How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending on the model they can also sweep or mop stairs.

Look for models with advanced features, such as remote access and app control. You can use apps to schedule cleaning time or keep track of progress. Some even allow you to pause, recharge and return to where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves drones that can navigate the skies and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture, it's safe say that the future of cleaning is here. But as with any technology, it requires some maintenance to keep it working smoothly.

The most important factor in the long-term performance of your robot vacuum cleaners best is the cycle of discharge and charge. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Check for tangled furs and keep the brushes from jamming.

Another aspect to consider is the environmental conditions where your robot is stored, as extreme cold and heat can impact the battery's performance. You can prolong the life of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and then storing it in a cool place. Also, remove it from the power source when it is not being used. Furthermore, many smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, such as battery optimization. So make sure to check your app for any updates that are available.

A robot vacuum is an excellent alternative for those with a lot of hard flooring. It can quickly and effectively remove loose dirt and debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than a quick clean-up, you should look for a model with superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and strong suction and a range of mopping functions to provide an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It uses LiDAR sensors and cameras to create precise maps of your home, which assists it in staying on track and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It also can detect objects like shoes and clutter, and clean them up automatically. It's also self-emptying, so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the trash after each cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are great for quick midweek cleaning, however, they lack the suction to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for a thorough clean. Even the top robot vacuums are susceptible to getting tangled in cords and toys. They also tend to ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of baseboards and struggle to get rid of dust from under furniture. The dust bins on their own are so full that they need to return to their charging docks in order to self-empty--a process that can take up to half an hour for some models.

It is crucial to select a robot automatic vacuum cleaner with an ample dust bin which can be emptied into the dock without having to return to complete the job. You'll need to decide if you prefer bags or a one that doesn't have a bag. If you choose the bagless option you'll need to determine the amount of dust it can hold before you have to empty it.

In our tests we applied 100 grams of sand to a medium-pile carpet surface and utilized a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. We then weigh the amount of sand in the onboard dust bin to determine how much dirt it has collected. A high amount indicates that the bin onboard could fill up faster and force the robot to stop cleaning.

The positive side is that many premium robot vacuums feature a large dust bin that is easily empty, and you can schedule them to empty into their bases at least once a day or more. Keep a can of compressed air nearby to blow out hairs that have gotten caught up in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums come with a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This allows the Robot vacuum best to download and install updates to its software, and giving you the option to monitor your robot using an app or via voice-activated commands. This feature isn't essential, but it does provide convenience and customization options that can enhance your robot's overall vacuuming experience.

To keep them running at their best the majority of models require a certain amount of maintenance. For example emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. Regularly cleaning, detaching and checking consumable parts will also extend their life. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing states that three to five years is the typical life expectancy of a robot vacuum. However, it can differ significantly based on the frequency you use it and if you take care of it properly.

A robot vacuums that mop vacuum has to be able to navigate around obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to be able to perform. Advanced navigation systems have cliff sensors that alert the bot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that help "see" the arrangement of a room. Certain robots also have mopping capabilities that are specialized, which can be useful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings using an upright vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means you don't need to switch between a robot vacuum and an manual one. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can also wash its mop pad and wipe down surfaces using its water tank. Its top-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance skills earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors' Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot hoover and mop vacuums we tested in our tests have outstanding pick-up scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors cleaning dust, dirt, and pet hair. They also clean up dust and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. They cannot remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of shag fibers, like an upright or a canister. They also can't pick up spilled liquids and food, or screws made of heavy metal and may also be unable to reach certain areas of the home (including under furniture).

Many models have smart features that make them more user-friendly. The majority of models come with an app that lets you schedule cleaning sessions and remotely control the robot. They can be connected to your smart-home system so that you can use voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with different modes that allow you to choose between mopping and sweeping or vacuuming. They can also recharge at their docks and continue cleaning the area they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved over the years, but it's still essential to get rid of cords, toys and pet mess before you run the robot. Before mapping out the space, it is recommended to cover all floor-to ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The lasers employed by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to hit the wall or floor.

More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, with some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some also allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

You can create a cleaning schedule and control the robots with an app. This allows you to tidy your home even when you're working or away on vacation. Certain robots are also able to self-empty into a larger bin in their base which can reduce dust release and is a great feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots, such as the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to avoid obstacles like furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This impressive feature is also available on smaller models. It is essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and also examine it for fur that has become tangled as it accumulates.

Some models can also create 3D representations. This is useful when you have more than one floor. You can then select specific rooms and set digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot focuses on what you want it to, rather than wandering into areas that you don't need to clean.

Robots are great for regular midweek cleaning however they aren't able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, especially on rugs. They are better at removing dirt from carpet than plain flooring, but can still not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds as well as strangling cords and socks. Look for a robot with spots and zones cleaning modes. This allows you to concentrate on specific areas and not waste time. You can also find a model that recharges and picks up the same place it left off, which is a huge advantage in a big house.