How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending on the model, they may also sweep, mop and even vacuum staircases.
Find models that have smart features such as app control and remote access. You can use apps to schedule cleaning sessions or monitor the progress. Some even 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 flutter through the air and robot vacuums that can move around furniture with ease, it is certain that the future is here. But as with any technology it requires some upkeep to keep it working smoothly.
The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most important aspect for the life of your robot. Keep the dustbin full and empty. Check for tangled furs and stop the brushes from jamming.
Another aspect to consider is the climate in which your robot is kept, because extreme heat and cold can impact battery performance. You can extend the life of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and then storing it in a cool location. Also, disconnect it from the power source when not using it. In addition, the majority of smart devices have periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization, so make sure to check the app for any updates that are available.
A robot vacuum is an excellent option for those who have a lot of hard flooring. It is able to remove dirt and debris quickly and efficiently, leaving your floors sparkling. If you want more than a quick clean-up, you should look for a model with superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.
Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and strong suction and a range of mopping features to offer an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It utilizes cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home, which allows it to stay on the right track and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also identify items like clutter and shoes and then clean them up. And it's self-emptying, meaning you don't need to return the vacuum back to its base station to empty its bin after every 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 in cords and toys and snooze on piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. The dust bins on their own get so full that they need to return to their charging docks in order to empty themselves, which can take up to an hour for some models.
It's therefore important to look for a
Robot Vacuum Best vacuum that has a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock without having to return to finish the task. You'll need to determine if you prefer bags or a model that is bagless. If you decide to go with the bagless version you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you empty it.
In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand onto a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to vacuum the sand off. We then weigh the amount of sand that we find in the onboard dust bin to determine the amount of dirt it has collected. A high volume of dirt indicates that the onboard bin may fill up more quickly and may force the robot to stop its cleaning cycle or even stop working completely.
It's important to know that a lot of 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 two times per day. Keep a bin filled with compressed air on hand to blow out any hairs that are tangled up in the rotating brush, and to clean the filters in accordance to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The best robot vacuums offer various connectivity options to connect with your home's Wi-Fi. This lets the
robot vacuum and mop update its software and gives you the option of monitoring your bot through an app or using voice commands. Although not required, this feature offers convenience and personalization features that improve the overall experience of robot vacuuming.
The majority of models require some form of routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll, to ensure that they function at their peak performance. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching and checking consumable components will also increase their lifespan. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's life is typically between three and five years. However, this can vary depending on how frequently you use it and whether you maintain it properly.
A robot vacuum has to be able to navigate around obstacles and map your floor in order to function. Advanced navigation systems include cliff sensors, which alert the bot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that help "see" the plan of a room. Certain robots also have mopping functions that are specifically designed for them that can be helpful to keep floors clean between deep cleanings using the use of a stand-up vacuum.
The
best rated robot vacuum 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you don't have to switch between a robot vacuum and a manual one. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient
auto vacuum and mop cleaner that can also clean its mop pad and clean up surfaces with its water tank. Its high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities made it the best robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors Choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums in our tests have outstanding performance on carpets with low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust, and pet hair. They also take out debris and crumbs from the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. However, they cannot eliminate deep down dirt or tangles that are a part of the carpet's shag carpet as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They are also unable to pick up spilled food and liquids or heavy screws and may also leave a few spots in the house (including under furniture).
Many models come with intelligent features that make them more user-friendly. Many models have an app that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can also integrate with your smart-home system so you can use them with voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have different modes that allow you to choose between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and pick up the area they left.
The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, however you must still clear out toys, cords, and pet messes prior running the robot. It is also recommended to cover any mirrors that are floor-to-ceiling with cardboard prior to tracing out the room for the first time, as the laser employed by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to bump into a wall or floor.
Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This allows the robot to recognize obstacles and devise an efficient path around them. Some robots allow you to designate no-go zones so that the robot will avoid certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls or a costly rug.
5. App Control
You can create an agenda for cleaning and control the robots with an app. This allows you to take care of your home while you are at work or on vacation. Some robots will also empty their dust into a large bin at the base. This can reduce dust rerelease and is a great feature for allergy sufferers.
Certain robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and use a camera to teach them to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is an impressive capability, and it's even available in less expensive models. It's crucial to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and look for tangled hairs when they begin to accumulate.
Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is useful in the event that you have more than one floor. You can pick specific rooms and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot only is cleaning the areas you want.
Robots are great for midweek cleaning, but they can't replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner especially when it is a rug. They are more adept in removing dirt from carpet than bare flooring, but they will miss piles near baseboards and thresholds, as well as knotted cords and socks. To get the most out of your robot, look for models that have spots and zone cleaning modes to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. There are also models that charge and resume the same place they have left off. This is ideal for homes with large rooms.