How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

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

Find models that have smart features such as remote control of apps and remote access. You can use apps to schedule cleaning sessions or monitor progress. Some even allow you to pause, recharge and resume where they stopped.

1. Battery Life

It's safe to say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive independently drones that flutter through the air and robot vacuums that can move around furniture in a snap It's certain that the future is now upon us. However, like all technology it needs some care to keep it running efficiently.

The most important aspect in the long-term performance of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Keep the dustbin 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 because extreme heat and cold can impact the battery's performance. You can extend the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and storing it in a cool area. Also, disconnect it from the power source when not using it. Additionally, most smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that improve performance, such as battery optimization. So make sure to check the app for any available updates.


A robot vacuum is a great option for those who have lots of hard flooring. It can take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. But if you're looking for more than just a quick cleaning, you'll need to consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacle 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 utilizes LiDAR sensors and cameras to create detailed maps of your home, which helps it stay on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It also can detect objects such as clutter and shoes, and clean them up automatically. And it's self-emptying, meaning you won't have to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are good for quick midweek cleaning but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. Even the top robotic vacuums are prone to getting tangled in cords and toys. They can also ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of baseboards and struggle to remove crumbs from under furniture. Their onboard dust bins fill up so quickly that they need to return to their charging docks to self-empty--a process that can take up to an hour for certain models.

As such, it's important to select a vacuum with a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock and not return to complete the job. You'll need to determine if you prefer bagged models or a bagless one. If Robot Vacuum Mops opt for the bagless option you'll need to determine the amount of dust it can hold before you can empty it.

In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand to a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. Weighing the amount of sand in the dust bin onboard allows us to measure the amount of dirt that has been accumulated. A large amount suggests that the bin onboard may be filled faster and force the robot to stop cleaning.

It's important to know that most robot vacuums come with an enormous dust bin that can be easily emptied. It is also possible to schedule them to empty their bases at least one or two times per day. Keep a can of compressed air nearby to blow away hairs that have gotten caught in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuums have a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This allows the robot to update its software and gives you the possibility of monitoring your robot via an app or voice commands. This feature is not essential but it does provide convenience and options for customization that can improve the overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they are functioning at their peak, most models require some level of maintenance. For instance emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. Keeping tabs on consumable parts and following a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will extend their lifespan as well. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's lifespan is typically between three and five years. However, it can vary based on the frequency you use it and if you take care to maintain it.

A robot vacuum must be able navigate obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to work. Advanced navigation systems usually include cliff sensors that alert the robot to a steep drop and optical and laser sensors that help it "see" the layout of a room. Some robots also have mopping functions that are specifically designed for them which is useful for maintaining floors in between deeper cleanings with an upright vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums can also mop. This means that you won't need to switch between a robot vacuum and a manual one. One of the best examples is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that can wipe down surfaces with its water tank and wash the mop pad in a way that is automatic. Its superior 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 best robot vacuums 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 take out particles and crumbs along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. But they can't eliminate deep down dirt or tangles of soft shag carpets as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They also aren't able to remove 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 come with clever features that make them more user friendly. Most models have an application that lets you schedule cleaning sessions, and control the robot remotely. They can also integrate with your smart home system, so you can use them with voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes that let you pick between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved over the years, but it's still important to take away cords, toys and any pet mess before you run the robot. You should also cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard before mapping out the space for the first time since the lasers used by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to hit the floor or wall.

Some of the top models utilize lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This allows the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient route around them. Some also allow you to set no-go zones, so the robot can avoid specific areas, such as your pet's food bowls, or an expensive rug.

5. App Control

You can set up a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots with an app. This allows you to clean your home while you are at work or on vacation. Some robots are also able to self-empty to a larger bin at their base, which reduces dust release and is a great feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots are able to detect objects on the ground and employ cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is a remarkable feature and is even offered in less expensive models. However, it's essential to clean your robot's trash bin and check for tangled hairs when they begin to accumulate.

Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is beneficial in the event that you have multiple floors. You can choose specific rooms, and set digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are good for midweek cleaning, but they cannot replace a plug-in vacuum especially when it is a rug. They are better at removing dirt embedded in carpet than floors that are unfinished, but they're not able to spot piles of debris that are close to thresholds and baseboards as well as cords and socks that have become tangled. Look for a robot with spot and zone cleaning modes. This will allow you to concentrate on certain areas without wasting time. You can also find models that charge and resume the same place they left off. This is great for large houses.