Susannah French

How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Based on the model, they can also sweep, mop, and even vacuum staircases.

Find models that have clever features, such as remote control of apps and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend and recharge, and then return to where they were when they left.

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 to say that the future of cleaning is here. However, as with all technologies, it requires some maintenance to keep it working smoothly.

The cycle of charging and discharging the battery is the most crucial factor in the life of your robotic cleaner and mop device. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, checking for tangled hairs regularly, and preventing the brushes from becoming stuck will aid in running your robot more efficiently.

The conditions in which your robot is kept can impact the performance of your battery. Extreme cold and heat may impact battery performance. You can extend the lifespan 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 it is not being used. Most smart devices also have periodic firmware updates that help optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to see if there are any updates.

For those with lots of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a great option. It can take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than just a quick cleanup, you'll want to consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.

Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and strong suction and a variety of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your floors. It utilizes LiDAR cameras as well as sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it keep its course and avoid getting caught in furniture legs or power cables. It can also detect things like shoes and clutter to automatically clean them. It's also self-emptying, so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the 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 deep cleans. Even the best robotic vacuums are prone to getting caught in cords and toys. They can also ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of baseboards and struggle to get rid of dust from under furniture. Their dust bins onboard fill up so fast that they have to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take up to 30 minutes for certain models.

It is important to choose the right robot vacuum that has an ample dust bin which can be emptied into the dock without having to return to complete the task. It is also important to think about whether you'd like a bagged or bagless model and, if you choose a bagless model the amount of dust it hold before it needs to be emptied.

In our tests we applied 100 grams of sand onto carpet with a medium pile and used a robot vacuum to vacuum the sand off. We then weigh the amount of sand in the vacuum's dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has accumulated. A high amount indicates that the bin onboard may fill up faster and force the robot to stop cleaning.

The good news is that a lot of premium robot vacuums feature an enormous dust bin that can easily be emptied and you can even schedule them to empty their bases at least once a day or more. It is also a good idea to keep a can of compressed air handy to blow hairs out that have tangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters as recommended by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums come with a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This enables the robot to download and install updates for its software, as well as giving you the option to monitor your robot vacuum best (source website) via an app or through voice-activated commands. Although not required, this feature offers convenience and personalization features that improve the overall experience for robot vacuuming.

To ensure they are running at their best they require some level of maintenance. For instance emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. Keeping tabs on consumable components and a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment will increase their lifespan as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says that three to five years is the typical life expectancy of a robot vacuum, though this can vary significantly depending on how often 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 in order to function. Advanced navigation systems usually include sensors for cliffs that alert the bot to steep drops as well as optical and laser sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Certain robots have mopping capabilities that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings using a vacuum.

The most efficient 2-in-1 robots vacuum and mop making it possible to bypass the need to switch between two types of vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can also clean its mop pad and wipe down surfaces using its water tank. Its obstacle avoidance and mapping skills were so good that it won CR's best robot hoover Robot Vacuum Award, as well an AVTech Editors' Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best rated robot vacuum robot vacuums we tested had impressive pick-up scores on hard floors and carpets with low pile. They get rid of dirt, dust and pet hair. They also take out crumbs and debris along the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. They cannot remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of shag fibers such as canisters or uprights. They aren't able to pick up spilled liquids or food items, or heavy metal screws. They might also leave out certain areas (including under furniture).

Many models are equipped with clever features that make them more user friendly. The majority of 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 so you can use the robots with voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have different modes that let you pick between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can also recharge at their docks and keep cleaning where they left off.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved over the years, but it is still essential to get rid of cords, toys and any pet clutter before operating the robot. Before you can map out your space, it is recommended to cover all ceiling-to-floor mirrors with cardboard. The lasers employed by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to bump against a wall or a floor.

More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot recognize obstacles and devise an efficient route around them. Some allow you to set no-go zones, so the robot is able to avoid certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.

5. App Control

Many robots allow you to set a schedule for cleaning and manage them without hands using an app, which means you can clean your home while you're working or away. Certain robots are also able to self-empty into a larger container at the base of their machine which can reduce dust re-release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots, such as the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can 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 feature, and it's even offered in less expensive models. It is essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and also check for tangled fur as it gets accumulated.

Some models also have the ability to create 3D representations. This is useful if you have multiple floors. You can select specific rooms and set up digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot vacuum cleaner reviews only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are great for routine midweek cleanups however they aren't able to replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, particularly for carpets. They are better at removing dirt that's embedded in carpet than floors that are unfinished, but they're not able to spot piles of debris near baseboards and thresholds, and tangled socks and cords. To make the most of your robot, choose models with spots and zone cleaning options to focus on specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. You can also find a model that recharges and resumes where it left off which is an enormous advantage in a big house.