How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

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

Look for models that include smart features such as app control and remote access. You can use apps to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some apps allow you to pause and recharge, then pick up where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves drones that can navigate the skies and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture, it's safe say the future of cleaning is now here. However, like all technology, it requires some maintenance to ensure it's running efficiently.

The battery's charge-discharge cycles are the most crucial factor in the life of your robot. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Check for tangled furs and prevent the brushes from clogging.

The environment in which your robot is stored may impact the battery's performance. Extreme cold and heat can affect battery performance. You can prolong the life of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and then storing it in a cool location. Also, take it away from the power source when using it. Many smart devices also feature periodic firmware updates that can optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to check if there are any updates.

For those who have many hard floors, a robot automatic vacuum and mop is a good choice. It can quickly and effectively take away dirt and other debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than just a quick cleaning, you should search for a model with superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and strong suction and a range of mopping functions to deliver an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It makes use of 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 like shoes and clutter, and clean them up automatically. It also self-empties so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the bin after every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are ideal for quick midweek cleaning but they aren't able to replace a plug in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. Even the best robotic vacuums can be prone to becoming entangled in cords and toys. They also can ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate dust from under furniture. Their dustbins onboard fill up quickly, and they have to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This could take as long as 30 minutes for some models.

It is essential to select an automated vacuum cleaner with an ample dust bin that can be empty into the dock without having to return to complete the task. You should also consider whether you'd like bagged or unbagged models, and if you do opt for a bagless version, how much dust will it hold before it has to be emptied.

In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand on a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. We then weigh the amount of sand that we find in the vacuum's dust bin to determine the amount of dirt it has collected. A high amount means that the bin onboard could be filled faster and cause your robot to stop cleaning.

It's good to know that many robot vacuums come with large dust bins that is easily emptyable. It is also possible to schedule the cleaning of their bases at least one or two times per day. It is important to keep a can of compressed air handy to blow out hairs that are tangled in the rotating brush. You can also clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuums provide various connectivity options to connect with your home's Wi-Fi network. This enables the robot to download and install updates for its software, and gives you the option to monitor your robot using an app or through voice-activated commands. Although not required it is a useful feature and a variety of customization options that will improve the overall experience for robot vacuuming.

To keep them functioning at their peak they require a certain amount of maintenance. For example, emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Regularly cleaning, detaching and examining consumable parts can also prolong their lifespan. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's life expectancy is between three and five years. However, it can differ based on how often 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 incorporate cliff sensors, which alert the robot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors to help it "see" the layout of rooms. Some robots have mopping functions that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings with the use of a vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means you don't need to switch between the robot vacuum with mop vacuum and manual vacuum. A prime example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that can also clean surfaces with its water tank and wash the mop pad in a way that is automatic hoover. Its mapping and obstacle avoidance skills were so good that it was awarded CR's best robot hoover Robot automatic vacuum and mop Award, as well an AVTech Editors' Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot vacuums that we tested have impressive pickup scores on hard floors as well as low pile carpets. They get rid of dust, dirt and pet hair. They also clean up particles and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. However, they are unable to get rid of deep down dirt or tangles that are a part of plush shag carpet fibers and also an upright or canister vacuum. They can't pick-up spilled liquids and food, or heavy metal screws. They may also leave out certain areas (including under furniture).

Many models come with clever features that make them more user-friendly. Many models include an application that lets you schedule cleaning sessions and remotely control the robot. 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, which allow users to choose between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can recharge at their docks and continue cleaning where they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved over the years, but it's still important to take away cords, toys and pet clutter before operating the robot. Before you map out the space, it is recommended to cover all ceiling-to-floor mirrors with cardboard. The lasers used by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to crash against the wall or floor.

Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This helps the robot to recognize obstacles and devise an efficient path around them. Some allow you to define no-go zones, so the robot will not be able to enter certain areas like your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.

5. App Control

Many robots let you set a schedule for cleaning and manage their movements hands-free with an app, so you can clean your home while you're working or away. Certain robots also have the ability to self-empty into a larger container in their base which helps reduce dust re-release and is an excellent feature for people suffering from allergies.

Certain robots, like the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This feature is also available on smaller models. It's crucial to clean the dustbin of your robot and look for tangled hairs as they build up.

A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor maps, which is helpful if you live on more than one level, and some can create 3D representations of your home. You can choose certain rooms, and set digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are good for midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to substitute a vacuum cleaner with a plug-in especially when it concerns rugs. They're better at removing dirt embedded in carpets than floors that are unfinished, but they're not able to spot piles of debris close to thresholds and baseboards and cords and socks that are tangled. To get the most out of your robot, look for models with spots and zone cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. You can also find models that charge and resume the same place they left off. This is ideal for large houses.