This article is general information about cleaning your home, not medical advice. If your allergy symptoms continue or you have trouble breathing, see a doctor.
What in house dust causes allergies
House dust is more than soil and sand. It also contains fibres from clothes and bedding, skin and pet dander, insect debris and droppings, mould and dust mites. Dust mites are a common indoor allergen and like to live in mattresses, pillows and dark, damp places.
That is why the bedroom deserves attention first: it is the room where we spend the longest stretch of each day. People with dust allergies also often feel worse while cleaning, because sweeping and dusting lift dust up close to your nose.
Where a robot vacuum helps
- Vacuums instead of sweeping: dust goes straight into the bin instead of being flicked into the air by a broom.
- Cleans every day without you nearby: schedule it in the Roomba® Home app to run while you are out, so dust has no time to build up and you are not in the room while it cleans.
- Reaches where dust collects: the low body fits under beds and sofas, the places that are hardest to clean by hand.
What a robot cannot do for you
A robot vacuum only cleans floors. Dust in the air, mattresses, pillows, fabric sofas and curtains still need other care. If your allergy does not improve, see a doctor to find the cause and get the right treatment.
What to look for in a home with dust allergies
Filter
The air a robot blows out passes through its filter before it returns to the room. A fine filter keeps small dust particles inside the robot. Check each model's filter rating on the compare models page, and clean or replace the filter on the recommended care schedule.
Emptying the dust
Opening the bin to empty it is when someone with a dust allergy gets closest to the dust. The Roomba® Plus 575 Combo robot, Roomba® Plus 675 Combo robot and Roomba® Max 875 Combo robot come with the AutoWash™ dock, which empties dust from the robot into a 2.5-litre bag in the dock for up to 90 days before you change the bag. The Roomba® 115 Combo robot uses a charging dock, so you empty its bin yourself.
Dirt detection
Dirt Detect finds areas that are dirtier than usual, such as by the front door or around a pet bed, and cleans them again. It is available on the Plus 575, Plus 675 and Max 875.
Robot height
Measure the gap under your beds and sofas first, then compare it with the robot. The Roomba® 115 Combo robot is 7.89 cm tall and the Roomba® Plus 575 Combo robot is 8.35 cm, while the Roomba® Plus 675 Combo robot and Roomba® Max 875 Combo robot are 9.98 cm.
Take care of the rest of your home too
- Start with the bedroom: cut down on ornaments, rugs and soft toys that collect dust.
- Choose sheets, pillowcases and blankets that are easy to wash, and wash them regularly.
- Keep clothes and books in closed cupboards.
- Wipe dust with a damp cloth instead of a dry one.
- Use an air purifier with a fine filter for dust in the air.
- Change the dust bag, empty the bin or clean the filter next to a rubbish bin away from the bedroom, and wash your hands afterwards.
If you also have pets, the guides recommend cleaning the filter more often, twice a week. Read more about brushes and care in Robot vacuums for pet hair: what to look for when you have dogs, cats or long hair.
