Aldi shoppers' major complaint about half-price cleaning gadget: 'Infuriating'

"In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes" - so the old saying from Benjamin Franklin goes. I would argue, however, that we could add a third inevitability to this list - albeit one that Mr Franklin never needed to worry about - and that is cleaning.

Yep, that most tedious yet necessary of chores plagues us all - so it's no wonder we're always on the look for anything (ANYTHING!) that can make it less burdensome. For example, Aldi shoppers have been looking forward to the latest Special Buys event where they can get their hands on all kinds of cleaning gadgets for half the usual price - and significantly cheaper than higher-end brands.

It should be noted though, that one of the star items in the sale - the ECOVACS Deebot 2.0 ($349) comes with some words of warning from many frustrated shoppers who lament the machine's poor mapping capabilities and buggy app. While this may not seem like a huge issue, doesn't it sort of negate the point of buying a gadget whose whole purpose is to be switched on and then left to do your literal dirty work?

RELATED:

• Aldi shoppers are saving $170 with these 'must-have' kitchen dupes: 'I have both'

• Aldi fans rave over $35 'superior and cheaper' essential kitchen item

• Aldi fans rave over $40 dupe of $400 designer item: 'Super happy'

One owner of the Deebot went so far as to call it 'dumb' while another said it was 'infuriating.'

"It is useless (the mapping) and we have had ours 2 years and it's starting to struggle," another customer said. "I can't work out how/where to get it serviced."

Others still complained that after purchasing the brand and finding issues with the machines, they had a terrible time trying to get any sort of help or support from ECOVACS customer service.

Better alternative to ECOVACS Deebot

While I am a huge fan of a bargain and love saving as much cash as I possibly can, I do think that sometimes it is worth splurging on items that you are going to use daily and that you would like to last for an extremely long time. A good pair of jeans would fall into this category - and so would a good robot vacuum.

For reference, I have a dog and a 2.5 year-old-son. They are adorable but MESSY! Plus, I live by the beach so sand is always everywhere. Even in winter. Even if we haven't been to the beach in weeks. It's just...there.

Also, for full transparency, I am a chaotic mess. I am clumsy and scatter-brained and if there is something to be spilled - like rice, salt or sugar - you'd better believe I will spill it.

Needless to say, we were in the market for a robot vacuum - and stat.

While the $350 price tag of the Aldi version was tempting, the complaints about its limitations and drawbacks were a concern which is why we decided to test out the LG CordZero® Auto Emptying Robot Vac R5T with Wet Mop and, so far, I think we made a great choice.

Now, I have to address the elephant in the room - the LG auto-emptying robovac is $999 - which is a big amount for anyone to splash out. However, if you are going to have to replace a cheaper version every few years, or go searching for replacement parts you could end up spending way more in a very short amount of time.

Top features of the LG Robot Vacuum

One of the features we have found that we really love about our LG robovac is that the mapping system really is state of the art. We are in the middle of a renovation at the moment so our house is a little cluttered in places but we've been able to set clear mapping for our machine and not had a single issue.

The LG uses something called 360 LiDAR Sensors (please don't ask me what that is) to make sure it always knows where it is going and also can detect edges or stairs - although I can't verify this personally as my house is single-level - and knows not to bump into walls or other obstacles. I also feel like it does a great job of getting the crumbs and sand out of those weird, annoying places in a kitchen that are hard to get to with a traditional vacuum such as the skirting underneath our cupboard doors.

Oh, and you know that crappy feeling when you get halfway to work and remember that you forgot to start the dishwasher so you could have a clean plate to eat from when you get home? The LG ThinkQ app means you can operate the vacuum remotely, so you can come home to sparkling clean floors even if your dishes are still caked in pasta sauce.

Does the LG robot vacuum self-empty?

Yes, the Robot Vac R5 empties itself! That's right, this bad boy not only mops and vacuums at the same time (it knows when it's on the carpet so it won't get the carpet wet) but then takes itself back to its dock and self-empties into the dustbag that you can then replace when needed (I've not yet had to do this but I have read the dustbags can be tricky to find so that is something to keep in mind.)

I, personally, really like this feature as there is nothing worse than going to empty the dust trap of a vacuum only for a gust of wind to kick up at that very moment and blow all of the crap you just spent an hour cleaning up right back into your face. However, if you are looking for an LG model at a lower price point, you can also find a cheaper LG model without the self-emptying option.

Who is the LG self-emptying robot vacuum best suited to?

I think one of the reasons the LG CordZero R5 has worked so well for us is that it's designed for a house just like ours - one that experiences frequent, small messes that need daily cleaning and would be a punish to tackle with a traditional vacuum.

I should also note that while I have a dog, he is a Groodle so he doesn't shed. Therefore, I cannot speak to whether longer pet hair would efficiently be sucked up by the LG (although the power is said to be equivalent to a medium-sized regular vacuum so it would likely do the trick.)

SHOP:

• The limited edition Red Rooster feed taking game night to the next level

• The Aussie company making beauty more accessible and less of a burden

• The personalised accessories for anyone who loves to make a statement

And, while it's not the most important feature of any robot vacuum, I do enjoy the fact that the white LG robot vacuum just looks nice! It's a stylish and compact unit and I appreciate that.

Mostly though, I like waking up to a nice, clean floor that is free of sand (at least for an hour or so). It's almost like that "cleaning fairy" my mum was always yelling at me about when I was a kid exists after all - and to think mum tried to make believe it was her!

Want the latest celebrity news? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.