Robot vacuum cleaner Panda X500 Pet Series: this panda wanders around the apartment and scrubs the floor and all corners

I confess that I have long looked closely to the robot vacuum cleaners, considering them an unreasonably expensive toy. Moreover, in the reviews of different models, there was always some “fly in the ointment”. Time passed, and one day I came across “new face” on one of the web-sites – Panda X500 Pet Series. To be honest, I was confused by low price for this level of equipment, and, at the same time, by the number of positive reviews. It took me a long time to make this purchase, but I finally made up my mind. So, let me tell you my dear readers about this wonder-beast and my experiences using it.

So, meet – robot-vacuum cleaner Panda X500 Pet Series.

Originally there were several quite successful models produced under the Chinese brand Lilin. They attracted the attention of the Japanese Panda corporation, which bought the rights to production, eliminated the defects of Chinese manufacturers, improved the models and began to produce them under its own name.

In addition to the robot vacuum cleaner itself the package includes: charger for 220V, floor base, remote control unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the remote , spare filter, two spare side brushes, virtual wall, brush to clean the vacuum cleaner and filters, user manual in American. 1 year warranty. The model exists in two colors: red and black.

So, what distinguishes Panda from the “classmates” besides the low price? First of all, it is the absence of standard rotating brushes, located near the dust collector.

As in conventional vacuum cleaners, these brushes very quickly reel in hair, threads, pet hair, and have to stop and clean often with great difficulty it all. In Panda, this problem was solved very simply by removing the brushes, leaving only the sides, and at the same time, increased the suction power. This allows even the toughest of dirt to be cleaned without any loss of quality.

To charge the Panda can be in two ways – directly through the wire charger or, more conveniently, through a floor base. According to the instructions, the base has to be installed next to the wall, so that the right and left sides have at least 1 meter of free space, and in front of the base at least 2 meters.

Understandably, it is difficult to implement such requirements in an ordinary apartment. But, from practice, the base is ready to settle for much less area – I have it under the coffee table, where up to the wall about 40 cm and in front of it is free about 1 meter. This does not cause any difficulties in the robot vacuum cleaner, maybe if only the time of searching the base is slightly longer.

During operation a month and a half Panda never “got lost” and each time found the way home. Full charging time in the manual says about 5 hours. According to my observations, the vacuum cleaner is charged much faster – 3-4 hours. The charge lasts for an hour and thirty to an hour and fifty.

This is quite enough to clean two or three rooms apartment very thoroughly. After the battery is discharged, the Panda turns on base search mode and goes to recharge. It is possible to program the start time of cleaning – in this case, every day at a given time vacuum cleaner will leave for “walk” and after fully discharging the battery, return to the base. And so until the cancellation of the programmed time.

You can control the vacuum cleaner with the remote control, as well as by pressing the buttons on the body of the Panda. The buttons are touch-sensitive and very sensitive to touch. From the case you can give a command to start automatic cleaning, cleaning in a spiral, return to the base, you can program the time to start cleaning.

Also, there is a “dustbin” icon on the body, letting you know that the dustbin is full and needs to be emptied. On the remote control besides the buttons “automatic cleaning”, “spiral cleaning”, “return to base” and time programming, there is “cleaning along the walls” and buttons for moving in four directions.

The latter should please those who once loved to play with cars with remote control: pressing these buttons, you can move the vacuum cleaner in any direction as when the cleaning mode is on, and when off. This is very handy to clean a certain area of the floor, or just to move the Panda, for example, to another room.

As is clear from the names, this model has three cleaning modes: “Along the walls”, “spiral” and automatic, combining the previous modes plus diagonal cleaning mode Z mode . I usually use an automatic vacuum cleaner, which makes the vacuum cleaner’s movements seem completely chaotic and results in all rooms being cleaned evenly.

It should be noted that the side brushes are great to deal with dust on baseboards and corners. And the height of the vacuum cleaner 10 cm allows it to clean under most furniture.The spiral cleaning mode is useful in case you need to clean a small dirty patch with a radius of about one meter. In this mode, the vacuum cleaner within this area increases and decreases the radius of movement, changes directions and, after several cycles, stops to wait for further instructions.

