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.

Look for models that include innovative features like remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some can even pause, recharge and resume where they stopped.

1. Battery Life

With self-driving cars drones that fly through the skies and robot cleaner vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe to say that the future of cleaning is here. As with all technology, some maintenance is required to keep it running smoothly.

The cycle of charging and discharging the battery is the most important aspect for the life of your robotic device. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, checking for hairs that have become tangled frequently and keeping the brushes from getting blocked will make your robot run more efficiently.

Another aspect to consider is the climate in which your robot is stored, as extreme temperatures and cold can affect battery performance. You can help preserve the life of your battery by ensuring that it is charged to 50% before storage, keeping it in an area that is cool, and disconnecting it from 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 check if there are any updates.

A robot vacuum is a great option for those who have many hard floors. It's able to swiftly and efficiently remove loose dirt and debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. However, if you're looking to do more than a simple 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, strong suction and a wide range of mopping functions to deliver an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it stay on course and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also detect things like shoes and clutter to automatically clean 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 ideal for quick midweek cleaning but 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, miss piles of dirt close to the baseboards, and struggle with crumbs under furniture. Their dustbins onboard fill up quickly, and they have to go back to their charging stations to empty themselves. This could take as long as 30 minutes for certain models.

It is important to choose a robot vacuum with an ample dust bin that can be emptied into the dock without needing return to finish the task. You'll need to decide if you prefer bagged models or a one that doesn't have a bag. If you decide to go with the bagless version you'll need to know how much dust it can hold before you empty it.

In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand to the carpet in a medium pile and use a robot vacuum to vacuum it over the surface. 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 amount means that the bin onboard could be filled faster and force your robot to stop cleaning.

The good news is that many premium robot vacuums feature a large dustbin that can easily be emptied and you can even schedule them to empty their bases at least once per 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 a variety of connectivity options to connect to your home's Wi-Fi network. This enables the robot to download and install updates to its software, and gives you the option to monitor your bot via an app or through voice-activated commands. Although not necessary, this feature offers convenience and personalization features that improve your overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they are operating at their best the majority of models require a certain amount of maintenance. For example emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching and checking consumable parts can also prolong the life of their components. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the standard lifespan of a robot vacuum, though this can vary significantly depending on the frequency you use it and whether you maintain it in a proper manner.

In order to operate, a robot vacuum needs to be able to map out your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically have sensors for cliffs that alert the robot to steep slopes, as well as laser and optical sensors that help it "see" the layout of a room. Some robots also come with mopping capabilities that are specialized, which can be useful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings with an upright vacuum.

The best robot vacuum that mops 2-in-1 robots can vacuum and mop making it possible to skip the step of having to switch between two types of vacuum. One example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that is able to clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash the mop pad automatically. Its top-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities made it the best robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors' Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot vacuums in our tests have excellent pick-up scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors cleaning dust, dirt and pet hair. They also remove debris and crumbs from the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. However, they are unable to get rid of deep down dirt or tangles of plush shag carpet fibers as well as an upright or canister automatic vacuum and mop robot. They also aren't able to remove spilled food and liquids or heavy screws, and they may miss a few areas of the home (including under furniture).

Many models come with intelligent features that make them more user friendly. Many models include an app that lets you schedule cleaning sessions and also control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart home system so that you can make voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes, allowing users to choose between mopping and sweeping or vacuuming. They can recharge at their docks and keep cleaning where they left.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, but you must still clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before operating the robot. Before you can map out your space, it is recommended to cover all floor-to ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The lasers used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to hit a wall or a floor.

Some of the top models utilize lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This helps the robot vacuums uk recognize obstacles and design the most efficient route around them. Some models also let you set no-go zones, so the robot is able to avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

You can create an agenda for cleaning and control the robots using an app. This lets you tidy your home even when you are at work or on vacation. Some robots will also empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This can reduce dust release and is a wonderful feature for those suffering from allergies.

Certain robots, like the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to avoid obstacles like furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This amazing feature is available on cheaper models. However, it's important to regularly empty your robot's trash bin and check for hairs that are tangled as they accumulate.

A high-end model can also store multiple floor maps, which is beneficial if you live in more than one floor and some models can even create 3D representations of your home. You can pick specific rooms, and set digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only is cleaning the areas you want.

Robots are great for routine midweek cleaning but they're not able to replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, particularly for carpets. They're better at removing dirt embedded in carpets than floors that are unfinished, but they can still miss piles of debris close to thresholds and baseboards, as well as cords and socks that have become tangled. Choose a model that has zones and spot cleaning modes. This will allow you to concentrate on specific areas without wasting time. There are also models that charge and then resume the same place they left off. This is ideal for large houses.