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The Vacuum Duo This Dad of 3 Can’t Stop Raving About

published Mar 6, 2022
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Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn

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For years, I proudly fought against the idea of having any fancy vacuums or robotic cleaning devices in my house. Sure, “The Jetsons” had Rosie the robot, who could keep the family’s house tidy, but this Tidy Dad had a regular corded vacuum and a keen eye when it came to removing dirt, dust, and crumbs from surfaces. 

As a self-described cleaning enthusiast, I’ve developed my own weekday cleaning routine. As more and more vacuum features started popping up on the market, I initially resisted all impulses to upgrade. I proudly believed my standard corded vacuum, combined with my cleaning skills, had the ability to handle any mess. 

But as a busy father of three, there came a point where my cleaning prowess just couldn’t keep up during the day. It took precious time to push our vacuum around our apartment, unplugging it each time I moved rooms. With three kids who are expert mess-makers, it was difficult to keep up.

Two Vacuum Upgrades Totally Worth the Investment

The first step was to upgrade to a cordless vacuum. I chose the Dyson V8 and it was a game-changer. The vacuum has a 40-minute runtime, which is more than enough to vacuum our entire home. It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver around furniture, and includes multiple tool heads for specific cleaning tasks. The crevice tool and extension hose is especially adept at cleaning baseboards, between couch cushions, and underneath furniture. The cordless feature allowed me to move from room to room without getting stuck!

Next, I chose to bring a robot vacuum into our home for a probationary period to serve as my cleaning assistant. I purchased the Roborock S6 online and resolved to give it a try during the return window. If I didn’t find it helpful, I’d promptly return it. 

I’ve been using the Dyson V8 and Roborock S6 to clean our apartment for over a year now, and I believe that they are the perfect vacuum pairing. Here’s how I use both vacuums to keep things clean!

How to Make These Vacuums Work for You

I use our heavy-hitting Dyson two to three times each week for deep cleaning. It has two power modes and comes with several attachments that can be used to clean baseboards and upholstery. The no-touch bin is easy to empty and the filter is easy to clean and replace. I also use the vacuum regularly to vacuum out our car and car seats. We live in NYC and park our car on the street, so the vacuum’s cordless feature makes that cleaning task possible! 

Roborock S6: The Daily Old Reliable

I run our Roborock two to three times per day, especially in our kitchen and dining area. Compact in design, it has a small home charging portal and is able to vacuum under furniture. It can also navigate around chairs and table legs, and is able to handle crumbs and leftover messes from mealtime and snack time. In our apartment we have tile, hardwood, and carpeted surfaces, and the Roborock is able to vacuum all three incredibly well. Our model also has a mop feature with a water reservoir and mop pad that you attach to the front. You can also control the vacuum with an app and map out your home, which allows you to then clean one room, many rooms, or your whole house with a few taps on your phone.

This Tidy Dad can now humbly admit that I really appreciate the extra cleaning help, and we’ve even named our robot vacuum “Rosie” in honor of “The Jetsons.” The combination of a cordless vacuum and a robot vacuum help to save me precious time and energy, and keep our apartment tidy and clean.