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.

Look for models that have intelligent features, like remote access and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend, recharge and pick up where they left off.

1. Battery Life

It's safe to say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive on their own, drones that fly through the air and robot vacuums that can move through furniture effortlessly It's possible to say that the future is now upon us. Like all technologies there is a need for some maintenance to keep it running smoothly.

The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most important aspect for 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 help your robot run more effectively.

The location the robot is stored may impact the battery's performance. Extreme temperatures and cold may impact battery performance. You can extend the life of your battery by ensuring it's charged to 50% prior to storage, storing it in an environment that is cool and removing it from sources of power when not in use. Furthermore, many smart devices have periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, such as battery optimization, so make sure to check the app for updates.

If you have many hard floors, a robot vacuum is an excellent option. It's able to swiftly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris and leave 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 obstacles avoidance.

The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top-rated robot. It combines advanced navigation, powerful suction, and a variety of mopping features to provide a deep, thorough clean of your flooring. It makes use of LiDAR sensors and cameras to create detailed maps of your home, which assists it in staying on track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect objects such as shoes and clutter to automatically clean around them. It also self-empties so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the bin after each cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups, but they don't have the suction capacity to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner when it comes to deep cleans. Moreover, even the best robotic vacuums can get tangled up in cords and toys, miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. Their dustbins onboard fill up so fast that they have return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take up to 30 minutes for some models.

It's therefore important to choose a vacuum that has a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock without returning to finish the job. It is also important to think about whether you'd prefer bags or a bagless model, and if you do choose a bagless model what amount of dust will it hold before it has to be emptied.

In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand onto a medium-pile carpet surface and utilized a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the vacuum's dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has accumulated. A high volume of dirt suggests that the bin could be filled up faster and could force the robot to stop its cleaning cycle, or worse, stop working completely.

The good news is that a lot of premium robot vacuums feature a large dust bin that can easily be emptied, and you can schedule them to empty their bases at least once per day or more. It's important to keep a container of compressed air on hand to blow out hairs that are tangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuums offer various options for connecting to your home's WiFi. best robot vacuum cleaner lets the robot download and install updates for its software, and also allows you to monitor your robot via an app or via voice-activated commands. This feature is not essential however it provides convenience and customization options that can improve the overall robot vacuuming experience.

Most models require a certain amount of regular maintenance, like emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll, to ensure they are operating at peak efficiency. Monitoring consumable parts and following a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will increase their life span too. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing states that three to five years is the typical life expectancy of a robot vacuum. However, this can vary significantly depending on how often you use it and if you take care of it in a proper manner.

To function the robot vacuum, it needs to be able to map 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 plan of the room. Certain robots have a mopping function that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings by using vacuums.

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

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums in our tests have excellent pick-up scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also clean up crumbs and debris from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. They can't remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of shag fibers, like an upright or canister. They also can't pick up spilled food and liquids or heavy screws, and they may leave a few spots in the home (including under furniture).

best robot vacuum cleaner have clever features that make them more user friendly. They typically come with an app, that allows you to plan cleaning times and operate the robot remotely. They can also be integrated with your smart home system, which means you can control them via voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes, allowing you to choose between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can recharge their docks and keep cleaning where they left off.

The technology to avoid obstacles has improved over years, but it is still essential to get rid of cords, toys, and pet clutter before operating the robot. Before you can map out your space, it is recommended to cover all floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The laser used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to crash against a wall or a floor.

Some premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some using lidar to create a 3D map of your surroundings. This helps the robot recognize obstacles and plan the most efficient route to avoid them. Certain robots let you designate no-go zones so that the robot will avoid certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.

5. App Control


You can create a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots using an app. This lets you tidy your home even when you're at work or away on vacation. Certain robots also have the ability to self-empty to a larger bin at the base of their machine, which reduces dust re-release and is a wonderful feature for people suffering from allergies.

Some robots, such as 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 power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This feature is also available on smaller models. It's essential to regularly empty the dust bin of your robot and check for tangled fur as it builds up.

A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor maps, which can be useful if you live on more than one floor and some models can even create 3D models of your home. You can then select specific rooms and set up digital zones for keeping out to ensure that your robot is focused on what you want it to focus on, instead of wandering around in areas that you don't need to clean.

Robots are great for routine midweek clean-ups, but they can't substitute for a full-sized plug-in vacuum, particularly for carpets. They are better at picking up dirt from carpet than bare flooring, but they can miss piles near baseboards and thresholds, as well as knotted cords and socks. To get the most value from your robot, search for models with zone and spot cleaning modes to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. There are also models that charge and resume where they left off. This is ideal for homes with large rooms.