Cleaning is now a breeze {Review and Giveaway of ECOVACS DEEBOT SLIM}

This is how I usually vacuum and clean my house.

Yes, I'm serious. With a koala who clings onto me as if I were his eucalyptus, I have to do many of my chores with him in my arms. It doesn't help that we have white floor tiles or that we have seven people living under the same roof. Plus, I'm the only one who takes on the job of the vacuuming, mopping and cleaning, so let me be honest and say that it does get tiring. While I might not find the time or energy to mop often (*cough* sometimes I only do it fortnightly), I do vacuum at least every alternate day because I just can't stand the amount of hair and dust that gathers on the floor where my kids step or play in.

Now, imagine how life would be if you had someone to do it for you? Okay, I'm not for the idea of getting a helper because I wanna do things myself and look after my kids on my own. BUT, how about if I had SOMETHING to do the cleaning for me?

Today, I'm going to share with you my lifesaver - ECOVACS DEEBOT SLIM, The Floor Cleaning Robot. Oh yes, it's definitely one of the most useful appliances I have in the house now and I wonder why it took me so long to discover its benefits. Thanks to ECOVACS who sent it over for review, this amazing product is just going to make my packing so much easier as we prepare to move end of this year. Oh wait, in fact, it is going to make my life as a stay-at-home mum easier.

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INTRODUCING DEEBOT SLIM



DEEBOT SLIM is an entry level robot cleaner that is easy to operate and maintain, making it perfect for beginners like me who have never used one before. There is only one button on the machine, yes, ONE! Okay, it comes with a remote control as well but that itself is much easier to use as compared to my smartphone or the TV control, so I'll talk more about that later.

Now, this robot cleaner is equipped with smart motion technology and the first time we used it, the kids and I were all amazed by how it can detect objects in its path, how it adjusts to uneven surfaces and how it can find its way back to its dock to 'park'. Before I show you what I mean, here are some of the product features that you need to know.

1) Low Profile Design



At a mere 5.7cm tall, DEEBOT SLIM is the lowest profile robot cleaner in the DEEBOT series. It can easily fit under sofas and furniture, making it possible to clean hard-to-reach areas that I usually ignore because it can be such a hassle.

2)  3-in-1 Cleaning System with Tangle-Free Suction



Did you think that a robot cleaner only sucks dirt and vacuums? Well, guess what? DEEBOT SLIM is a multifunctional floor cleaning robot that can sweep, vacuum and mop! When I first received this product, my first thought was "Neh, it's not going to clean the corners of my house." What impressed me were these Dual Side Brushes which stick out like feelers and do an amazing job of sweeping dirt towards the suction inlet so it can be vacuumed up. How smart, right?

For me, the icing on the cake was DEEBOT SLIM comes with a microfiber cloth that can attached onto it using a cloth plate so you can even use it to wipe away stains and grease.

3) Stair Safety Technology



Since we don't have stairs in our house, this is of no issue to us but just so you know, thanks to its advanced Anti-Drop Sensors, DEEBOT SLIM cleans up to and around stairs without falling over. If the robot senses a drop-off, it reverses direction and selects a new cleaning path.

4)  Object Detection Technology



Now, it only makes sense that DEEBOT SLIM works better in a spacious home with minimal obstacles. I have to admit to you that my current house is considered very cluttered (that's why we are moving to a bigger house) and though I was very skeptical about whether a robot cleaner could work in such a home, DEEBOT SLIM amazed me by being able to detect objects in its path and navigate around them. When its smart Anti-Collision Sensor detects an obstacle, a signal will be sent to DEEBOT to slow down and select a new cleaning path, thereby enabling a smooth and continuous cleaning process.

5) SMART MOTION



Some dirt can be more stubborn and harder to clean than the rest. With DEEBOT's SMART MOTION Technology, it covers your floors multiple times and does its best to clean up those persistent dirt.



6) Easy to operate and maintain

You don't need tools, you don't need a vacuum bag cleaner bag, you don't need to put in much effort to maintain DEEBOT SLIM. The instructions are easy to understand and the robot is so straightforward to operate that you can say cleaning becomes as easy as pushing a button.



7) Automatic Charging

It can't get better than this! When the battery power gets low, DEEBOT SLIM automatically returns to its charging dock to recharge, all by itself. Yes, you don't need to lift a finger! We do let it return to its dock every time after it is done cleaning though because the kids love to press the 'Home' button on the remote control and see how DEEBOT tries to find its way and then 'park' itself at the dock.



8) Self-adjusting Driver Wheels

DEEBOT SLIM uses "floating" driving wheels which automatically adjust to uneven surfaces such as natural wood and textured floors, so the suction inlet stays close to the floor for optimal cleaning results.



9) Auto Daily Cleaning

Imagine being able to clean your home even when you are out? Yes, it's not a dream anymore. Now, I can schedule DEEBOT SLIM to automatically clean once per day at the time I set, so that it will come out and do its job even if nobody is at home.



10) Remote Control

So I mentioned there is a remote control, right? Here's how it looks. The remote control allows you to conveniently program, start, pause and manage the direction of your DEEBOT SLIM from a distance! The girls love 'playing' with DEEBOT and will use the control to help it navigate, get out of a maze or ask it to go home.

