Vacuum robot magnetic tape - What alternatives are there?

Floor cleaning as if by magic? Vacuum cleaner robots have long since made this dream come true. But if you only want the device to vacuum a defined area of the living space, you don't need to close the doors: You can set up "virtual walls" or "invisible walls" for the vacuum robot with magnetic strips on the floor. These prevent it from getting caught in the expensive high-pile carpet, for example.
But instead of buying the not exactly cheap original magnetic tapes from the manufacturer, you should use inexpensive alternatives as magnetic delimitation strips. The following guide shows what you should consider when using and buying.

You should keep this in mind if you are looking for an alternative to a vacuum robot magnetic tape

Vacuum robots have sensors on their underside that detect a magnetic field. The device - regardless of whether it is from Miele, Xiaomi or Prevac - is immediately prompted to turn around when it encounters the magnetic field (e.g., to protect your baseboard). To be able to use magnetic tapes as virtual boundary strips in your home, the magnetic field of the material must be strong enough. This ensures a certain width (about 2 to 2.5 centimeters) and height (about 3 millimeters) of the tape.
The material also plays a role: you can choose between ferrite and neodymium magnetic tape. The special dimensions give the magnetic tape additional weight as a boundary strip, so that it lies flat on the floor and is not moved to the side when the robot bumps into it. You can find suitable magnetic tapes on our magnetic tape category page.

What is the right size for a magnetic tape for vacuum robots?

How many meters of vacuum robot magnetic tape you need depends entirely on how many areas in your home you want to separate from the vacuum robot. The tape can be placed over doorsteps to block off rooms but can also be used to separate individual elements and to protect baseboards. Many vacuum robots have problems with high-pile carpets and runners that have a high edge.
If you want to attach the tape according to the demarcation, it is best to proceed step by step:

Position the magnetic tape invisibly under the fabric along the edges of the carpet so that the vacuum robot does not drive up. This works most reliably with carpets that are less than one centimeter thick.
Lock up individual items such as valuable vases or delicate furniture as required.

You will benefit most from long magnetic tapes (rolls from approx. 5 meters), which can be flexibly cut to size with scissors.

Magnetic strips for vacuum robots

All common vacuum robot models react to the demarcation by magnetic tapes as boundary strips. For example, you can protect ledges or stairways.

"Kobold magnetic tape" - Alternative for the Vorwerk vacuum robot

Where its predecessor Kobold VR100 is identical in construction to the Neato vacuum robot, the further developed model Kobold VR200 has some new features. First and foremost, the body, which is one centimeter lower, so that the device with a total height of 9 centimeters can work well under beds and sofas.
Lasers, ultrasonic sensors, wall sensors and magnetic tape sensors make it easier for the robot to find its way around and prevent collisions with furniture and skirting boards. Compared to other vacuum cleaner robots such as the models from iRobot and Xiaomi, the Kobold is distinguished.

"Vorwerk Kobold VR200 magnetic tape" – Use magnetic tape as an alternative to conventional vacuum robot boundary strips

Like all robot vacuums, the Kobold VR200 also has integrated magnetic sensors that automatically cause the device to turn around when magnetic fields are detected (virtual wall; “invisible wall”). To delimit rooms, areas, and areas, you can also use a magnetic tape of equivalent width and strength instead of the original Vorwerk magnetic tape. Such a magnetic strip for the vacuum robot can be laid out as required and removed again without a trace after vacuuming (to protect expensive furniture or your baseboards).

"Xiaomi magnetic tape" - Alternative for your XIAOMI vacuum robot

The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum scores in comparison to other vacuum robots with its high battery capacity (5200 mAh). According to test reports, the Xiaomi device only loses 11 percent of its charge after cleaning a 2-room apartment and works relatively quickly. Only high door sills and carpet edges over 1.2 centimeters high let the vacuum robot falter in its routine. At a price of around 300 euros, users should get over the fact that the Mi Robot Vacuum comes with few accessories. The app, which maps the suction path and rooms, is at least available in English for the Chinese product. Its successor model, the Xiaomi Roborock s50, on the other hand, has the CE mark and European standard connections. A little more expensive than the Mi Robot, but it scores with the additional floor wiping function. Protect your expensive furniture and skirting boards with a magnetic perimeter tape.

