How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

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

Look for models that include clever features, such as remote control of apps and remote access. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some apps can even suspend and recharge, and then resume where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

With self-driving cars drones that fly through the skies, and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture, it's safe say the future of cleaning is here. As with any technology, some maintenance is required to ensure it's running smoothly.

The most important factor in the longevity of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Be sure to check for furs that have become tangled and keep the brushes from clogging.

The location that your robot is stored may influence the performance of your battery. Extreme heat and cold could affect the battery's performance. You can prolong the battery's life by ensuring it's fully charged prior to storage, storing in an area that is cool, and taking it off of sources of power when it is not in use. Additionally, most smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, such as battery optimization, so make sure to check the app for any updates that are available.

A robot vacuum is a great option for those who have lots of hard flooring. It can quickly and effectively remove loose dirt and debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. 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 variety of mopping features to offer an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It utilizes LiDAR cameras as well as sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting caught in furniture legs or power cables. It also can detect objects like clutter and shoes and clean them up automatically. It's also self-emptying, so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the trash after each 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 more thorough cleaning. Furthermore, even the top robotic vacuums can get tangled in cords and toys, miss piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs under furniture. Their onboard dust bins are so full that they must return to their charging docks in order to self-empty--a process that can take as long as half an hour for certain models.

As such, it's important to look for a robot vacuum that has a large dustbin and can empty into its dock and not return to finish the task. You'll need to determine if you prefer bagged models or a model that is bagless. If you decide to go with the bagless model you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you empty it.

In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand on a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. The amount of sand that is weighed in the bin of dust onboard allows us to determine the amount dirt that has been accumulated. A high volume of dirt suggests that the onboard bin may fill up more quickly and could cause your robot to stop its cleaning cycle or, even worse, stop working altogether.

The good news is that many premium robot vacuums feature a large dustbin which is easily empty and you can even schedule the emptying of their bases at least once a day or more. It's recommended to keep a can of compressed air handy to blow hairs out that have tangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums offer a variety of connectivity options to connect with your home's Wi-Fi network. This lets the robot update its software and provides you with the option of monitoring your robot via an app or voice commands. Although not necessary it is a useful feature and a variety of customization options that will enhance your overall robot vacuuming experience.

The majority of models require some form of regular maintenance, such as emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll, to ensure that they function at top performance. Regularly cleaning, detaching and examining consumable components will also increase their lifespan. 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 vary depending on how frequently you use it and whether you maintain it properly.

In order to operate, a robot vacuum needs to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically have sensors that detect cliffs and alert the bot to steep slopes and optical and laser sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Some robots also come with mopping functions that are specifically designed for them that can be helpful for maintaining floors in between deep cleanings using a stand-up vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means you don't have to switch between the robot vacuum and manual vacuum. One example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that is able to clean surfaces with its water tank and wash the mop pad automatically. automatic vacuum -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 vacuums in our tests have impressive pick-up scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust, and pet hair. They also sweep away crumbs and debris from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. They cannot remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of shag fibers like canisters or uprights. They aren't able to pick up spilled liquids or food items, or use large screws made of metal. They can also miss certain areas (including under furniture).

Many models have sophisticated features that make them more user-friendly. Most models have an app that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and remotely control the robot. They can be integrated into your smart home system so that you can use voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes, allowing users to choose between mopping and sweeping, or vacuuming. They can recharge their docks and continue cleaning the area they left off.

best budget robot vacuum cleaner -avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, but you must still clear out any cords, toys and pet messes prior to running the robot. You should also cover any mirrors that are floor-to-ceiling with cardboard before tracing the space for the first time, because the laser used by certain models may bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to crash into the floor or wall.

Some premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, with some making use of lidar to create a 3D map of your surroundings. This helps the robot remember obstacles and determine the most efficient route to avoid them. Some allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot can avoid specific areas like your pet's food bowls or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

You can create a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots using an app. This allows you to tidy your home even when you're at work or on vacation. Certain robots also have the ability to self-empty into a larger container in their base which can reduce dust re-release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and use a camera to coach them to avoid obstacles like furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This is a remarkable feature, and it's even available in cheaper models. However, it's essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and look for hairs that are tangled as they accumulate.

Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is helpful when you have more than one floor. You can then pick specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot stays focused on what you want it to focus on, rather than wandering into areas you don't need cleaning.

Robots are good for midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner especially when it comes to rugs. They are better in removing dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but they can miss piles near baseboards and thresholds, as well as strangling cords and socks. Find a robot that has zones and spot cleaning modes. This will allow you to concentrate on certain areas without wasting time. You can also find a model that recharges and resumes the same place it left off, which is a huge benefit in a large house.