Can You Vacuum at Night: What’s Allowed and What’s Considered Rude?

Nick Hu
2025-10-14T17:58:00+11:00

Work, hobbies, and family errands—your daily schedule is tight, and that leaves you no room to clean when the sun is up. Your only choice is to clean and vacuum at night.

But nighttime vacuuming can come across as rude because the cleaner’s noise can disturb one’s rest or sleep. Neighbors will think of you as inconsiderate, especially if you are living in a closed neighborhood or apartment complex.

In this blog, we discuss relevant legal guidelines and social etiquette so you can vacuum at night in an acceptable manner.

Is It Illegal to Vacuum at Night in Australia?

In Australia, vacuuming at night is not illegal. There is no law enacted that prohibits the act of vacuuming itself when the moon is up.

However, the excessive noise generated by the vacuum cleaner during the night can violate certain Australian ordinances. For instance, in New South Wales, noise from power tools like vacuum cleaners may be considered as an “offensive noise” under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Loud noise from tools like vacuum cleaners must be heard only between 8 pm and 7 am (8 am if it is a Sunday or a public holiday). You will receive a warning from the police upon violation of this provision. Repeat violation within 28 days may result in a fine (around 200 AUD in NSW).

Noise regulations vary by state and local council. For instance, Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) explicitly prohibited the noise of vacuum cleaners from 10 pm to 7 am on weekdays (up to 9 am during weekends or public holidays). Meanwhile, in Western Australia, excessive residential noise, such as from vacuum cleaners, is prohibited from 7 pm to 7 am (until 9 am on Sundays or public holidays).

But what is considered “excessive noise” in the first place? In Australia, most states consider the sound of exceeding 55 decibels as excessive during nighttime (or past 10 pm). So, if you really need to use a vacuum cleaner at night, opt for a machine that generates around 50 dB to avoid disrupting people’s rest.

Roborock offers high-end vacuum cleaners that generate minimal noise. For instance, Roborock’s Saros 10 Robot Vacuum can effectively remove stains, dirt, and up to 99.99% of E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus on the surface while operating at a minimum noise level of 52 dB(A). And with its SmartPlan 2.0, this robot vacuum can dial down power and noise for an extremely peaceful cleaning experience.

What's Considered Rude When Vacuuming at Night?

Unless you are living in a secluded village, your vacuum’s noise will certainly brand you as the obnoxious, unmindful neighbor. Folks will either storm your house the next day or they will avoid any social interaction with you. Hence, you must understand when it is considered “rude” to vacuum at night.

In an apartment setup, vacuuming at night is almost universally considered inconsiderate, as you are living in close proximity to other tenants. Most apartments have thin walls, which makes it easy for sound to penetrate the barriers and reach your co-tenant’s unit. Even in apartments with soundproof walls, the vacuum’s noise can still propagate and irritate other people. So, it is advisable to simply vacuum the next day unless your machine produces little to no noise.

You must also avoid nighttime vacuuming if you are living in a shared household with your family. Some families argue when someone vacuums at night, as the noise can disturb people who are unwinding or sleeping. So, to avoid fights, you can postpone vacuuming until the next day or invest in a quieter vacuum. You may also talk with your family members and come to an agreement about a night cleaning schedule that suits everyone.

When Is It Okay to Vacuum at Night?

Again, it is neither illegal nor a social taboo to vacuum at night. In fact, there are various acceptable circumstances in which you can use your machine at night.

For instance, if you live in a single-family home with good sound insulation, you have more freedom to choose cleaning times, even late at night. Just inform your family that you will vacuum for a couple of minutes. Note also that your well-insulated walls and windows ensure that the noise from the vacuum stays inside your home and does not disturb people outside, such as neighbours or passersby.

Another acceptable case is when there is a sudden and minimal spill or mess. You can clean it quickly and people will not be bothered by the brief vacuum noise.

