Robot Vac VS Air Purifier

LJsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 09:37

Ozbargainers!

We live in a single story 2BR house (bedrooms carpeted, floorboards throughout rest of house). My partner is very sensitive to dust/allergens, I’m slightly sensitive, and we now have a furry friend (dog) who is also showing early signs of irritation.

Would you think a Robot Vac running once a day throughout the house (not replacing the current vacuum) would function better for allergies and general dust than an Air purifier set up in the main living area and moved into rooms when necessary?

I haven’t decided on a budget, but can’t afford to purchase both. For examples sake, let’s imagine I want to spend <$500

Any recommendations on either Air Purifier or Robot vac are very welcome and appreciated!

Poll Options expired

  • 17
    Robot Vac
  • 11
    Air Purifier
Electrical & Electronics Air Purifier Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

Comments

  • Porker on 17/08/2022 - 09:56
    +4

    I'd say for your purpose, the air purifier might be better. I have a robot vac and it won't clean on shelves or walls or anything not on the floor, where dust and allergens can still go. The air purifier might have a better chance of clearing the air while still in the air before the allergens land on surfaces.

    However, having a floor clear of dust that doesn't get stirred up is good too.

    Maybe a case of chicken vs egg for you.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 10:22

      That’s a very good point about dust on shelves/anything not on the ground!

  • Clear on 17/08/2022 - 09:56
    +3

    Robot vac for sure. Mine picks up so much pet hair and I find running it every day or even every couple of days means that I hardly need to vacuum myself at all.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 10:23

      That’s awesome, I think we are leaning toward robot vac for the pet hair (when the pup starts to shed!)

      • Clear on 17/08/2022 - 11:28

        Yep robot vac for dust/hair on the floor surfaces, while air purifier for particles within the air.

  • TimmyTims on 17/08/2022 - 10:05
    +2

    I found an air purifier better for me but I'm more sensitive to outdoor allergen than dust.

    Once dust settles on a surface it generally stays there until disturbed. If most of the culprit dust is coming from walking or running around and kicking up dust, go the Vac.
    Otherwise aim for an air purifier and sit it so the outlet is near you.

    Purifiers are also generally cheaper than robot vacs so that's another reason to start with an air purifier.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 10:25
      +1

      Cost is definitely a heavy part of our decision - maybe it would be worth starting with a purifier and assessing again in a few months

      • TimmyTims on 17/08/2022 - 12:57

        That's what I'd do. If after a few months there's only a little improvement, try vacuuming every day. This would 'simulate' you using a robot vac

  • Cheaplikethebird on 17/08/2022 - 10:21
    +1

    Air purifier only minimally reduced dust on surfaces IME but I think it would be more effective at uh… purifying the air than a robot vac which is only cleaning particles that have already settled on the floor.

  • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 10:27

    As @porker said before, I wonder if it’s better removing the particles in the air (purifier), or from the floor (robot vac).

    How much dust do you think it reduced by? 25%? 50%?

  • Caped Baldy on 17/08/2022 - 10:52
    +2

    Looks like the answer is both. Might be worth getting an air purifier and a stick vacuum to use regularly.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 10:59

      My wallet disagrees with getting both!
      We’ve got a great stick vac (as our main vac) and use it almost daily, but we obviously need something else!

      • EthicsGradient on 17/08/2022 - 11:06
        +4

        Robovac will probably not do as good a job as a daily stick vac. You'd only want this if the daily vacuuming is a pain - e.g. robovac was a great change for me, as it cleans under nearly all of our major items of furniture, so no dust build up under beds, side boards and couches and/or no ugly lying on the floor to do these with a normal vac. Did require raising a couple of items slightly with rubber, but well, well worth it for the reduced effort, reduced dust.

        If the stick vac is good enough and you are happy doing it daily, I'd lean to the purifier.

        • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 11:09
          +1

          I didn’t even consider dust under furniture and have just had a look under the couch…!!!

          • Caped Baldy on 17/08/2022 - 11:32

            @Jsupjsupjsup: Seems like air purifier is the way to go.

            I would recommend also having a look at the walls and clothes and other furniture to see if it's dusty.

