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 with smart features, such as remote access and app control. You can use apps to schedule cleaning time or monitor the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend and recharge, and then resume where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves drones that fly through the skies and robot vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe claim that the future of home cleaning is now here. As with all technology there is a need for some maintenance to ensure it's running smoothly.

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

Another aspect is the climate in which your robot is stored, as extreme cold and heat can impact battery performance. You can extend the battery's life by ensuring it is charged to 50% prior to storage, storing it in an environment that is cool and taking it off of power sources when not in use. Many smart devices also feature periodic firmware updates that help improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to see if there are any updates.

A robot vacuum is a great option for those who have a lot of hard flooring. It will get rid of dirt and debris fast and efficiently and leave your floors sparkling. If you want more than just a quick clean-up, you should look for a model that has superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.

The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top rated robot vacuum Best. It is a combination of advanced navigation, powerful suction and a variety of mopping options to offer an efficient, thorough clean of your hard floor. It uses cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home, which allows it to stay on the right track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It can also identify items like clutter and shoes and clean around them automatically. It's also self-emptying, so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the trash after each cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups however they don't have the suction power to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. In addition, even the most powerful robotic vacuums can get tangled with toys and cords and miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs on furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled so fast that they have to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take up to 30 minutes for some models.

It's therefore important to look for a robot vacuum that has a big dustbin that can be empty into its dock without returning to complete the job. You'll also want to consider whether you'd like bagged or unbagged models and, if you opt for a bagless version, how much dust will be able to hold before needing to be emptied.

In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand to an area of carpet with a medium pile and utilize a robot vacuum mop cleaner robot vacuum it over the surface. The amount of sand that is weighed in the dust bin onboard allows us to measure the amount of dirt that has been accumulated. A high amount means that the bin onboard could fill up faster and force your robot to stop cleaning.

It's a good idea to know that a lot of robot vacuums come with a large dustbin, which can be easily empty. It is also possible to schedule them to empty their bases at least one or two times per day. Keep a bin filled of compressed air nearby to blow away hairs that have gotten caught in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuums have a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This allows the robot to update its software and gives you the possibility of monitoring your robot through an app or using voice commands. This isn't a necessity, however it provides the convenience of customization and can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they are operating at their best they require some level of maintenance. For instance, emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching and checking consumable parts can also prolong their lifespan. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the average life expectancy for a robot vacuum. However, it can differ significantly based on how often you use it and whether you take care to maintain it in a proper manner.

In order to operate a robot vacuum, it has to be able to map out your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems have cliff sensors, which alert the bot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that help "see" the arrangement of a room. Some robots also have a specialized mopping function, which can be useful for maintaining floors in between deep cleanings with an upright vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums can also mop. This means you don't need to switch between an automatic vacuum and mop vacuum and manual vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that is able to wash its mop pad, and clean up surfaces with its water tank. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance skills made it the best robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors' Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best automatic vacuum cleaner robot vacuums in our tests have impressive pickup scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets and remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also remove debris and crumbs from the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. However, they cannot eliminate deep down dirt or tangles of plush shag carpet fibers as well as canister or upright vacuums. They aren't able to pick up spilled liquids or food items, or use the weight of metal screws. They can also leave out certain areas (including under furniture).

Many models have smart features which make them more user-friendly. Most models have an app that lets you schedule cleaning times and control the robot remotely. They can be integrated into your smart home system, to allow voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have multiple modes that let you select between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can recharge at their docks and continue cleaning where they left.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, but you must still clear out toys, cords, and pet messes prior running the robot. You'll also want to cover any mirrors from floor to ceiling with cardboard before tracing the space for the first time, because the laser used by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to crash into walls or floors.

Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This helps the robot to recognize obstacles and devise an efficient route around them. Some also allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot can avoid specific areas, such as your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

Many robots let you create a schedule for cleaning and control them hands-free using an app, which means you can keep your home clean while you're working or away. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger bin in their base which can reduce dust re-release and is a wonderful feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots can spot objects on the ground and use a camera as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is a remarkable feature and is even available in less expensive models. It's important that you regularly empty the dust bin of your robot, and that you look for fur that is tangled as it builds up.

Some models also have the ability to create 3D representations. This is helpful if you have more than one floor. You can then choose specific rooms and set digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot focuses on what you want it to do, instead of wandering around areas you don't need cleaning.

Robots are great for midweek clean-ups but they're not able to replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, especially on rugs. They're better at picking up dirt embedded in carpet than bare floors, but they can still miss piles of debris that are close to thresholds and baseboards and cords and socks that have become tangled. To get the most out of your robot, choose a model with zone and spot cleaning modes to target particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. You can also find models that charge and then resume where they stopped. This is great for houses with large spaces.