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 with intelligent features, like remote access and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions or monitor progress. Some apps can even suspend and recharge, and then return to 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 claim that the future of home cleaning is now here. However, as with all technologies it requires some upkeep to ensure it's running efficiently.

The cycle of charging and discharging the battery is the most important factor for the longevity of your robotic device. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, examining for tangled hairs regularly and keeping the brushes from getting jammed will all aid in running your robot more effectively.

Another factor is the environment in which your robot is kept, as extreme cold and heat can affect the battery's performance. You can prolong the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and storing it in a cool location. Also, disconnect it from the power source when it is not using it. Additionally, most smart devices receive periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization, so make sure to check your app for any available updates.

For those who have lots of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a great option. It will get rid of dirt and debris fast and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a simple cleaning, you'll need to choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top-rated robot. It is a combination of advanced navigation, powerful suction and a range of mopping options to offer an efficient, thorough clean of your flooring. It uses LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This allows it to keep its course and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also detect objects like clutter and shoes to automatically clean them. It's also self-emptying, which means you won't have to return the vacuum back to its base station to empty its bin 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 a thorough clean. Furthermore, even the top robot vacuums can be caught with toys and cords and snooze on piles of dirt close to the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs under furniture. Their dust bins onboard fill up quickly, and they have to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for some models.

It is crucial to select the right robot vacuum that has a large dustbin which can be emptied into the dock without needing to return to complete the job. You should also consider whether you'd prefer bags or a bagless model If you decide to choose a bagless option, how much dust will it hold before it has to be empty.

In our tests we apply 100 grams of sand onto the carpet in a medium pile and use a robot vacuum to vacuum it over the surface. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the vacuum's dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has collected. A high amount means that the bin onboard could be filled faster and force the robot to stop cleaning.

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 them to empty their bases at least one or two times a day. It is also a good idea to keep a container of compressed air handy to blow out hairs that have become entangled in the rotating brush and clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuum best vacuums offer various options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This allows the robot to update its software and provides you with the option of monitoring your robot Vacuum best through an app or using voice commands. This feature isn't essential, however it provides the convenience of customization and can improve the overall robot vacuuming experience.

The majority of models require some form of routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll, to ensure they are operating at their peak performance. Keeping tabs on consumable parts and a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment will extend their life span too. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University automatic vacuum cleaner and mop & Sewing states that three to five years is the average lifespan of the robot vacuum, but it can differ significantly based on the frequency you use it and whether you maintain it in a proper manner.

A robot vacuum has to be able to navigate around obstacles and map your floor to be able to perform. Advanced navigation systems have cliff sensors that alert the bot of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors that allow it to "see" the plan of a room. Some robots also come with mopping functions that are specifically designed for them that can be helpful for keeping floors clean between deeper cleanings with the use of a stand-up vacuum.

The most effective 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum, allowing you to avoid the hassle of having to switch between a robot and a manual vacuum. 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 top-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities made it the best automatic vacuum robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The Best robot vacuum cleaner UK robot vacuums in our tests have outstanding pick-up scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets, removing dirt, dust, and pet hair. They also remove dust and crumbs 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 liquids and food, or heavy screws, and they may miss a few areas of the home (including under furniture).

Many models are equipped with intelligent features that make them more user-friendly. They typically have an app that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart-home system so that you can make voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have different modes that let you choose between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can also recharge at their docks and continue cleaning where they left off.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, however it is still necessary to clean out toys, cords, and pet messes prior to operating the robot. You'll also want to cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors 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 of the top models utilize lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This helps the robot recognize obstacles and plan the most efficient path around them. Some robots allow you to create no-go zones to ensure that the robot will avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

You can set up a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots through an app. This allows you to tidy your home even when you're at work or on vacation. Some robots will also empty their dust into a large bin at the base. This reduces dust release and is an excellent feature for those suffering from allergies.

Certain robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to stay clear of obstacles such as furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This is an impressive feature that is available in less expensive models. It's important that you regularly empty the robot's dustbin and examine it for fur that has become tangled as it builds up.

A high-end model can also store multiple floor plans, which are beneficial if you live in more than one level Some models also create 3D models of your house. You can then select specific rooms and set digital zones for keeping out to ensure that your robot focuses on what you want it to focus on, rather than wandering into areas you don't need cleaning.

Robots are great for routine midweek clean-ups, but they can't replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, particularly on carpets. They're better at picking up dirt embedded in carpets than bare floors, but they're not able to spot piles of debris that are close to baseboards and thresholds, and cords and socks that have become tangled. To make the most of your robot, look for models that have spots and zone cleaning options to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. You can also find models that can charge and resume the same place they stopped. This is ideal for houses with large spaces.