How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

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

Find models that have clever features, such as remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and track progress. Some can even pause, recharge and pick up where they stopped.

1. Battery Life

It's safe say that the future of cleaning is here. With cars that drive by themselves, drones that fly through the air, and robot vacuums that move through furniture effortlessly It is possible to say that the future is now here. As with all technology, some maintenance is required to ensure it's running smoothly.

The most important aspect in the longevity of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that are tangled regularly and keeping the brushes from getting jammed will all help your robot run more efficiently.

Another aspect is the environmental conditions where your robot is kept, as extreme temperatures and cold can impact battery performance. You can extend the battery's life by ensuring that it is fully charged prior to storage, storing it in a cool place, and disconnecting it from sources of power when not in use. Additionally, most smart devices receive periodic firmware updates that optimize performance, including battery optimization, so make sure to check your app for updates.

For those with lots of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a great option. It is able to quickly and efficiently get rid of dirt and other debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than a quick clean-up, look for a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot cleaner, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and strong suction and a wide range of mopping functions to provide a thorough, deep clean of your floors. It makes use of cameras and LiDAR sensors 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 identify objects like clutter and shoes, and then automatically clean around them. And it's self-emptying, meaning that you don't have to return the vacuum back to its base station to empty its bin after every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups however they don't have the suction power to substitute for a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. In addition, even the most powerful robot vacuums can be caught in cords and toys and snooze on piles of dirt near the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs on furniture. Their dust bins onboard fill up so fast that they have to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This could take as long as 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 returning to finish the task. You should also consider whether you'd prefer bagged or unbagged models, and if you do choose a bagless model, how much dust will be able to hold before needing to be empty.

In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand to carpet with a medium pile and used a robot vacuum to remove the sand. The amount of sand that is weighed in the bin of dust onboard lets us determine the amount dirt that has been collected. A high amount of dirt indicates that the onboard bin may get fuller faster and could cause your robot to pause its cleaning cycle, or worse, stop working completely.

It's good to know that most robot vacuums come with an enormous dust bin that is easily emptyable. It is also possible to schedule the cleaning of their bases at least one or two times a day. It's recommended to keep a container of compressed air on hand to blow out hairs that have become entangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters as recommended by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums have various options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This allows the robot to update its software and gives you the option of monitoring your bot through an app or using voice commands. This feature is not essential but it does provide the convenience of customization and can improve the overall robot vacuum best vacuuming experience.

Most models require some level of regular maintenance, such as emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll to ensure they are operating at their peak performance. Regularly cleaning, detaching and checking consumable parts will also extend their life. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the average lifespan of a robot vacuum with mop vacuum, though this can differ greatly based on the frequency you use it and whether you take care to maintain it in a proper manner.

A robot vacuum has to be able navigate obstacles and map your floor in order to function. Advanced navigation systems include cliff sensors that alert the robot to steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors that allow it to "see" the plan of rooms. Certain robots also have mopping functions that are specifically designed for them that can be helpful for maintaining floors in between deeper cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.

The most effective 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum, allowing you to bypass the need to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. A prime example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that can also clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash its mop pad in a way that is automatic. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors' Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums we tested in our tests have excellent pick-up scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets cleaning dust, dirt and pet hair. They also sweep away crumbs and debris from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. But they can't remove deep-down dirt or tangles of plush shag carpet fibers as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They cannot pick up spilled liquids and food items, or heavy metal screws. They may also miss certain areas (including under furniture).

Many models come with clever features that make them more user-friendly. Many models have an application that lets you schedule cleaning sessions and remotely control the robot. They can be integrated into your smart home system, so that you can make voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes that let you select between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, but you still need to clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before running the robot. Before mapping 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 the wall or floor.

More 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 plan the most efficient route to avoid them. Some also allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot vacuums best can avoid specific areas like your pet's food bowls or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

Many robots let you set a schedule for cleaning and manage their movements hands-free with an app, meaning you can clean your home while you're working or away. Some robots are also able to self-empty to a larger bin in their base, which reduces dust release and is an excellent option for those suffering from allergies.

Some robots can spot objects on the ground and use cameras as a way to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is an impressive capability and is even available in less expensive models. It's essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and also look for fur that is tangled as it gets accumulated.

A high-end model can also store multiple floor maps, which can be beneficial if you live in multiple levels, and some can create 3D representations of your home. You can pick specific rooms, and set up digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are great for routine midweek clean-ups however they aren't able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, especially on carpets. They are better at picking up dirt from carpet than plain flooring, but can still be unable to find piles near baseboards or thresholds, as well as knotted cords and socks. To get the most value from your robot, choose models that have spots and zone cleaning modes to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. There are also models that charge and then resume the same place they have left off. This is great for large houses.