head out for a run or for a session at the gym.

The best smart cleaning gadgets you can buy

If you’ve decided that you want to transform your home into one that cleans itself, you can automate a number of different processes using a number of different devices. There’s plenty of choice out there, so the usual rules apply: Take your time to research the various options and the features they’re offering versus their price, and find as many reviews as you can from people who’ve used them.

Robot vacuums and mops

This is the obvious place to start, as these are the gadgets that usually come to mind when you think of smart cleaning tech. You can find single-purpose devices that only vacuum or only mop, or devices that combine both functions.

While early models had their issues with reliability and cleaning power, the robot vacuums you can buy today are generally more impressive in terms of how clean they can get your carpets and floors. You’ll find features like LiDAR and camera-powered mapping and obstacle avoidance, self-emptying capabilities, and auto-adjustments depending on what surface is being cleaned.

Often, everything these machines do can be organized through a companion app, so you can set the cleaners to work on a specific schedule, as well as set zones or rooms that are off limits. We’re even starting to see robot vacuums that can climb up the stairs, so they really can get your whole house vacuumed and mopped without an assist.

The Roborock Saros 10R comes with its own docking station.
Credit: Roborock

These cleaners can be a significant investment. The Samsung Jet Bot+ costs $600 and brings with it automatic emptying, LiDAR-based navigation around your rooms, smart suction adjustments, and an advanced 5-layer HEPA filtration system for trapping dust. If you’ve got more to spend, the Roborock Saros 10R can be yours for $1,600, and offers top-tier suction, obstacle avoidance, corner and edge cleaning, and automatic emptying via the supplied dock.

Smart window washers

You can also put robots to work on your windows—although there are fewer models to choose from. Using suction to work their way across windows, cleaning and drying as they go, leaving you with window panes free of dust and grime. Again, these tools can be managed via an app, though a bit more manual setup is required to get them in position to start cleaning.

The Ecovacs Winbot series includes some of the best window cleaning options on the market at the moment. The Ecovacs Winbot W2 Pro Omni costs $450, and can work while plugged in or via its built-in battery. It has a triple-nozzle system is combined with a cleaning cloth for effective performance as it methodically travels across windows of almost any size or type.

The LG WM6700HBA comes with AI settings.
Credit: LG

Smart washers and dryers

Then there are devices that add some extra smarts to existing appliances, such as smart washers and dryers. These pieces of hardware elevate clothes cleaning with a variety of useful and intelligent tricks, including the ability to adjust cleaning and drying cycles to the type and size of load, remote control via mobile apps, and a number of self-maintaining mechanisms.

A good example is the LG WM6700HBA, which will set you back $1,250. There’s on-board AI assistance to work out the best cycles for the clothes you’re washing, an automatic dispenser for just the right amount of detergent and fabric softener to cut down on waste, and remote operations and monitoring via the LG ThinQ app.

Smart dishwashers

Finally we have smart dishwashers, which use automated technology to give your crockery and cutlery a better clean than standard appliances might. The features are similar to those you’ll find on smart washers and dryers: Sensing technology for understanding what’s been loaded in and adjusting the cleaning accordingly, remote app control and smart home integration, and as much automated maintenance and self-cleaning as possible.

Take a look at the Bosch 500 Series, which is priced at $1,250 at the time of writing. It has intelligent sensors to check cleaning progress, an AutoAir feature that automatically pops the dishwasher door open when cleaning is finished to let air circulate, and the option of operating cleaning cycles and other dishwasher features from an app on your phone.

Original Source: https://lifehacker.com/home/all-the-smart-gadgets-for-a-self-cleaning-home?utm_medium=RSS

Original Source: https://lifehacker.com/home/all-the-smart-gadgets-for-a-self-cleaning-home?utm_medium=RSS