OK, let’s talk about pet hair. We all know that summer = shed fur. On top of the usual two dogs- and three cats-worth of shed pet fur, this summer we also have Barli’s shed puppy coat, fur that is rolling like tumbleweeds across our floor.
Aside from pet fur, we’re always on the lookout for anything to help us control the daily barrage of pet hair, muddy or dusty footprints, tracked cat litter, and scattered pet food (not to mention the avalanche of debris created by Barli as he playfully shreds toys and boxes). When we heard about the DEEBOT OZMO 610 robotic vacuum cleaner and mop combo, we welcomed the chance to try out the robotic vacuum designed to clean all types of floor surfaces from carpet to hardwood. Was it up to the challenge of our five-pet home?
The vacuum certainly sounded alluring. A phone app offers the option to schedule your cleaning sessions (or you can use Alexa…we don’t have one). The vacuum uses “Smart Cleaning Path,” a pattern that has been optimized for hard flooring, perfect for our house.
It also uses an intelligent new mopping system using an optional water reservoir and washable cleaning pads. The Deebot OZMO 610 joins several other robotic vacuums and robotic products from Ecovacs Robotics, an Asian-based company with a US office in San Francisco.
Unboxing the Deebot OZMO 610
Opening the box, we unpacked the contents:
- Deebot OZMO 610 vacuum unit
- Docking/charging station
- Remote control (batteries included)
- Direct suction attachment
- 2 microfiber mopping pads
- Mop cloth plate
- High efficiency filter with sponge insert
- 4 side brushes
- User manual and quick start guide
The initial setup was easy and straightforward using the quick start guide: unpack the package contents, plug in the charging station and roll the vacuum onto it with the on/off switch set to on. This switch is located on top of the unit, under a hinged flap. Initial charging takes up to four hours; when the light stops blinking, the unit has a full charge.
While the unit was charging, we download and installed the Ecovacs smart phone app (IOS or Android) which allows us to control the vacuum from our iPhone. We can also control basic operation of the unit with the onboard switches or with the included remote control. Homes equipped with Amazon’s Alexa can also control the Deebot OZMO 610 with voice commands, as well.
Putting the Deebot OZMO 610 to Work
There are two main cleaning patterns, a random pattern for cleaning carpet and a programmed pattern for cleaning hard floors. Once the vacuum has “learned” the room layout, it proceeds to clean until the job is done. If the battery gets low before the job is finished, the robot returns to its charging station to recharge. After recharging, it returns to its last location and resumes cleaning. In addition to the basic room cleaning patterns, the vacuum also can be set for intensive edge cleaning or for spot cleaning. The unit can be programmed to clean on a predetermined schedule.
The Deebot OZMO 610’s “Smart Path” technology allows it to avoid obstacles (furniture, pet toys, etc.) while it cleans the room and it can even sense the presence of (most) stair drop-offs and halt before falling off the edge. Even so, before we set it to clean we made a quick pass through the room to pick up power cords which could present a problem for the unit.
As most of our floors are hard surfaced, including wood and vinyl tile, we first used the Deebot OZMO 610 on those. After charging it for the recommended four hours, we started up the vacuum in programmed pattern mode and watched it go. One of our cats ran from the robot–but, in all fairness, she runs from the standard vacuum as well–but our cat Lucky was convinced that the robot was a cat toy!
Cleaning results were excellent; the Deebot cleaned the bedroom then returned to its base to recharge. No visible dirt or pet hair remained on the floor–and it cleaned under the bed, a huge plus.
This unit also serves as a mop thanks to its removable mop pad:
Just as with the vacuum, you can set the Deebot to mop via the app or remote control–or your Alexa.
A big paws up for the Deebot OZMO 610 for making cleanup easier in our multipet household!
For more information:
- visit the Ecovacs website
- follow on Facebook
- follow @EcovacsUS on Twitter
- follow Ecovacs_US on Instagram