So, you’re looking at a Robot Vacuum Cleaner. Good idea. Who needs all those wires getting everywhere, especially us whelchair users. Get some idea with an old vacuum what it must be like for cats and balls of yarn, just without the “fun” bit.

Would I recommend the Maxcom? Sure. With a few caveats, however.

Let’s talk positives first. I am a wheelchair user with a cat and let’s say that the first couple of rounds this bad boy eventually did, it was 90% cat hair. I don’t know how it was finding that much without harassing my cat around with its little front brushes, but it was. In fact, it sucks in the best way a vacuum cleaner should, it pulls up spilled espresso powder and whatever my cat swipes out of his food dispenser because he’s displeased (usually about the robot cleaner now). I’m actually kind of impressed with how it fills up even though it runs every day, because clearly it can find what I can’t see.

But it also definitely has its limits on what it will pull up. The problem with a smaller tank and a smaller device is that sometimes, big things fall onto the floor and the robot vacuum isn’t up to that job. What it can, and will do, is a good daily sweeping of your floors. Any other major jobs may require other larger handheld devices.

The mopping function is also extremely good. As I have wooden floors, after a good sweep, it’s time for a good mop, and it does that pretty well. Though you may need to find a proper robot mop detergent for it, which is a little more pricey than your basic supermarket floor cleaners, to get really top-drawer results. It’s definitely something to consider, as basic supermarket stuff only does so much when the robot effectively is just dragging a damp microfiber cloth around the floor.

It can also do minor vacuuming with the mop attachment, but the tank is of course smaller. And a little more tricksy to clean out since it doesn’t open up like the other. You need to rattle it around and use the supplied brush for it.

You will, of course, need to change the attachment tanks between mopping and vacuuming. It doesn’t seem to like nor recommend leaving the mop attachment in (because it will constantly be leeching solution into the cloth is my guess over electrical concerns), so you’ll be switching between them. It’s not difficult though – both attachments have bright yellow switches/latches on the back for this, and the only downside is the robot constantly reminding you, “Robot Off-Ground”. Yes, dear. You’re off ground because I picked you up.

As for the wifi and Alexa integration; actually not that bad at all. A little fiddly, but the app did eventually pick up the robot cleaner and I was able to set up a basic daily cleaning schedule, which now means my cat insists on early morning cuddles for reassurance that the robot isn’t out to get him (maybe the robot did steal all his floof…). The Alexa integration is rather basic and a little “extra” since you get a remote, but I suppose it’s nice and there is that fun science fiction feeling of asking a computer to clean your appartment.

On the subject of the remote… it’s serviceable. Look, cheap remotes are cheap for a reason, and so this just has the basics and doesn’t have the same feel as the wifi controls do, but point it at the robovac and it will do what you instruct it to. I couldn’t work out how to set up a daily schedule through it though so… *shrugs*

Right, so this has been mostly positive. It’s a lovely robot vacuum cleaner that’s making my life so much more easy and automatically does a job that used to cause me so much grief and despair in the past.

What happened? Well… it may take a few shots to get a good ‘un.

The first robovac I got worked for about an hour before the right sensor decided to straight up die on me, making it impossible to use. So a quick jaunt to the order page, return filled out, sure let’s try a replacement. And then the second delivery… was just an outright disaster, clearly the box had already been opened and the security sticker was covered in sand or something. I refused it outright, and had to go through Customer Support this time. But the chap I spoke to understood, and since we both knew a bit about tech we both knew you never accept something when the security seal is damaged.

Another week later almost, I got the third one, which has turned out to be the right one. It’s a fair bit of hassle, particularly as one return seemed to keep mysteriously show up as not having been returned (news to me since my support worker sent two back at the same time and one was showing up), so be warned that if you’re not one of the Chosen Few to get a good ‘un on your first delivery… you might need a couple of replacements before you get that good ‘un.

And to send them back you’ll need a printer. Thank goodness I bought a new one of those!

So, overall thoughts; definitely happy about joining the Robovac Revolution. Mine runs every morning, I switch it to mop at lunchtime, and it’s just nice to know that I can focus on other more important things in my life.

Not smooth sailing, but got there in the end. And sometimes that’s what matters.

(Attached are some images of Robot Vacuum. Also of The Boy, since I’ve been reminded in the past it’s rude to mention a cat this cute and NOT SHOW HIM to the world.)