          • EthicsGradient on 17/08/2022 - 13:56

            @Jsupjsupjsup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jJkdRaa04g

            My attitude was that that got done every couple of times when I was doing it by hand. But I suspect it's a contributor to allergies - We have a raised bed frame, and the area under that was a disaster - especially with our cat wandering around and pulling dust back out.

  • EthicsGradient on 17/08/2022 - 10:59
    +1

    My partner has asthma and our cat has respiratory issues. We got a robot vaccum which definitely helped both of them significantly, but hasn't completely cleared issues up. So unfortunately we are also adding an air purifier to the rotation (this is also partly about air quality during bushfire season and midwinter when the wood fires get going locally).

    We did make a huge impact change at the start of the year - switching from gas cooking to electric. My partner says this was a breathing quality of life game changer for her. She really regrets not doing it years ago.

    Probably not what you wanted to hear, but it seems like it is a game of increments.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 11:11

      Really appreciate your comment!

      My ignorance hasn’t heard of gas cooking being an issue before. We’re renting so can’t completely change our cooking methods, but we also don’t have a rangehood/exhaust fan (just a crappy window above the stove) and I now wonder if that might be adding to everything!

      • Caped Baldy on 17/08/2022 - 11:33
        +1

        Ikea does have a single induction cooktop for $69 iirc and can use $10 off coupon. Need to get suitable cookware though.

      • EthicsGradient on 17/08/2022 - 14:05

        Thirty seconds on google throws these up. Focussed on kids, but our experience has been it's an adult effect too.
        My partner has been on a steroid preventative for a couple of years (since we moved here), but has almost stopped using it since we went to the induction cooktop.

        https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/kids-asthma-risk…

        https://asthma.org.au/blog/gas-impacts-on-health/

        Like you say, can't control what comes with the rental - I'd guess an air purifier should help with cooking contaminants, while a robovac won't.

  • EightImmortals on 17/08/2022 - 11:42
    +3

    "My partner is very sensitive to dust/allergens, I’m slightly sensitive…"

    "Hey honey, lets buy a dog!"
    "OK, great idea bae"

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 12:31

      Haha neither of us are allergic to pets thankfully!

  • havabeer on 17/08/2022 - 11:49
    +2

    I have a robot vacc at home and I work in schools that have all had air purifiers in pretty much every room for Covid reasons.
    Personally I'd go for the vacc, as it will reduce dust significantly as well as lower the vaccuming chore. TBH I've not seeing any benefit from APs being in schools at all.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 12:34

      Really? I’m so surprised to hear that. I work in construction and we had them in our lunch rooms during covid and I did notice cleaner air than before they got them in. Probably mostly larger particles
      /dirt though

  • ForkSnorter on 17/08/2022 - 13:29

    Seeing as you already vacuum, an air purifier would be better, as long as it is a very large, powerful one. The smaller/weaker ones aren't big enough for your house. Make sure you don't buy one with a negative ion generator. They produce ozone, which can harm your throat and lungs.

    The problem is, if you haven't vacuumed properly, the air purifier may just stir the dust up. You would have to combine regular, proper vacuuming and dusting with regular use of an air purifier.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 17/08/2022 - 23:30

      Do you have any recommendations by chance?

  • yolohobo on 17/08/2022 - 23:07
    +3

    It's worth noting your goal here is to minimise airborne dust. And while vacuuming removes dust, it also creates airborne dust.

    Every time you vacuum, you're reducing dust build-up, but you're increasing your dust exposure.

    So the benefit of a robot vacuum would depend on how it's used.

    If you both leave the house for work each day, and it runs while the house is vacant, and finishes a few hours before you get home, it would probably work well.

    But if either of you work from home, and it's running every day while you're there, it might do you more harm than good.

    In the first scenario I'd get the robot vacuum, and then get the air purifier later on down the track when your budget allows.

    In the second scenario I'd get the air purifier, and stick with vacuuming manually.

    In either case, I'd suggest the following when vacuuming by hand. If you're doing it daily, try doing it a little less frequently, maybe once every few days, or once a week, basically to minimise your airborne dust exposure. Finding the right balance here should help reduce your allergies. While you do it, wear a good dust mask, and leave the windows open. And afterwards, if possible, leave the house for an hour or so, to let the airborne dust settle a bit.

