Vileda Virobi: Mopping robot for 30 euros in the test

Vacuum cleaner robots are usually expensive household helpers. Not so with the Vileda Virobi mopping robot, which had to prove itself in our test laboratory. Instead of spending several hundred euros on the competition, you only pay a little more than 30 euros for this robot - can that be a good thing?

Vileda Virobi in the test: robot vacuum wipes properly

The main reason why the Vileda Virobi is significantly cheaper than other helpers: Instead of vacuuming away the dust like real vacuum robots, it wipes it with rotating fleece cloths.

• The Virobi only wipes smooth floors, i.e. parquet, laminate or tiles. Carpets are an insurmountable obstacle for the red wiper. Even damp floors can offer too much resistance and the Robo keeps turning in circles.
• The robot does not work miracles on adequate floors, but it does a better cleaning than expected. Dust, lint and hair easily stick to the fleece cloth. The robot pushes dirt that cannot be charged statically in front of it.
• In addition, the soft cloth carrier bends upwards when it comes into contact with furniture or walls. The edges remain slightly raised afterwards so that the robot never wipes with the full surface. If the floor is very dirty, you must change the cloth from time to time.

Vileda Virobi: Simple navigation of the vacuum cleaner robot

The robot does not have a navigation system. Instead, he drives straight ahead until he hits an object. Because of the resistance, the undercarriage spins clockwise until it is free again. There may be a slight squeak over time.

• In the absence of floor sensors, you should keep the Virobi away from landings - it will fall down. However, the device usually survives falls from low heights without any problems.
• Because of the arbitrary navigation, the cleaning cover is uneven and space-dependent. The rule of thumb is: the simpler the room and the fewer obstacles, the higher the chance that the robot will catch every spot once.
• Whether the Virobi comes between chair legs is a matter of luck. Since the robot always turns to the right on contact, it also has real problems in reaching left niches.
• The controls are limited to two buttons, each for a 30 and a 120 minute program. A charge of the NimH battery lasts about three hours, the charging time is about eight hours according to the manufacturer. Unfortunately, the Virobi never shows when the battery is full.

Conclusion: A good helper for in between in suitable rooms

With a price of just over 30 euros, the Vileda Virobi is significantly cheaper than other cleaning robots. In addition, however, there are running costs for non-woven cloths, which cost just under 10 euros for 40 pieces. The mopping robot will not be able to protect you from the right apartment cleaning. That's because not all dirt gets stuck on the towels. However, it will remove most light impurities in simple and manageable rooms and corridors with a smooth surface and no big quirks. This means that the mop can stay in the storage room for a little longer.

For more money you get more performance and comfort. That is why we will introduce you to the best programmable vacuum robots in the next practical tip.