There should be... but this is maxis! They had so much potential, but what we have ended up with is seriously dodgy.
When I tried them out I eventually grabbed the dirty plates and plonked them on the ground just to give it something to do.
This is what I do with the vacuum. You know, there's a string on the floor, or a bit of dog hair, or whatever. I go over it with the vacuum and if it doesn't work, then I pick up the string, put it down in front of the vacuum again and give it a second chance.
LOL
Chris