The 5 best robot vacuums with dirt disposal

Robots come in different shapes and sizes with varying features and functions. Some robots feature different kinds of navigation systems that dictate how they will clean the home. Some robots have mopping features while others are simply for sweeping up and suctioning the dust and dirt. Nevertheless, basic robot vacuums usually have common components—buttons to make them start and go, charging bases where they can re-dock once their battery is low, and the like.

One of the things these robots have in common, though, is the presence of dust bins—little containers on their bodies where the robots vacuums place the dust, dirt, and debris they have swept up. What differs is what the robot vacuums do with the dirt. While a lot of them need to be emptied manually, there are a number of robots that are equipped with automatic dirt disposal.

What is automatic dirt disposal?

When a robot vacuum’s dust bin is full, it will either stop working until the contents are dumped out. If the robot is one that comes with a sensor, it will flash a light on its body or a notification in its app to indicate that it needs to be emptied [1].

Automatic dirt disposal, however, happens when the robot is able to get rid of the dirt in its dust bin on its own.

Most robot vacuums that have automatic dirt disposal come with a bin in their charging base [2]. Once the robot is done with its cleaning, it will automatically return to its charging base and from there, transfer the dust to a paper bag to be thrown out. In some cases, the disposal bin in the charging base can hold up to two months of dirt, dust, and debris [3].

Pros & cons of a robot with automatic dirt disposal
Just like other robot vacuums with various features, there are pros and cons that come with purchasing a robot vacuum with automatic dirt disposal. Some of them are as follows:

Pros

Hassle-free

A common complaint among robot vacuum users is the fact that they need to empty their robot vacuum’s dust bin every time a cleaning happens—something that can be a tedious chore for those whose schedules are always busy. Some robot vacuums with smaller dust bins might even need to be emptied in the middle of a cleaning if there is too much dirt and debris on the carpets and floors.

With the introduction of automatic dirt disposal in robot vacuums, people can enjoy having their houses cleaned without worrying that the robot might have to stop in the middle of a cleaning job. Because some robot vacuums are also able to store more dirt (e.g., more than just after one cleaning), the bag that contains the disposed dirt and dust does not have to be emptied everyday nor after every cleaning.

Great time-saver

Robot vacuums with automatic dirt disposal can save a lot of time and effort for those who have busy work schedules and are not able to delegate as much time and energy to cleaning and maintaining the house.

Getting a robot vacuum with automatic dirt disposal helps people maintain a clean home despite their busy schedules. Robot vacuums that have this feature take cleaning from a messy, time-consuming job to something that doesn’t require that much focused attention so people can spend their time doing other things that require more of their attention [4].

Cleaner air

Some robot vacuums that come with automatic dirt disposal boast of cleaner air in homes. That’s because the dirt that comes from the dust bin is no longer exposed to breathable air since it makes the transfer within the body of its charging base. During this transfer, dust and other particles don’t escape into the air [2]. This is especially helpful for households that have members who could be sensitive to pollen, moulds, and other allergens.

Cons

More expensive

The more a product has bells and whistles, the more it will cost something, such as in the case of robot vacuums that come with automatic dirt disposal. While regular robot vacuums cost a couple of hundred dollars, some robot vacuums with self-emptying dust bins can cost up to a thousand dollars.

Additional cost for disposal bags

Aside from the cost of the body of a robot vacuum, there will be a need to regularly buy the disposal paper bags that the robot empties its dust bin into. While some robot vacuums can hold several weeks of dirt and debris, it will always depend on the size of the house they are cleaning as well as the dirtiness of the floors [3]. Houses that have lots of pets (especially pets that shed a lot of hair) might find that they will need to empty the disposal paper bag more often.

Who is a robot vacuum with dirt disposal suited for?

• People who don’t have a lot of time in their hands:
  Whether they are working from home or are regularly reporting to the office for work, people with time constraints will find robot vacuums with dirt disposal very helpful. Instead of having to look after their robot while it is cleaning to look out for indicators that the dust bin is already full or ensure that the dust bin does not overflow, they can just check the disposal in the charging base once a month or so. This takes off cleaning time in their hands that they can use to do other things.
• People who are not always at home:
  Robot vacuums with dirt disposal can be a big help to people who are rarely at home, but still want to ensure that their house remains neat. If they forget to empty the dust bin before leaving and setting their robot’s cleaning schedule for the day, they don’t need to wait until they return for the robot to clean.
• People who don’t have the energy to oversee their cleaning:
  Robots that don’t have dirt disposal require a minimal level of supervision in case it needs to be emptied in the middle of its cleaning. Robots that come with dirt disposal either automatically dump their dust bin contents or can be directed back to the charging base through a few taps on their app.
• People with big houses or houses with multiple rooms:
  Big houses have a lot more floor area to clean which require a bigger dust bin capacity. If not, people will be forced to check on the robot multiple times to empty the dust bin out once it gets full from suctioning all the dirt and debris. Robot vacuums with dirt disposal can easily and efficiently clean homes as they can empty their dust bin contents in the disposal bag before resuming the work until the whole house is clean.

Sources

• [1] The Full Bin Indicator of a Wi-Fi Connected Roomba is Illuminated or Blinking | iRobot https://homesupport.irobot.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8973/~/the-full-bin-indicator-of-a-wi-fi-connected-roomba-is-illuminated-or-blinking
• [2] Magical new Roomba empties its bin by itself | Cnet https://www.cnet.com/news/magical-new-roomba-empties-its-bin-by-itself/
• [3] 10 Of The Best Robot Vacuums That Clean So You Don’t Have To | Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2021/01/06/best-robot-vacuums/
• [4] 5 Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuums With Base | One Desk https://www.getonedesk.com/reviews/best-self-emptying-robot-vacuums