"Xiaomi magnetic tape" - Use alternative magnetic tape as a boundary strip for vacuum robots

Just like the magnetic tape "Invisible Wall" (invisible wall) from the manufacturer Xiaomi, an alternative tape magnet that is sufficiently wide can also be used. Proceed in the same way as with the branded product when attaching it:

First clean the floor.
If necessary, fix the magnetic tape for vacuum cleaners with double-sided adhesive strips so that it does not slip.
You can sensibly delimit the action area of your vacuum robot for baseboards, sensitive carpets, steps or similar.

"Neato Magnetic Tape" - Alternative delimitation for the Neato Botvac D85 and Botvac D7 robot vacuums

The Neato Botvac D85 features a D-shape design as opposed to the round models from Xiaomi and iRobot. Here the manufacturer promises to be able to consider the edges and corners of a room more efficiently. Although otherwise structurally identical to the Vorwerk Kobold VR100, the Neato vacuum robot also has a HEPA filter, which is particularly appreciated by allergy sufferers: Pollen and allergens get stuck in the dust container instead of being blown back into the room air. The further development of the model, the Neato Botvac D7, is also equipped with Wi-Fi and can be controlled from a smartphone or tablet via an app for iOS and Android. When navigating through the rooms, he creates a map that can then be called up and digitally provided with borders.

"Neato magnetic tape" - Use alternative magnetic tape as robot vacuum boundary strips

Even if the Neato Botvac D7 can be kept away from areas of your choice via an app, the magnetic tape limit is more timesaving for most users. You do not need a special tape from the manufacturer for this but can use alternative magnetic tapes.

"Miele magnetic tape" - Alternative magnetic tape for Miele robot vacuum cleaners Scout RX 1 and RX 2

The round design of the Miele Scout RX1 is based on iRobot's Roomba 880, but at 2.9 kg it is around 1 kg lighter. Its capacity is 0.6 kg, and it has bagless suction technology with an exhaust filter. The disadvantage for allergy sufferers is that no HEPA filter was installed. The vacuum robot has a camera-controlled navigation system that allows it to clean the rooms in an orderly manner. The user can choose between four cleaning modes: "Auto" and "Turbo" are suitable for lightly and normally soiled floors, while "Corner" allows the robot to drive more intensively around the edges of the room and "Spot" limits the cleaning area to around 4m².

Robot vacuum as a surveillance camera

The next generation of Miele vacuum robots is the Scout RX2, which is very similar to its predecessor in terms of its features. However, the Scout RX2 Home Vision model has an innovative feature: It transmits its camera image live to a tablet or smartphone, if desired. The robot vacuum cleaner from Miele acts like a rolling surveillance camera when the user is absent.

Miele magnetic tape - Use alternative magnetic tape for vacuum robots

Miele is known for high-priced household appliances - but at least you can use alternatives as boundary strips for the magnetic tape for your vacuum robot, e.g., to protect your baseboards. Use a wide, flexible tape and fix it to the floor at the end points and at regular intervals with double-sided adhesive strips. If you're worried about leaving marks on parquet or laminate, sticking it down with simple masking tape works just as well. This less elegant variant is particularly suitable for use under carpets.

Gearbest magnetic tape - Alternative for the Gearbest vacuum robots ILIVE, MinSu and SEEBEST

At Gearbest you get vacuum cleaner robots from many manufacturers, which are primarily in the low to medium price segment of 150 to 350 euros. In addition to the robots themselves, the shop also supplies replacement brushes, filters and charging stations for the mostly Chinese brands. Multifunction devices such as the ILIVE V5S Pro and the ILIVE V7S Plus are not limited to the suction function at a price of 150 to 170 euros, but also have a wet cleaning function. Its water tank holds 300 milliliters, which corresponds to a wiping time of 120 to 150 minutes. When wiping, an intelligent pump in the vacuum robot should guarantee that the moisture is continuously released and that no water damage occurs on sensitive floors. The microfiber wipe is removable and can be washed out by the user between cleanings.

