How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

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

Find models with advanced features, such as remote access and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of progress. Some apps allow you to stop, recharge and then pick up where they stopped.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves, drones that navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that nimbly maneuver around furniture, it's safe say that the future of cleaning is now here. As with all technology there is a need for some maintenance to ensure it's running smoothly.

The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most crucial factor in the life of your robot. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, examining for hairs that have become tangled frequently and preventing the brushes from becoming blocked will make your robot run more effectively.

Another aspect to consider is the environment in which your robot is stored, because extreme heat and cold can impact battery performance. You can extend the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and then storing it in a cool location. Also, take it away from the power source when not using it. In addition, the majority of smart devices receive periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization, so make sure to check the app for any available updates.

For those with a lot of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a great option. It is able to remove dirt and debris quickly and efficiently and leave your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than just a quick cleanup, you'll want to choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.

Our top-rated robot, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation with a powerful suction and a wide range of mopping functions to deliver a thorough, deep clean of your hard floors. It utilizes LiDAR cameras as well as sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it keep its course and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It also can detect objects like clutter and shoes and clean around them automatically. It's also self-emptying, so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the bin after every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are good for quick midweek cleaning, but lack the suction to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Furthermore, even the top robotic vacuums can become tangled in cords and toys and snooze on piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, and struggle with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled quickly, and they have to go back to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take up to 30 minutes for some models.

It's therefore important to look for a robot vacuum that has a big dustbin and can empty into its dock without having to return to finish the job. You'll need to decide if you prefer bags or a model that is bagless. If you decide to go with the bagless version you'll need to know the amount of dust it can hold before you can empty it.

In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand to the carpet's surface in a medium pile. We utilized a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. We then weigh the amount of sand that we find in the onboard dust bin to determine the amount of dirt it has collected. A large amount of dirt indicates that the onboard bin may get fuller faster and could cause the robot to stop the cleaning process, or worse, stop working completely.

It's important to know that a lot of robot vacuums come with a large dustbin, which is easily emptyable. You can also set up the cleaning of their bases at least two times a day. Keep a can with compressed air on hand to blow out any hairs that are tangled up in the rotating brush and to clean the filters in accordance to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

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

The majority of models require some form of regular maintenance, such as emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll to ensure that they function at peak efficiency. Regularly cleaning, detaching and examining 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 for the robot vacuum, but this can vary significantly depending on how often you use it and whether you take care to maintain it properly.

To be able to function, a robot vacuum needs to be able to map out your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems have sensors for cliffs, which warn the robot to steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors to help it "see" the layout of the room. Certain robots have mopping capabilities that can be used to keep floors between deep cleanings using vacuums.

The most effective 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you won't need to switch between the robot vacuum and an manual one. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can wash its mop pad, and clean up surfaces with its water tank. Its mapping and obstacle avoidance skills were so good that it won CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, as well an AVTech Editors Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns


The best robot vacuums in our tests have impressive pickup scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also remove crumbs and debris along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. But they can't remove deep-down dirt or tangles in plush shag carpet fibers and also an upright or canister vacuum. They are also unable to pick up spilled food and liquids or screws made of heavy metal, and they may be unable to reach certain areas of the house (including under furniture).

Many models come with clever features that make them more user friendly. They usually come with an app, that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart-home system to allow voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have different modes that let you select between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can also recharge at their docks and continue cleaning the area they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved over years, but it's still important to take away cords, toys and any pet clutter before operating the robot. You should also cover any mirrors that are floor-to-ceiling with cardboard before tracing the room for the first time, because the laser employed by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to hit the floor or wall.

The most expensive models come with advanced mapping capabilities, with some using lidar to create a 3D map of your space. This helps the robot recognize obstacles and devise an efficient route around them. Some allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

You can set up a cleaning schedule and control the robots through an app. This allows you to take care of your home while you're working or on vacation. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger bin at their base which helps reduce dust release and is a great option for those suffering from allergies.

Highly recommended Webpage , such as the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot 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 amazing feature is also available on less expensive models. It is essential to regularly empty the dust bin of your robot, and that you look for fur that is tangled as it builds up.

A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor maps, which is helpful if you live on multiple levels, and some can create 3D representations of your home. You can then choose specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot is focused on what you want it to do, rather than wandering into areas that don't require cleaning.

Robots are great for midweek clean-ups but they're not able to replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, particularly on carpets. They are better at removing dirt embedded in carpet than plain floors, however they're still unable to pick up piles of debris close to thresholds and baseboards, as well as tangled socks and cords. To make the most of your robot, search for models that have spots and zone cleaning options to target specific areas and reduce the need for cleaning. You can also find models that charge and then resume the same place they have left off. This is ideal for large houses.