Another interesting feature of this model is the presence of dirt sensors. In practice, it looks like this: if the Panda finds a particularly dirty spot, it increases the suction power and begins to swirl in one place. After a while it stops, checks whether it is clean enough now, if not – another cycle of “spinning” in place, if enough – turns around and goes further with satisfaction.

A nice addition is the presence of a virtual wall. This “box” creates an invisible beam, which is perceived by the vacuum cleaner as a real wall. So you can not let the vacuum cleaner to the wires or not let it in another room. Also, you can not fear that the vacuum cleaner will fall down the stairs – the presence of special sensors will prevent the fall

The manufacturers made sure that access to the dust canister is easy. One click on the top lid – and the container in front of you.

Another difference from the “classmates” – the Panda has a volume of dust canister 0.It has 45 liters, most other models have 0.35l. The grid retains large particles, and the filter has a very fine dust. The coneiner and the grid can be cleaned with the included brush and also washed under water. It is recommended to shake out the filter and wash it every 10-15 days, but I do it more often because when using the vacuum every day, the Panda manages to find VERY much fine dust.

The life of the filter is half a year. Also, from time to time it is necessary to unscrew the side brushes with the usual Phillips screwdriver and clean them from the hair and threads twisted on them. It’s a pretty simple process, takes three minutes at most. The only thing, when installing the brush back, pay attention to the letters “R” and “L”, that is, do not confuse the right and left. The same applies to replacing the brushes.

Now, actually, my impressions of the operation of this miracle equipment. Before I sent the Panda out to clean for the first time, I vacuumed our apartment very thoroughly. Realistically – very thorough. After robot worked the whole program, I looked in the container and I was surprised – yes, there were no large particles like sand, hair, threads I vacuumed for a reason , but there was a lot of the finest dust, almost full of garbage can. The same thing happened on the second and third day. After that, apparently, all the fine dust in our apartment, it has collected and began a routine daily cleaning – sand, hair, wool, and much less fine dust.

Our apartment has almost every type of flooring imaginable: hardwood floors, ceramic tile, linoleum, and carpeting. Everything is cleaned by the Panda equally thoroughly. Landlords know how hard it is to clean an apartment so that after walking on the floor barefoot, not to feel a single grain of sand. So, after cleaning Panda, you will feel under your feet perfectly clean, smooth floor, it – an indescribable feeling! And, most importantly, you do not have to put any effort to achieve such a result!

In the name of the model for a reason the words “Pet Series” are present – especially the owners of pets will appreciate it. I do not know what we have namanili manufacturers, but the animals, even panic-stricken ordinary vacuum cleaner such as our dog , do not feel any fear of the Panda.

What’s more, I’ve read in reviews that many cats ride the robot vacuum cleaner! The owners of long-haired pets will be happy with the absence of a rotating brush on the bottom, and owners of short-haired the Panda easily clean out of the carpet hairs and needles, which are usually very problematic when using conventional vacuum cleaners. Since the vacuum cleaner does not hit with all the crap on the obstacle, and very “tactfully” touches the bumper and immediately stops and goes around, our dog cheeked up to the point that he does not even get up off the floor when the Panda drives up to it. And the poor robot vacuum cleaner has to outrun the big red sloth.

I don’t use schedule programming for cleaning, it’s easier to let the Panda go for a walk in my own time. A vacuum cleaner that works is not a problem. I wouldn’t say it’s super quiet, but I can talk on the phone when Panda is working. You do not have to prepare the apartment for cleaning – the most important thing is to remove or obstruct cords and check that there are no loose strings or shoelaces.

They can get wrapped up in the side brushes, the robot will stop and give you an “error” and you have to go to rescuing it. Large objects are not sucked up by Panda, so even if you leave something on the floor like a pen, a handkerchief, etc. the vacuum cleaner will not pick it up.d. , it’s no big deal. The robot goes around chair legs and thoroughly cleans the dirt around it. If necessary for example, guests have tramped in the hallway , I fence off part of the room with a virtual wall, let the Panda in this makeshift “enclosure” and in 10-15 minutes the hallway is perfectly clean.

In conclusion, I want to say that before I started using the Panda, I had no idea how much it makes life easier. I don’t know how I ever did without it! Of course, using a robot vacuum cleaner does not cancel the wet cleaning, but now you can do it much, much less often! Even the dust on the furniture accumulates much slower. Now I can wipe it once a week and a half. Cleanliness without a lot of hassle – is it not a miracle??!