Tried and tested: the best tech to clean your house

Laser-guided vacuums, robotic mops, and closets that steam-clean clothes: we’ve tried out the new tech and here are the ones that will help you clean up your act with little effort.

Laser beams on your floors, free-roaming robots, and a closet that cleans your clothes? Tech is making it possible.

SAMSUNG AIRDRESSER

The ultimate gadget for avoiding the dry cleaner

$2499, samsung.com/au

PROS

– Effectively irons shirts

– Steams, sanitises clothes

– Can dehumidify a room

CONS

– Significant investment

– Takes up wardrobe space

– Limited colour options

It’s rare that technology makes you question your life choices but Samsung’s AirDresser could be that game-changing device. This tech-filled closet steams the wrinkles and eliminates the odours from your clothes, and potentially cleans them enough for your to avoid a trip to the dry cleaner or more time spent with the iron. There are three hanging spaces in the AirDresser and steam is blown up and down during set cleaning cycles you can program with buttons or request with an app. Shoes or toys can also be cleaned in its lower section, and the closet requires only power and an occasional water top-up.

VERDICT: ★★★★★

ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI

Proof that robotic vacuums are getting closer to robotic maids

$2499, ecovacs.com/au

PROS

– Cleaner cleans itself

– Powerful vacuum and mop

– Smart voice controls

CONS

– Premium pricing

– Large storage system

– Can’t vacuum with mops attached

The new top model robotic vacuum from Ecovacs has come full circle: it is a cleaner that fully cleans itself too. And it’s powerful in both tasks. The Deebot X1 Omni features up to 5000pa suction, two sweeping brushes up front, and two rotating mop heads that do a surprisingly effective job at cleaning hard surfaces. The biggest change to this device is its home base station, though, that refills its water tank, empties the dirt, and cleans and dries those mop heads. A camera maps areas to clean and avoid and it will accept commands by app or voice, though it’s not yet smart enough to clean carpet with mops attached.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

ELECTROLUX ULTIMATEHOME 500

One of the most quiet and efficient air-cleaning gadgets

$458, binglee.com.au

PROS

– Surprisingly quiet

– Spreads clean air naturally

– Four layers of air filters

CONS

– No smart controls

– Just one colour

– Filters hard to find

Air purifiers are becoming big business in 2022, the year we took off our masks for a minute, and this model from Electrolux is one of the best. The mid-sized device is surprisingly quiet for a machine filtering air through four layers, including a HEPA 13 filter that promises to remove 99.99 per cent of bacteria from the air. The UltimateHome 500 also assesses air quality using laser particle sensors and displays results on a clear display alongside touch controls. This purifier also spreads clean air well through a spiral outlet, though it’s missing smart home controls.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

DYSON V15 DETECT ABSOLUTE

The vacuum that adds laser beams to floor-cleaning

$1549, dyson.com.au

PROS

– Laser shows all dirt

– Cleaning report on show

– Three power levels

CONS

– Modest battery life

– One laser attachment

– Best on hard floors

It takes a confident company to add a laser beam to its vacuum, showing off all the dirt, dust and detritus on a floor … and a confident homeowner to use it. Once users get over the initial disgust, the green laser in the Slim Fluffy attachment of this stick vacuum can prove invaluable, showing exactly where it should go next and if anything’s been left behind. It’s at its best on hard floors, like timber and tiles, and with everything from pet hair to fine dust. The V15 also shows reports of what’s been cleaned on its rear panel, as well battery left in the tank.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

IROBOT ROOMBA J7+

The smartest Roomba robotic vacuum to date

$1799, shopirobot.com.au

PROS

– Advanced object avoidance

– Empties dirt itself

– Works with Siri, Alexa, Google

CONS

– No mopping action

– Less cleaning power

– Uses iRobot vacuum bags

The latest Roomba robotic vacuum makes an odd but important promise: to avoid dog poo. Perhaps burned by viral videos, Roomba j7+ uses advanced obstacle avoidance software and a camera built into the front of the machine to achieve this aim and it’s better at avoiding other obstacles too, such as cords and power boards. This vacuum also comes with a compact base station into which it can empty the dirt it collects and, after mapping your home, can be directed with Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant commands to begin cleaning. It’s not as powerful as some, and it won’t mop, but this stylish device is smarter than most.

VERDICT: ★★★★

Originally published as Tried and tested: the best tech to clean your house