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.

Find models that have innovative features like app control and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of progress. Some can even pause, recharge and return to where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves drones that fly through the skies and robot vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe claim that the future of home cleaning is now here. As with any technology it is necessary to maintain it to ensure it's running smoothly.

The most crucial factor in the life of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, checking for hairs that are tangled regularly, and keeping the brushes from getting jammed will all aid in running your robot more efficiently.

The environment that your robot is stored can also influence the performance of your battery. Extreme temperatures and cold may impact the battery's performance. You can prolong the life of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and storing it in a cool place. Also, disconnect it from the power source when not being used. The majority of smart devices also come with periodic firmware updates that can improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to check if there are any updates.

If you have many hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a great option. It's able to swiftly and efficiently get rid of dirt and other debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than just a quick clean-up, you should look for a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot Vacuum best, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation, a powerful suction and a variety of mopping functions to deliver an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It utilizes cameras and LiDAR sensors to create precise maps of your home. This assists it in staying on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It also can detect objects like shoes and clutter, and clean them up automatically. And it's self-emptying, meaning you don't need to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin after each cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups however, they lack the suction power to substitute for the power of a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. In addition, even the most powerful robotic vacuums can become tangled in cords and toys and snooze on piles of dirt close to the baseboards, and struggle with crumbs under furniture. The dust bins on their own get so full that they have to return to their charging docks to self-empty, which can take up to half an hour for some models.

Therefore, it's crucial to look for a robot vacuum that has a big dustbin that can be empty into its dock without returning to finish the job. You'll need to determine if you prefer bagged models or a bagless one. If you decide to go with the bagless version you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you can empty it.

In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand on the carpet in a medium pile and use a robot vacuum cleaner reviews vacuum to sweep it across the carpet. Weighing the amount of sand in the vacuum's dust bin onboard allows us to determine the amount dirt that has been collected. A large amount suggests that the bin could get fuller and cause your robot to stop cleaning.

It's important to know that many robot vacuums come with large dust bins that is easily emptyable. You can also schedule them to empty their bases at least one or two times per day. It's recommended to keep a container of compressed air in your bag to blow hairs out that have tangled in the rotating brush. You can also clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums come with many options to connect to your home's WiFi. This lets the robot update its software and gives you the possibility of monitoring your robot via an app or voice commands. This feature isn't essential, however it provides convenience and customization options that can improve the overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they are operating at their best the majority of models require a certain level of maintenance. For example emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Monitoring consumable parts and following a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment will extend their life span as well. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, states that a robot's life is typically between three and five years. However, this could differ based on how often you use it and if you maintain it properly.

A robot vacuum must be able navigate obstacles and map your floor in order to function. Advanced navigation systems typically include sensors that detect cliffs and alert the bot to a steep drop and laser and optical sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Some robots come with mopping functions that can be used to keep floors between deep cleanings by using vacuums.

The most efficient 2-in-1 robots vacuum and mop and sweep, which means you can bypass the need to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. One example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that is able to clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash the mop pad in a way that is automatic. Its top-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance abilities earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors' Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums we tested have impressive pickup scores on hard floors and carpets with low pile. They get rid of dust, dirt and pet hair. They also take out crumbs and debris along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. However, they cannot eliminate deep down dirt or tangles of plush shag carpet fibers and also canister or upright vacuums. They also can't pick up spilled liquids and food, or heavy screws, and they may miss a few areas of the house (including under furniture).

Many models are equipped with smart features which make them more user friendly. Many models come with an app that lets you schedule cleaning sessions, and also control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart-home system to allow voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes that let you pick between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and continue cleaning where they left off.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, but you still need to clear out cords, toys, and pet messes before operating the robot. You'll also want to cover any mirrors from floor to ceiling with cardboard before tracing the room for the first time, as the laser employed by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to hit walls or floors.

The most expensive models come with advanced mapping capabilities, with some using lidar to create a 3D map of your surroundings. This helps the robot remember obstacles and determine the most efficient route around them. Certain robots let you designate no-go zones so that the robot will avoid certain areas, for example, your pet's bowls of food or an expensive rug.

5. App Control

Many robots allow you to create a schedule to clean and operate them hands-free using an app, which means you can keep your home clean when you're at work or away. Some robots will also empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This helps reduce dust release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots, like the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and use a camera to coach them to stay clear of obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is an impressive capability, and it's even available in less expensive models. It's important that you regularly empty the dustbin of your robot vacuums best, and that you check for tangled fur as it accumulates.

A high-end model can also store multiple floor plans, which are useful if you live on more than one level and some models can even create 3D models of your house. You can then select specific rooms and set digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot stays focused on what you want it to, rather than wandering into areas you don't need cleaning.

Robots are great for regular midweek cleaning, but they can't substitute for a full-sized plug-in vacuum, especially on carpets. They are better at removing dirt embedded in carpet than floors that are unfinished, but they're still unable to pick up piles of debris close to baseboards and thresholds, as well as tangled socks and cords. Choose a model that has zones and spot cleaning modes. This will allow you to concentrate on certain areas and not waste time. There are also models that charge and then resume the same place they stopped. This is ideal for homes with large rooms.