Gearbest magnetic tape as an alternative for vacuum robots - How to use it

Especially when moisture is involved, the radius of the cleaning robot must be limited to the floors to be cleaned wet. You can achieve this with all Gearbest vacuum and floor mopping robots using a magnetic tape (boundary strip). Branded products like the "invisible wall" are not necessary - an alternative magnetic strip for vacuum robots serves the purpose just as well. To use, cut the magnetic strips to the desired length with scissors before placing them on the floor. You can either block off entire rooms or delimit areas that differ from the rest of the room in terms of flooring. This is useful with wiping robots, for example in a chimney situation, where the base plate or surrounding tiles can tolerate wet cleaning, while the adjacent wooden floor should only be vacuumed.

Magnetic tape as an alternative for vacuum robots: The important questions

So that you don't have to search for a long time, we have answered the most important questions about magnetic tape for robot vacuum cleaners.

Which vacuum robot is suitable for parquet?

From the ILIFE V5 and the MamiBot PreVac 650 for 150 - 200 euros to the iRobot Roomba 980 for 950 euros - in principle, vacuum robots of all price ranges are suitable for use on parquet.

What should I consider when using a vacuum cleaner robot on parquet?

Hard floors such as parquet usually cause the least problems for the rotating brushes of the Prevac vacuum robots and others. First and foremost, you should remove loose, small objects such as toys or cables from the robot's radius of action. Wooden floors that are sealed with varnish also prove to be less sensitive to signs of wear from the rollers.

Which vacuum cleaner robot is suitable for carpet?

To clean long carpet fibers without getting caught in them, the Xiaomi Roborock s50 has special brushes that consist of a combination of bristles and rubber blades. Likewise, carpet edges up to 1.8 centimeters high do not pose any problems. Even in wiping mode, the device is not slowed down by carpets.

What should I consider when using a robot vacuum cleaner on carpet?

Crucial to carpets are the brushes that need to clean the fibers without tangling them. A vacuum robot must also be able to "climb" if it is to master rooms in which several runners are lying on hard floors. In this case, a vacuum robot like the Vorwerk Kobold VR200 with its climbing aid will serve you well. Valuable carpets that you do not want to entrust to the vacuum robot can be invisibly cordoned off with magnetic strips (boundary strips).

Which vacuum cleaner robot is suitable for allergy sufferers?

According to the manufacturer, the iRobot Roomba 871 removes up to 99 percent of allergens, pollen and dust particles. The Neato Botvac D85 is also characterized by a high-quality special filter.

What should I watch out for with robot vacuum cleaners for allergy sufferers?

The filter is crucial for robots that suffer from allergies: So-called HEPA filters (HEPA = High Efficiency Particulate Air) are able to filter tiny, suspended particles measuring up to 0.3 micrometers out of the air - the allergens then remain in the dust container and do not get back into the room air. The Vorwerk Kobold VR200 also offers a suction opening for the dust container, so that allergy sufferers do not encounter the contents when emptying. Important: Advice on robot vacuums can only be given based on the respective living situation.

Conclusion on magnetic tape as an alternative limitation for vacuum robots

Despite the possibility of remotely controlling the vacuum robot via app, the magnetic tape as a boundary strip is a simple and safe way to limit the area of action of the device. Since the magnetic sensors generally react to magnetic fields, you can just as well use alternative magnetic tapes instead of expensive manufacturer goods. You order the magnetic tape in the desired dimensions (meters) and thus set up a virtual wall (invisible wall) for your vacuum robot. After all, the money saved on accessories can best be strong>invested in a more efficient vacuum robot. Regardless of the brand, whether Prevac, Miele, Xiaomi, Ilife or others, a limitation with a magnetic tape always makes sense - e.g., to protect your baseboards. tape in the desired dimensions (meters) and thus set up a virtual wall (invisible wall) for your vacuum robot. After all, the money saved on accessories is best invested in a more efficient vacuum robot. No matter for which brand whether Prevac, Miele, Xiaomi, Ilife or others, limitation by means of a magnetic tape always makes sense - e.g. to protect your baseboards.