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 that have advanced features, such as remote access and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Certain apps even allow you to stop and recharge, then resume where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves drones that can navigate the skies and robot vacuums that nimbly maneuver around furniture, it's safe to say the future of cleaning is here. Like all technologies, some maintenance is required to keep it running smoothly.

The cycle of charging and discharging the battery is the most crucial factor in the longevity of your robotic cleaner and mop device. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, checking for tangled hairs regularly and keeping the brushes from getting blocked will make your robot run more efficiently.

Another aspect is the environmental conditions where your robot is stored, as extreme cold and heat can impact battery performance. You can prolong the life of your robot vacuums that mop's battery by charging it to 50% and then storing it in a cool location. Also, take it away from the power source when not using it. 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 fantastic option for those who have lots of hard flooring. It's able to swiftly and efficiently remove loose dirt and debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than a quick clean-up, you should look for a model with superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and strong suction and a variety of mopping features to offer a thorough, deep clean of your floors. It uses LiDAR sensors and cameras to create precise maps of your home, which helps it stay on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It also can detect objects like clutter and shoes, and then automatically clean around them. And it's self-emptying, meaning you don't need to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are great for quick midweek cleanups however, they lack the suction power to substitute for an electric vacuum cleaner when it comes to deep cleaning. In addition, even the most powerful robot vacuums can be caught with toys and cords and miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. Their onboard dust bins fill up so quickly that they must return to their charging docks to empty themselves, which can take as long as half an hour for some models.

It is important to choose a robot vacuum best vacuum with an ample dust bin that can be empty into the dock without needing to return to complete the task. You'll also want to consider whether you'd prefer bags or a bagless model, and if you do choose a bagless model what amount of dust will be able to hold before needing to be cleaned.

In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand to an area of medium-pile carpet and use a robot vacuum to vacuum it over the surface. We then weigh the amount of sand in the vacuum's onboard dust bin to determine the amount of dirt it has accumulated. A high amount indicates that the bin onboard could be filled faster and cause your robot to stop cleaning.

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

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums offer various connectivity options for connecting to your home's Wi-Fi network. This allows the robot to update its software and gives you the option of monitoring your bot via an app or voice commands. Although not necessary it is a useful feature and a variety of customization options that will enhance your overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they're operating at their best they require a certain amount of maintenance. For instance emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. Keeping tabs on consumable parts and a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment will increase their lifespan as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing states that three to five years is the typical life expectancy of a robot vacuum, though this can differ greatly based on the frequency you use it and if you maintain it in a proper manner.

To be able to function, a robot vacuum needs to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically have cliff sensors that alert the bot to steep slopes, as well as optical and laser sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Certain robots also have a specialized mopping function, which can be useful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 robots can mop and vacuum making it possible to bypass the need to switch between the manual and robot vacuum (More). One of the best examples is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that can also clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash its mop pad automatically. Its superior 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 pickup scores for carpets with a low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also remove crumbs and debris along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. However, they cannot remove deep-down dirt or tangles in plush shag carpet fibers and also an upright or canister vacuum. They also aren't able to remove spilled food and liquids or heavy screws, and they may be unable to reach certain areas of the home (including under furniture).

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

The technology to avoid obstacles has improved over the years, but it's still important to take away cords, toys and pet debris prior to running the robot. Before mapping out the 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 crash against a wall or a floor.

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

5. App Control

Many robots allow you to create a schedule for cleaning and manage their movements hands-free with an app, which means you can keep your home clean while you're working or away. Certain robots also automatically empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This helps reduce dust rerelease and is a great feature for those suffering from allergies.

Certain robots can detect objects on the ground and use a camera as a guide to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This feature is available on cheaper models. However, it's important to regularly empty your robot's trash bin and check for tangled hairs when they begin to accumulate.

A high-end model can also store multiple floor maps, which can be beneficial if you live in more than one floor and some models can even create 3D models of your house. You can then pick specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot focuses on what you want it to, rather than wandering into areas that don't require cleaning.

Robots are great for regular midweek cleaning but they're not able to substitute for a full-sized plug-in vacuum, particularly for carpets. They are better at removing dirt embedded in carpets than bare floors, but they're still unable to pick up piles of debris close to thresholds and baseboards and cords and socks that are tangled. Look for a robot with zones and spot cleaning modes. This will allow you to concentrate on certain areas without having to spend time. You can also find models that can charge and resume the same place they stopped. This is great for homes with large rooms.