The Downside of Cleaning Robots: Are They Worth the Investment?

Is the robot takeover already underway? In recent years, heck even recent months, cleaning robots have become increasingly popular in homes and workplaces alike. With promises of a more efficient and hands-off cleaning experience, it's easy to see why a robot would be attractive. If you were lucky enough to attend the last few ISSA (which stands for the International Sanitary Supply Association) Trade shows, you definitely noticed an increased presence of robotics with the promise to increase productivity and maximize cost savings! However, I feel like we need to acknowledge that the negatives to robotics for cleaning purposes outweigh the positives. One notable example is Yahoo! Inc's decision to get rid of their cleaning robots in 2016.

Yahoo!, at the time had invested in a fleet of cleaning robots to clean their office spaces. However, the robots quickly proved to be more trouble than they were worth. They frequently got stuck, ran out of battery, or simply missed spots that needed cleaning. This led to complaints from employees who felt that the cleaning quality had decreased since the robots were introduced. A more recent situation involved Google’s shutdown of a subsidiary company called Everyday Robots. The company built 100 cleaning robots that performed simple tasks at the company's headquarters, like cleaning and organizing. The shutdown, according to a former employee was a part of a wider cost cutting initiative. So, even the infinitely deep pockets of Google couldn’t afford these things.

These examples highlight some key negatives behind cleaning robots: their lack of attention to detail, their judgment, expense, and compassion. Let’s first talk about their lack of attention to detail. While robots may be able to cover large areas quickly, they often miss spots that require touch up. This can be especially problematic in settings where cleanliness is crucial, such as hospitals or food preparation facilities.

Another issue with cleaning robots is their lack of judgement. They may not be able to distinguish between a spill and a permanent stain, for example, leading to improper cleaning methods being used. Additionally, robots may not be able to recognize when a certain area requires more or less cleaning attention based on factors such as foot traffic or time of day. Imagine a cleaning robot trying to casually clean its way through a food court in the middle of lunch time…

The third key negative is their expense. While the initial investment may seem reasonable, the ongoing costs associated with maintenance, repairs, and replacement parts can quickly add up. Additionally, the software required to operate cleaning robots can be expensive too and may require updates or upgrades over time. All of these costs can make cleaning robots a far less cost-effective option compared to hiring their human counterpart cleaners. While the initial cost of hiring employees may be higher, over time the cost will level out or even decrease due to factors such as lower maintenance costs, better cleaning quality, and the ability for employees to adapt to changing cleaning needs.

Lastly, there is the issue of compassion. While cleaning robots may be able to clean somewhat efficiently, they lack the ability to care about the outcome of their cleaning. Human cleaners, on the other hand, take pride in their work and strive to do their best. They may notice small details that a robot would miss, or go the extra mile to ensure that a certain area is spotless. This level of care is difficult, if not impossible, for a robot to replicate.

To sum it all up…., while cleaning robots may seem like a convenient solution to a tedious task or a long term cost cutting measure, there are negatives that must be considered. Their lack of attention to detail, judgement, expense, and compassion can result in subpar cleaning quality. This is why it's our opinion that relegating complex tasks like cleaning to robots is incredibly irresponsible. Human cleaners not only provide a better quality of service, but also provide a level of care and attention to detail that cannot be matched by a robot. Period.

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