Marty McFly could never have imagine that instead of flying cars, we’d have something far greater in our technologically advanced age: the robot vacuum cleaner.
For the chore averse, there really isn’t anything better than an intelligent device that scoops up dirt, dust and grime independently and without you having to even lift a finger. The smart home revolution is here and you can kiss your ancient vacuum goodbye.
Roomba may be the brand best known for its robot vacuums but Kärcher, the German family-owned home and garden expert, has entered the fray with not one but two models - the RCV 3 and RCV 5 that allow for both wet and dry cleaning.
We put the RCV 5 through its paces to see if in the battle of man vs machine, the latter is truly superior.
Specs
- Battery powered: Yes - lithium-ion battery
- Charging time: 230 mins
- Running time: 120 mins
- Area performance: 85m²/h
- Waste container: 330ml
- Water tank: 240ml
- Suction performance: 5000Pa
- Sound power level: 66dB(A)
- Weight: 3.9kg
- Size: 350 dia x H97mm - Robot, 135 x 150 x 99 - Charging station
What’s included?
- Robot vacuum
- Replacement brush
- Additional cloths (3x)
- Charging module
- A instructions manual - a hefty document of 284 pages - as well as a QR code for easy set-up.
Size
The first thing that you will notice about the robot vacuum is that it is fairly heavy. It’s almost 4kg so you’ll want to organise delivery directly home (rather than the office) but its dimension are compact and slim.
Aesthetics
The RCV 5 has a slick white construction so it’s easy to see when a wipe clean is needed.
Installation
There are no two ways about it, setting up the robot vacuum is an admin heavy process at the beginning. You start by plugging in the charging station and this may potentially illuminate the first limitation of the device as you need 50cm either side of the plug as well as 1.5m in front that is entirely clear. This means that it is not suitable for smaller spaces or furniture-packed areas. Large open spaces are best without stairs too close by.
The quick-start instructions are easy to follow and the app is intuitive - it is crucial that this is downloaded. Long press the power and home buttons for a matter of seconds to initiate the network connection. Then it heads on exploration mode, which is incredibly exciting for the technophiles among us. This journey of map creation sets up the cleaning parameters, routes and virtual walls, which is shown and altered through the app when you can determine specific ‘no go’ areas. You can also schedule cleaning times and check in on its progress.
The robot vacuum has the incredible ability to dodge small, flat and surprising obstacles whether that’s a cable or a rogue toy left by your littlun in its path. You can set up different zones on different levels through the app but the robot has not yet mastered the art of stairs so you will need to manually take it to the next floor.
Features
Complete with a specialised dual laser system, this robot is enough to have you fearing for the end of the human species. This function prevents the device from bumping into obstacles, falling down stairs or crashing into precious furniture and is enhanced by LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). For the uninitiated, this is the highest quality variant of vacuum robot navigation.
Not content on just vacuuming, this robot has a wet cleaning option too to scoop up messes on hard floors and very helpfully this goes hand in hand with carpet recognition so there will be no puddles on your precious pile. When the latter is recognised, the vacuum ups the suction power with the satisfying auto boost function. There are also specialised cleaning modes with repeat clean ups when the device has a big task ahead of it. Fill up the attached tank with water and rinse the (machine washable) wiper cloth ‘sweeping brush’ to initiate the mopping process.
Using the app, you can remotely control the vacuum, setting a quick clean up to greet you as you arrive home. Voice assistance is coming.
Verdict
This robot vacuum is a total game-changer. We loved its ability to scoop up spillages and messes while cooking as well as setting schedules for it to regularly clean low-pile carpets. Unless you have particularly low furniture, its slimline design means it can get under the sofa or bed in those hard to reach areas and it can store a lot more dirt than it appears, although this will need regular emptying. The latter is easily done by removing the container and the same goes for the water resevoir and roller brush if the latter gets tangled. Dust be gone.
