How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Based on the model, they may also sweep, mop and even vacuum staircases.

Find models that have clever features, such as app control and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions or monitor the progress. Some can even suspend, recharge and pick up where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves, drones that navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture, it's safe say that the future of cleaning robot mop and vacuum is here. As with all technology it is necessary to maintain it to keep it running smoothly.

The cycle of charging and discharging the battery is the most important aspect for the longevity of your robotic device. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, examining for tangled hairs regularly and preventing the brushes from becoming jammed will all help your robot run more efficiently.

The location the robot is kept can impact battery performance. Extreme cold and heat can affect the battery's performance. You can extend the battery's life by ensuring it is fully charged prior to storage, keeping it in an area that is cool, and disconnecting it from sources of power when not in use. The majority of smart devices also come with periodic firmware updates that help improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to see if there are any updates.

A robot vacuum is an excellent option for those who have lots of hard flooring. It will get rid of dirt and debris fast and efficiently and leave your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a quick clean-up, look for a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and strong suction and a range of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your floors. It makes use of cameras and LiDAR sensors to create precise maps of your home, which helps it stay on track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It also can detect objects like shoes and clutter, and then clean them up. It also self-empties, meaning you won't have to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin after every 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 deep cleans. Moreover, even the best robot cleaner robotic vacuums can become tangled up in cords and toys and snooze on piles of dirt close to the baseboards, and struggle with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. Their onboard dust bins fill up so quickly that they have to return to their charging docks in order to self-empty--a process that can take as long as half an hour for certain models.

It is crucial to select a robot vacuum with an ample dust bin which can be emptied into the dock without having to return to complete the task. You'll need to decide if you prefer a bagged model or a model that is bagless. If you decide to go with the bagless version you'll need to determine how much dust it will hold before you have to empty it.

In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand to a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to vacuum the sand off. The amount of sand that is weighed in the vacuum's dust bin onboard allows us to measure the amount dirt that has been collected. A large amount of dirt indicates that the bin onboard could be filled up faster and may force your robot to stop its cleaning process or, even worse, stop working completely.

The positive side is that many top robot vacuums come with an enormous dust bin that can easily be emptied, and you can schedule them to empty into their bases at least once a day or more. It's important to keep a bottle of compressed air handy to blow hairs out that are tangled in the rotating brush and clean any filters according to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums offer various options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This allows the robot to update its software and provides you with the option of monitoring your robot via an app or voice commands. Although not necessary this feature can be useful and a variety of customization options that will enhance the overall experience of robot vacuuming.

To ensure they're functioning at their peak they require a certain amount of maintenance. For instance emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching, and checking consumable parts will also extend the life of their components. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, states that a Robot Vacuum Best's life expectancy is between three and five years. However, it can vary based on the frequency you use it and whether you maintain it properly.

A robot vacuum has to be able to navigate obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to function. Advanced navigation systems have cliff sensors, which alert the bot of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors to help it "see" the plan of the room. Some robots also come with a specialized mopping function that can be helpful for keeping floors clean between deeper cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you don't need to switch between the robot vacuum and a manual one. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a robust, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can wash its mop pad, and clean up surfaces with its water tank. Its top-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance abilities have earned it the CR's top robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot cleaner robot vacuums that we test have excellent pickup scores on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They get rid of dust, dirt and pet hair. They also remove debris and crumbs from the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. They aren't able to remove dirt that is deep-seated or tangles of plush shag fibers like an upright or a canister. They aren't able to pick up spilled liquids and food, or large screws made of metal. They might also overlook certain areas (including under furniture).

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

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, but you still need to clear out cords, toys, and pet messes before running the robot. Before you map out the room, you'll want to cover all floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The lasers used by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to hit a wall or a floor.

Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This helps the robot to remember obstacles and plan an efficient route around them. Some allow you to set no-go zones, so the robot will not be able to enter certain areas, like your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

You can create an agenda for cleaning and control the robots using an app. This allows you to clean your home while you're at work or on vacation. Certain robots also automatically empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This helps reduce dust release and is a wonderful feature for those suffering from allergies.

Certain robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and use a camera to teach them to stay clear of obstacles such as furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This is an impressive feature, and it's even offered in less expensive models. It is essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and look for fur that is tangled as it gets accumulated.

A top-quality model can also store multiple floor plans, which are useful if you live on more than one floor, and some can create 3D models of your home. You can choose certain rooms, and set up digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you want.

Robots are great for routine midweek cleaning but they're not able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, particularly on carpets. They are more adept at removing dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but can still miss piles near baseboards and thresholds, as well as tangled cords and socks. Choose a model that has spots and zones cleaning modes. This will allow you to focus on specific areas without having to spend time. There are also models that recharges and resumes the same place it left off, which is a major benefit for a house with a lot of rooms.