I bought a Robovac. Here’s what happened. (Updated for 2025).
Dust matters in my home. West London air is never really clean. Traffic grit, construction dust, - it all drifts indoors, even with the windows shut. Never mind the dust we make ourselves (skin, fibres, crumbs, fluff).
Being slightly obsessive about clean floors and permanently over-stretched, the idea of a little robotic helper was irresistible. I went down the rabbit hole of reviews and YouTube demos. Eventually, I pressed “buy” and a Eufy rolled into my life.
Our relationship wasn’t entirely smooth at the beginning. The Wi-Fi set-up nearly broke me (dual-band routers, obscure error codes, repeated failed attempts). It took a tech-savvy partner to work it out.
Worth flagging: if you’re not comfortable tinkering with your home network, let someone else handle the set-up. Your Home Life EA could save you hours here.
01 | Spend more, expect more
The price range is huge – £150 to £1,500+. With models under £500 expect bumping, tangles, and random patterns of cleaning. Charming perhaps, but not ‘smart’. Spend more and you unlock LiDAR mapping, room-by-room cleaning, keep-out zones, and better obstacle avoidance. If you’d like a set-and-forget experience, I’d recommend going mid-range or above.
02 | It needs a home
The Eufy robovac is large dinner-plate sized, and the docking station larger than you think. Finding a quiet corner for it to live near a socket isn’t as simple as it sounds, especially in a London flat. Mine lives under the sofa. Not too close to the sofa legs, or it sulks at bedtime and spins in circles instead of docking. And the LED light glows at night - not ideal if it’s near your bedroom.
03 | Wi-Fi wizardry
Controlling it from your phone is brilliant. I can start a clean when I’m not home, then check a map of where the robovac’s been. But many models still dislike dual-band WiFi networks. My Eufy did. Expect a few attempts, a chat with their support and some frustration. Or outsource it to a tech.
04 | Prep is part of the deal
Chairs up, cables lifted, pouffes perched on sofas. It takes a few minutes to clear the way, though this makes all the difference. Shoes can stay, they’re robust enough but dangling shoe laces, curtains or draped throws are traps.
05 | The joy is under furniture
This is where a robovac wins. Under beds, sofas, heavy cupboards - places a normal vacuum never reaches. Suddenly these dust trap areas are as clean as the rest. Emptying the dust bin is proof. Even if you thought the place was spotless, it will still return full of dust.
06 | It’s not a butler
Think of it as a cheerful intern. It trundles, bumps, sometimes sulks, needs a little TLC but ultimately delivers. The proof is in the cleaning and this makes it all worthwhile. You’ll still need an upright or cordless for deep cleans and stairs but in my book a robovac makes a valuable addition to the team.
2025 Buyer’s Shortlist
Budget: Eufy RoboVac 15C Max (~£250). Slim, simple, does a decent job if you don’t expect intelligent mapping.
Mid-range: Roborock Q7 Max+ (~£599). LiDAR mapping, strong suction, self-empty dock. A sweet spot.
Premium: iRobot Roomba j9+ (~£1,099). AI obstacle avoidance, powerful suction, self-emptying, learns your habits.
Final word
Am I glad I bought one? Yes. Floors feel cleaner, air feels fresher, and my weekends have one less chore. My robovac still drops off the WiFi network occasionally and bumps the skirting boards like an over-keen puppy. Though I’ve grown sort of fond of the little fella and he can stay.
How Consider it Done helps:
Your EA can shortlist the ideal model for your floor plan, arrange delivery, set it up, and create a cleaning schedule remotely. We’ll even source spare filters and brushes, for an annual refresh. Meantime you enjoy dust-free floors without having to do any of the thinking.
