Jade Ketner

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 stairs.

Look for models with intelligent features, like remote access and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and track the progress. Some apps can even suspend and recharge, and then pick up where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With self-driving cars, drones that navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe to claim that the future of home cleaning is now here. As with all technology it is necessary to maintain it to keep it running smoothly.

The battery's charge-discharge cycles are the most important factor for the longevity of your robotic device. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, checking for hairs that have become tangled frequently, and making sure that the brushes are not stuck will aid in running your robot more effectively.

The location that your robot is kept can affect the battery's performance. Extreme temperatures and cold could affect battery performance. You can extend the life of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and storing it in a cool place. Also, disconnect it from the power source when it is not being used. In addition, the majority of smart devices receive periodic firmware updates that can optimize performance, including battery optimization. So make sure to check your app for updates.

A robot vacuum is an excellent alternative for those with lots of hard flooring. It's able to swiftly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than a simple clean-up, look for a model with superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation with an impressive suction system and a range of mopping functions to deliver an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It utilizes LiDAR cameras as well as sensors to create precise maps of your home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also identify items like shoes and clutter, and clean around them automatically. It also self-empties, meaning that you don't have to return the vacuum 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. Even the best robotic vacuums can be prone to becoming entangled in cords and toys. They also can miss dirt piles near the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate the crumbs that have accumulated under furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled quickly, and they have return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This could take as long as 30 minutes for some models.

It's therefore important to select a vacuum that has a big dustbin and can empty into its dock without returning to finish the task. You'll need to determine if you prefer a bagged model or a model that is bagless. If you opt for the bagless version, you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you have to empty it.

In our tests we apply 100 grams of sand onto an area of medium-pile carpet and employ a robot vacuum to sweep it across the carpet. Weighing the amount of sand in the dust bin onboard lets us determine the amount dirt that has been collected. A large amount of dirt suggests that the bin could get fuller faster and may force your robot to stop its cleaning process, or worse, stop working altogether.

The positive side is that many premium robot vacuums feature a large dustbin that is easily empty, and you can schedule them to empty their bases at least once a day or more. It's important to keep a can of compressed air on hand to blow hairs out that have tangled in the rotating brush and clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums offer various options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This allows the robot to download and install updates for its software, and also allows you to monitor your bot via an app or via voice-activated commands. This isn't a necessity, however it provides convenience and customization options that can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.

Most models require some level of routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll to keep them functioning at top performance. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching and checking consumable parts can also prolong their life. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the average lifespan of a Robot Vacuum Best vacuum. However, it can differ significantly based on how often you use it, and whether you maintain it in a proper manner.

To be able to function, a robot vacuum needs to be able to map out your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems incorporate cliff sensors that alert the robot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that help "see" the plan of the room. Some robots come with a mopping function that can be used to keep floors between deep cleanings with the use of a vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you won't have to switch between the robot vacuum and an manual one. One 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 its mop pad in a way that is automatic. Its top-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance abilities earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors' Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop robot vacuums we tested had impressive pick-up scores on hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They remove dirt, dust and pet hair. They also remove dust and crumbs 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 large screws made of metal. They might also overlook certain areas (including under furniture).

Many models have clever features that make them more user-friendly. They typically include an app, that allows you to plan cleaning times and operate the robot vacuum cleaner uk remotely. They can be integrated into your smart home system, so that you can use voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes that let you choose between sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. They can recharge their docks and continue cleaning where they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, however you still need to clear out toys, cords, and pet messes prior operating the robot. Before you can map out your 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 hit the wall or floor.

Some premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, with some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot vacuum best identify obstacles and create an efficient route 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 costly rug.

5. App Control

You can create a cleaning schedule and control the robots through an app. This allows you to clean your home while you're at work or on vacation. Certain robots also have the ability to self-empty into a larger bin at their base, which reduces dust release and is a wonderful feature for people suffering from allergies.

Some robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and use a camera to teach them to stay clear of obstacles such as furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This is an impressive feature that is offered in less expensive models. However, it's important to regularly empty your robot's dustbin and check for hairs that are tangled when they begin to accumulate.

Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is useful in the event that you have multiple floors. You can then choose specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot vacuums that mop focuses on what you want it to do, rather than wandering into areas that you don't need to clean.

Robots are great for routine midweek cleaning but they're not able to replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, particularly on carpets. They are better at removing dirt embedded in carpets than plain floors, however they're not able to spot piles of debris near thresholds and baseboards and cords and socks that have become tangled. To get the most out of your robot, choose models that have zone and spot cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. There are also models that can charge and resume where they have left off. This is ideal for homes with large rooms.