Irving Semmens

How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

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

Find models with advanced features, such as remote access and app control. You can use apps to schedule cleaning sessions or keep track of the progress. Some can even pause, recharge and pick up where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

It's safe to say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that can drive independently drones that flutter through the air, and robotic vacuums that move around furniture with ease, it is possible to say that the future is now here. As with any technology, some maintenance is required to keep it running smoothly.

The most important aspect in the longevity of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, examining for hairs that have become tangled frequently and keeping the brushes from getting blocked will make your robot run more efficiently.

Another aspect is the environmental conditions where your robot is kept, because extreme heat and cold can impact battery performance. You can extend the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and then storing it in a cool place. Also, disconnect it from the power source when it is not using it. The majority of smart devices also come with periodic firmware updates that help optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to see if there's any updates.

For those who have a lot of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is an excellent option. It will remove dirt and debris quickly and efficiently, leaving your floors sparkling. However, if you're looking to do more than just a quick clean-up, you'll want choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.

The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top rated robot. It combines advanced navigation, powerful suction and a variety of mopping features to provide a deep, thorough clean of your hard flooring. It makes use of LiDAR sensors and cameras to create precise maps of your home, which assists it in staying on track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect objects such as clutter and shoes to automatically clean around them. 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 great for quick midweek cleaning, but lack the suction to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. Even the best robotic vacuums can be prone to getting tangled in cords and toys. They also can miss dirt piles near baseboards and struggle to remove the crumbs that have accumulated under furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled so fast that they have return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This could take as long as 30 minutes for certain models.

As such, it's important to look for a robot vacuum with a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock without having to return to complete the job. You'll want to decide whether you prefer bagged models or a one that doesn't have a bag. If you choose the bagless option you'll need to determine the amount of dust it can hold before you have to empty it.

In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand to the carpet's surface in a medium pile. We used a robot vacuum to vacuum the sand off. The amount of sand that is weighed in the bin of dust onboard lets us determine the amount dirt that has been accumulated. A high amount of dirt indicates that the onboard bin may get fuller faster and may force the robot to stop the cleaning process, or worse, cease working completely.

The good news is that a lot of top robot vacuums come with a large dust bin that is easily empty, and you can schedule them to empty their bases at least once per day or more. Keep a bin filled with compressed air in your bag to blow out any hairs that are tangled up in the rotating brush and to clean the filters in accordance to the instructions of the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuum that mops robot vacuum best (King Wifi blog article) vacuums offer a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This lets the robot update its software and provides you with the option of monitoring your bot through an app or using voice commands. This feature isn't essential, but it does provide convenience and customization options that can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.

To keep them running at their best the majority of models require some level of maintenance. For instance emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. Maintaining a close eye on consumable components and a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment can extend their lifespan as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the standard life expectancy of the robot vacuum, but it can differ significantly based on the frequency you use it and if you maintain it in a proper manner.

A robot vacuum must be able to navigate obstacles and map your floor to work. Advanced navigation systems incorporate cliff sensors, which alert the robot of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors that help "see" the layout of rooms. Certain robots also have mopping functions that are specifically designed for them that can be helpful for maintaining floors in between deep cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.

The most effective 2-in-1 robots vacuum and mop making it possible to avoid the hassle of having to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. One of the best examples is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that is able to wipe down surfaces with its water tank and wash its mop pad automatically. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities have earned it the CR's top robot cleaner vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums in our tests have outstanding pick-up scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors and remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also sweep away dust and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. They can't remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of plush shag fibers like canisters or uprights. They also can't pick up spilled liquids and food, or heavy metal screws and may also leave a few spots in the home (including under furniture).

Many models have intelligent features that make them more user-friendly. They typically come with an app, allowing you to plan cleaning times and operate the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart home system, so that you can make voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes that let you pick between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and continue cleaning where they left off.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, however you still need to clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before running the robot. It is also recommended to cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard before tracing the room for the first time as the laser employed by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to crash into a wall or floor.

More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some using lidar to generate an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot remember obstacles and determine the most efficient route around them. Some also allow you to define no-go zones, so the robot can avoid specific areas, like your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

Many robots allow you to set a schedule to clean and operate them without hands using an app, meaning you can keep your home clean when you're at work or away. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty to a larger bin at their base which can reduce dust release and is a great option for those suffering from allergies.

Some robots, such as the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to stay clear of obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This feature is available on even cheaper models. However, it's important to clean your robot's dustbin and check for hairs that are tangled as they build up.

A high-end model can also store multiple floor plans, which are helpful if you live on multiple levels and some models can even create 3D representations of your home. You can select specific rooms and set up digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot 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 rugs. They're better at picking up dirt that's embedded in carpet than plain floors, however they can still miss piles of debris near thresholds and baseboards as well as cords and socks that have become tangled. To get the most out of your robot, choose models with zone and spot cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. You'll also find a model that recharges and then resumes where it left off which is a huge benefit for a house with a lot of rooms.