A newer(ish) product that similarly promises to make everyday cleaning a little easier: an automatic dustpan.
The concept is pretty simple. A motion sensor on the bottom of the machine detects when a broom is being swept toward it, and the suction engages to gobble up the incoming debris. Automatic dustpans have become a trendy add-on for custom kitchen cabinetry, and they’re often built directly into the toe kick, for hidden cleaning power.
But the one we tested, the EyeVac Touchless Vacuum Automatic Dustpan, is portable, with a canister that holds the collected dirt and dust, which you then empty into the trash. What this means, ultimately, is that you can avoid the annoying task of stooping down to sweep detritus into a dustpan, as well as eliminate the flurry of dust when you dump it out.
Seems pretty cool, right?
But is investing in one of these dustpans really worth it? They can cost between $100 and $300, depending on the model. That’s cheaper than the price of most robot or stick vacuums, but it’s not exactly cheap. Does an automatic dustpan really make life convenient enough to justify the cost? I ordered a popular, highly rated model to find out.
The unit I tested, the EyeVac Touchless Vacuum Automatic Dustpan, has a whopping 11,655 five-star reviews on Amazon (at the time of publication). And though we take Amazon reviews with a grain of salt, it’s worth noting that an overwhelming majority of them really love this egg-shaped thing.
I set mine up in my kitchen for testing. Most of the hardwood flooring in my apartment is covered in rugs, and the kitchen is certainly the room most prone to food crumbs, coffee grounds, matcha dust, and any number of crusty bits, so that’s where it would get the most use.
During my few weeks of testing this machine, I left it plugged in and set it to “automatic” mode, which utilizes the motion sensor to beam crumbs up into the canister. You can also set it to a manual mode, where you have to press the top button to engage suction. But I wanted to see just how often I’d end up sweeping stuff toward this thing.
For some more concentrated testing, I scattered and swept various types of debris commonly found on my floor: Goldfish, coffee grounds, uncooked rice, granola, and dust bunnies I collected from elsewhere in the apartment.
The first major con, for me, is that it’s too sensitive to movement. I found that the sensor triggered whenever I stepped near the machine to grab something on the shelf above it or shuffled toward the cabinet, and I was frequently startled by the loud suction sound.
And it startled our dog, who wanted to get a closer sniff at the pieces of granola and coffee grounds inside the canister. Although the machine was only in our home for a few weeks, he never adjusted to the sudden noise this R2-D2–looking thing emitted. (R2-D2 is much more polite, for what it’s worth.)
I can imagine that this machine would go off constantly with rambunctious kids or crawling babies around, so I stuck my hand inside to feel how powerful the suction was. The good news is it’s not strong enough to hurt or cause injury, but it could definitely be scary for kids or pets.
Possibly an even larger flaw is the shape of the machine itself. Since it has a round, egg-shaped base, I found it nearly impossible to corral every bit of debris into the opening. With small particles like coffee grounds, especially, there was often leftover mess around the sides and even behind the machine, since it doesn’t sit flush with the wall. I had to do multiple passes around the machine just to get debris out from behind it, which was frustrating and negated any convenience factor for me. This could also cause a buildup behind the machine if you don’t frequently pick it up and clean around it.
EyeVac sells a professional version, for just $50 more, and it’s rectangular in shape. I could see this being more useful since there’d be less chance for error when you’re sweeping in debris.
Another con: The machine feels rather clunky and cheap, given the price. It’s made almost entirely from plastic, and clicking the parts together feels risky, like the pieces are in danger of snapping. Multiple times during testing, the exhaust filter on the side of the machine fell off after a few accidental thwacks with a broom.
All that said, there are definitely ways in which this gadget might be helpful. If you live in a house with a mudroom or large entryway, keeping one of these tucked into a corner might be a painless way to clean up tracked-in dirt and grass.
Reviewers also mention that it’s great for houses with hard flooring and dogs who are prone to lots of shedding. Some people say they keep it near their kid’s highchair, for picking up after messy meals. This might also be a good solution for those with mobility issues, as well as for those who have a particularly difficult time reaching down to the floor to sweep debris into a dustpan.
Personally, I would much rather use my handheld vac for these quick tasks. Cordless stick vacuums, like the Dyson V12, are also quite nimble. And if you leave them charging when they’re not in use, they’ll always be ready to go.
This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Maxine Builder.