    Good luck with it all!

    • rogerm22 on 18/08/2022 - 20:30

      I'm extremely sensitive to dust. If a vacuum cleaner has a leak which lets air escape then I notice a dusty smell during and after vacuuming, although my wife doesn't. If no air escapes than I notice no smell at all.

      We had a vacuum which was letting a lot of unfiltered dust back into the air and it made the room much worse for me after vacuuming. With another one which let less dust into the air, within ten minutes of vacuuming the air was fine. With my current vacuum, no dust escapes, so there is no smell and vacuuming doesn't affect my dust allergy at all.

  • Rob-4x4 on 18/08/2022 - 08:03
    +3

    I use a Air purifier (Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier) in my Bedroom as I am Asthmatic. However dust does still build up and it needs regular vacuuming to keep it down

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 18/08/2022 - 10:04

      Which xiaomi do you have? I’ve been very interested in one as we have the stick vac and it’s amazing!

  • 2esc on 18/08/2022 - 09:56
    +1

    Robot vacuum first as if you get a air purifier it's just going to work harder because of the dust and hair still there. If you get a robot vacuum would be an idea to have one that you could program to turn off 30 minutes plus before you get home so any dust stirred up has time to settle. If just using the vacuum one of you should leave the house while the vacuuming is done ( grocery shopping?). The person wearing the mask would be wise to wear a mask.

  • saltypete on 18/08/2022 - 11:38

    You suffer from dust and allergens- and you bought a dog.🤷‍♂️
    Maybe look for a good deal on tissues…..

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 18/08/2022 - 12:26

      Haha we are not allergic to pets thankfully!

  • mischke on 18/08/2022 - 11:49
    +2

    Remember you need a HEPA filter to trap allergen particles otherwise they're just recirculated throughout the room.
    So you'll need HEPA for your air purifier and also your vacuum.
    I doubt there's any robot vacuums with HEPA filters on the market.

    • rogerm22 on 18/08/2022 - 17:03

      Most robot vacuums have HPEA filters. However, in order for the filter to be effective, the vacuum needs to have no leaks. I had an ABIR robot vac where dust was escaping when vacuumed. Due to being very sensitive to dust I could smell the dust when it was running. I've got a Dreame D9 now and there's no smell, which means that all the dust sucked up is being filtered.

  • skillet on 18/08/2022 - 12:36

    Both! Your air purifier don't have wheels it doesnt move. If you want it to purify who house you need to create some sort of air circulation within your house by means of a fan. The vacuum will pickup bigger debris that don't float much bigger than what the air purifier will catch.

  • larndis on 18/08/2022 - 13:01

    Personally I find regular manual removal of dust (vaccuuming, mopping, wiping down surfaces) infinitely more effective than an air purifier.

    Dust mite allergy might be at play here. There are lots of good online resources on reducing exposure to dust mites, vaccumming alone won't do it unfortunately. Bedding can be a particular hazard.

    I would try some techniques for reducing dust mites before purchasing either a robovac or an air purifier.

  • rogerm22 on 18/08/2022 - 17:17
    +1

    As someone who is extremely sensitive to dust (but have no allergies), I have an air purifier always running and a robot vacuum that I use to vacuum the bedroom every single night. My sensitivity to dust is so bad, that I have to vacuum nightly, or I have trouble sleeping. I would rate a vacuum as being much more important, but there's no harm in having both.

    You will need a vacuum with a HEPA filter. However, some cheaper vacuums have leaks which means that dust escapes when vacuuming, which is really bad for my dust sensitivity. Due to my dust sensitivity I can smell the dust in the air when vacuuming. However my Dreame D9 does not leave a smell, which means that all the dust is being filtered by the HEPA filter. Before I owned the Dreame I had a cheaper robot vacuum, which left a strong smell and a result I was unable to use it.

  • kranix on 18/08/2022 - 21:03

    Get a whole house air purifier. I've written about this previously.

    • Jsupjsupjsup on 23/08/2022 - 09:14

      Unfortunately we’re renting so that’s out of the question - but thank you for your input. I’ll definitely be looking into the whole house purifier when I buy!

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