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OUR VERDICT

Now that you've a better understanding of how DEEBOT SLIM works, here's our truthful take on it after using it for the past month.

My first impression was how light it was. With the box and all the accessories, it couldn't have weighed more than 5kg and while I was somehow pleased that it was so portable and manageable, I was also doubtful about its functionality.

Once I started to take out the contents, I was surprised that DEEBOT SLIM was so aesthetically pleasing and I love the trendy design along with the white and lime green colour combination. It was also a relief to see that the product comes with a 1-year warranty and a manual that is easy to comprehend. There is a total of four side brushes and two microfiber cloths which are washable and reusable.

Moving on to the cleaning process, there are three different modes: Auto, Edge and Spot.



In Auto mode, DEEBOT SLIM cleans in a straight line and changes direction when it meets an obstacle. This is usually the most commonly used mode when I use it to clean the house.



In Edge mode, it cleans along a border, for instance a wall, and is good for cleaning edges and corners. I usually use this mode when cleaning the rooms which are squarish in layout.



In Spot mode, DEEBOT SLIM focus on a specific area to clean and helps to get rid of concentrated dirt or dust. This is my favourite mode to use at the spot where the kids had their meal. I would usually add on the microfiber cloth too so as to give it a mop at the same time.



Talking about the cloth, it's very easy to attach using the removable cloth plate which has velcros to keep it in place. Due to its small size, it gets dirty easily after a while so I make sure I wash it every now and then (I also add disinfectant floor cleaner when using it to mop). I'm pretty sure you might have some questions to ask so here are some of the FAQs I came up with.

1) Does DEEBOT SLIM clean as well as a human? 
Honestly, no. I think I definitely clean better than DEEBOT SLIM and I can reach more corners, vacuum more thoroughly, mop more forcefully and get rid of more stubborn stains.

2) So why do you need DEEBOT then?
Well, come on, it saves me lots of time and effort! Even if I clean once a week or fortnight, I feel so much more assured knowing that DEEBOT is here to help me on other days. And what do I need to do? Press a button. Can you imagine how much time that frees up for me to spend with my kids?

3) Is it true that robot cleaners only work for big homes?
That is a misconception and I was inclined to believe that too previously. What I can assure you is that my current house is small, cramped and has countless obstacles. Still, DEEBOT SLIM is doing as best as it can and as far as I see, it's doing an awesome job for my cosy, messy house.

4) Does DEEBOT SLIM get lost or stuck? 
I have to say that it does get stuck sometimes but that is because I have things like wires, bathroom mats and toys lying around. We are all very impressed by its SMART MOTION technology and most of the time, it can find its own way around and free itself. When it doesn't, it just gives my kids an exciting chance to grab the control and guide it out of its predicament.

5) Does it clean the dust and dirt?
If you were to compare DEEBOT SLIM with my 1600 watts vacuum cleaner, I don't doubt that the latter sucks in the dirt better and faster. But, once again, you have to be reminded that the robot cleaner doesn't need me to put in effort which is a huge, huge benefit and relief for me. The hubby and I were also wondering if it was really cleaning up the dust and dirt in our home and I opened up the top cover after just TWO days. And.....

The dust bin was already more than half filled. Ah huh, either my house is really dirty or DEEBOT SLIM is really doing a good job. Oh yes, just so you know, it's really easy to clear the dust bin and put it back in. It comes with filters and even a handle so that you can easy lift out too.



See how DEEBOT SLIM managed to find its way back to its dock? That is something that still impresses me time after time and I would recommend that you make its job easier by placing the dock in a visible, spacious area or it might take longer than expected to locate its home.



So, this is how vacuuming and mopping looks like in my home on most days now. Yes, being able to read to my baby while the house gets clean, that is luxury in the view of a stay-at-home mum like me.

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SPECIAL FOR A HAPPY MUM READERS

If you are thinking that DEEBOT SLIM will cost a hefty sum,then you are wrong. This robot cleaner, which is targeted and designed for beginners, has an affordable retail price of S$319! You can now purchase it at a promotional price of S$299 at www.ecovacssg.com or at their Facebook page. Wait, it gets even better! All readers of A Happy Mum can now enjoy a further discount of S$20 and get a DEEBOT SLIM for just S$279 (comes with FREE SHIPPING). All you have to do is enter the promo code "ahappymum" when you check out at their website or Facebook page.

Now, that's not all! I'm giving away one set of DEEBOT SLIM to a lucky reader and it will get delivered to your doorstep at no charge!

This giveaway ends on 12 Sept 2359hrs and is open to all readers residing in Singapore only. To participate,

1) Like ECOVACS SINGAPORE on Facebook.
2) Leave a comment in this post with your name, email address and why you would like to have a robot cleaner.

Indicate in the Rafflecopter widget that you have done so and to increase your chances of winning, you can choose to carry out the rest of the options. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: We received a set of DEEBOT SLIM from ECOVACS for the purpose of this review. Product features images are provided by ECOVACS. All opinions are our own.