The 10 minutes it takes to manually vacuum a 700-square-foot apartment probably isn't enough to send someone over the edge as far as chores are concerned. While the time-saving factor may be a moot point here, it doesn't completely diminish the appeal of using a robot vacuum in a crowded home.
It's actually totally plausible that spaces with less square footage get dirty faster because virtually every spot is a high-traffic spot. With that logic, a robot vacuum is absolutely worth it in a small space.
However, it is crucial to not automatically assume that less floor to cover means that the cheapest vacuum you can find will suffice. Cramped furniture arrangements and quick changes between floor types actually call for a vac on the more competent end navigation-wise, or you'll risk arriving home to a bot that got stuck in kitchen chair legs during the first five minutes of cleaning. Before getting into specific robovac recommendations, let's assess the features that would make this a smart purchase.
Do robot vacuums work in small apartments?
While some large, heavy-duty robot vacuums would probably be overkill in a tight space, there are several compact, quiet robot vacuums on the market that make a lot of sense in a small space.
One way to downsize the space a robot vac takes up is to forego the self-empty dock. While forgoing it automatic emptying o save yourself inches on the floor may not be ideal, it'll be a little less damning in a small space, as the vacuum isn't sucking up as much dirt on each cleaning run as it would in a big house. However, finding a super compact auto-empty dock nowadays isn't hard, and many robot vacuums offer the option to buy one separately later.
If your small apartment has hard floors, a robot vacuum and mop combo is a genius way to downsize chores supplies. This'll save you not only the time it takes to mop manually but also the breath it takes to curse your Swiffer for hogging your scarce closet space. Multiple floor types also make smart mapping and zone labeling a crucial feature, despite the fact that your home may not have many specific rooms to select on a map in the first place.
Should I buy a robot vacuum on Black Friday?
Absolutely, especially if you're set on saving money on a robot vacuum splurge. Robot vacuums have evolved into a core Black Friday category at all of the big retailers — it's the most likely time of year for many robot vacuums to drop to new record-low sale pricing. I'm tracking those Black Friday robot vacuum deals now through Cyber Week, updating the list as new deals pop up.
Not sure which options to look for this Black Friday? I've hands-on tested the top contenders over the years and have handpicked the four best robot vacuums for apartments, studios, and other one-story homes. (Take the prices you see with a grain of salt — we list the MSRPs for each robot vacuum, but they're almost always on sale, which is even more likely if you're shopping during the Black Friday season. I list each vacuum's most common sale price in "The Good" section for each.)