Using a vacuum cleaner with specialized quiet or night modes is also recommended. These machines have built-in insulation that reduces the sound they make during use. Roborock Saros 10 is an example of an advanced robotic vacuum cleaner with an automatic noise reduction technology that functions during “Do-Not-Disturb” periods. Using such machines allows you to vacuum at night effectively, without disturbing the rest of the people nearby.

Some of these specialized vacuum cleaners also have smart scheduling features that enable precise timing control to minimise disturbance. This feature lets you configure its cleaning function at certain periods when it can work quietly. As you utilize this feature, make sure to consider the acceptable hours in your location (typically before 7 or 8 pm) and if it is a weekend or a special holiday.

Tips for Considerate Nighttime Cleaning

So, to answer the question of many: “Are you allowed to vacuum at night?”. The answer is a resounding “yes”, if you perform it in a considerate manner. Here are some tips to do so:

Large rugs or carpets can reduce the vacuum’s noise. It is quieter to vacuum over them than bare floors. So, if possible, clean only the carpeted areas of your home during the night.

Shut doors and windows in the rooms you are vacuuming. This helps contain the noise and prevents it from spreading to other rooms or outside.

Let family members know you will be vacuuming so they are not surprised by the noise.

Invest in modern robot vacuums with noise reduction features that can be scheduled to clean quietly during the night.

If you really need to clean at night, limit the duration to minimize disturbance and target only the areas that really need attention.

Choosing the Right Vacuum for Night Cleaning

With the right vacuum cleaner, you can still clean your home at night without bothering neighbors or family members. But how do you choose the “right” machine?

First, check the vacuum’s noise level, which is measured in decibels (dB). A “quiet” vacuum cleaner typically generates sound of at most 60 to 70 dB, which is gentler than a refrigerator’s hum. Some manufacturers indicate if their product is a “quiet” vacuum or not, but it is still recommended to actually check the decibel level.

Next, a robotic vacuum is an ideal choice compared to the traditional ones. These devices can perform automated cleaning at night and can be programmed to run when you are asleep or resting.

Of course, do not forget to consider the vacuum’s suction power. While you are aiming for a quiet solution, you must not sacrifice power, as this factor ensures effective cleaning, especially in tough surfaces.

For smart, reliable, and quiet night cleaning, consider some of Roborock’s robotic vacuum cleaners:

Saros 10: Considered Roborock’s thinnest cleaner at just 7.98 cm, the Saros 10 can glide under low-clearance furniture while still navigating open spaces with ease. It delivers powerful cleaning with 22,000 Pa HyperForce® suction and features the DuoDivide™ Anti-Tangle Brush, designed to handle hair more efficiently without constant maintenance.

The Saros 10 is also one of the quietest Roborock models, producing as little as 52 dB(A) in quiet mopping mode. With its advanced VibraRise® 4.0 Mopping System and SmartPlan 2.0, it automatically reduces power and noise during “Do-Not-Disturb” hours, ensuring deep cleaning that’s both effective and considerate of your family’s rest.

Qrevo Curv: Achieve an elegant and spotless home with Qrevo Curv’s impressive 18,500 Pa HyperForce suction power. It also features dual mops with a 200 RPM spinning speed for effortless floor polishing. This cleaner can also work in various floor types with its industry-first AdapLift chassis.

And for peaceful nighttime cleaning, Qrevo Curv comes with brushless motors that help in reducing noise levels. Its mopping noise is as low as 55 dB, which is so gentle for both humans and pets.

Experience Quiet and Hassle-free Nighttime Vacuuming With Roborock Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

Nighttime vacuuming entails respecting both your family’s schedule and your neighbor’s relaxation time. While it is recommended to simply vacuum the next day, you can still vacuum at night while maintaining social courtesy with a quiet robotic vacuum cleaner.

Roborock is a reputable smart cleaning brand offering innovative vacuum cleaners that generate minimal noise. Our cleaning solutions are engineered not only to meet your home cleaning needs but also to help you maintain solid social ties through quiet and reliable operations. Currently serving markets in Beijing, the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and South Korea, Roborock is always on the move to offer top-quality, effective, and convenient cleaning technologies. Get in touch with us today.