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 stairs.

Find models with smart features, such as remote access and app control. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and monitor progress. Some apps can even pause and recharge, then resume where they left off.

1. Battery Life

It's safe say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive by themselves drones that fly through the air, and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture with ease, it is safe to say that the future is now here. However, like all technology, it requires some maintenance to keep it working efficiently.

The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most important aspect for the life of your robot. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, checking for tangled hairs regularly and keeping the brushes from getting stuck will make your robot cleaner run more effectively.

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

A robot automatic vacuum cleaner and mop is an excellent option for those who have many hard floors. It can take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently and leave your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a simple cleaning, you'll need to consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot vacuum Best is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation with a powerful suction and a range of mopping functions to provide a thorough, deep clean of your floors. It utilizes cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home, which assists it in staying on track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It also can detect things like clutter and shoes, and then automatically clean around them. It's also self-emptying so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the trash after every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are ideal for quick midweek cleaning but they aren't able to replace a plug in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. Furthermore, even the top robot vacuums can be caught in cords and toys, miss piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, and struggle with crumbs under furniture. The dust bins on their own fill up so quickly that they need to return to their charging docks to empty themselves, which can take as long as half an hour for certain models.

Therefore, it's crucial to look for a robot vacuum with a large dustbin that can be empty into its dock without having to return to finish the job. It is also important to think about whether you'd prefer a bagged or bagless model and, if you choose a bagless model the amount of dust be able to hold before needing to be emptied.

In our tests we apply 100 grams of sand onto an area of medium-pile carpet and utilize a robot vacuum sweep it across the carpet. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the automatic vacuum cleaner's dust bin to determine the amount of dirt it has accumulated. A large amount suggests that the bin onboard may fill up faster and cause your robot to stop cleaning.

The positive side is that many high-end robot vacuums have a large dust bin that can easily be emptied and you can set up them to empty into their bases at least once a day or more. Keep a can with compressed air on hand to blow out hairs that have gotten caught in the rotating brush and to clean the filters in accordance to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

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

The majority of models require some form of routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll, to ensure that they function at peak efficiency. Monitoring consumable parts and following a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment can extend their life span as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the typical life expectancy for the robot vacuum, but this can differ greatly based on how often you use it, and whether you take care of it in a proper manner.

A robot vacuum has to be able to navigate obstacles and map your floor in order to function. Advanced navigation systems typically have sensors for cliffs that alert the robot to steep drops, as well as laser and optical sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Some robots come with mopping capabilities that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings using vacuums.

The most effective 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you won't need to switch between the robot vacuum and manual vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a robust, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can wash its mop pad and clean surfaces with its water tank. Its high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance skills made it the best robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums we test have excellent pickup scores on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They get rid of dust, dirt and pet hair. They also get rid of debris and crumbs from the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. They aren't able to remove dirt that is deep-seated or tangles of shag fibers like an upright or a canister. They also aren't able to remove spilled food and liquids or heavy metal screws and may also leave a few spots in the home (including under furniture).

Many models come with clever features that make them more user-friendly. Most models have an app that lets you schedule cleaning sessions, and also control the robot remotely. They can also integrate with your smart-home system so you can use them via voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with different modes that let you pick between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can recharge at their docks and keep 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 any pet debris prior to running the robot. It is also recommended to cover any mirrors from floor to ceiling with cardboard before tracing the space for the first time, because the laser employed by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to hit walls or floors.

Some of the top models utilize lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This helps the robot to remember obstacles and plan an efficient route around them. Some robots let you create no-go zones so that the robot avoids certain areas, for example, 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 with an app. This lets you clean your home while you are at work or on vacation. Some robots are also able to self-empty to a larger bin in their base which helps reduce dust release and robot vacuum best is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots can spot objects on the ground and employ cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is an impressive feature that is offered in less expensive models. However, it's important to clean your robot's dustbin and check for tangled hairs as they build up.

A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor maps, which is beneficial if you live in more than one level Some models also create 3D models of your home. You can choose certain rooms, and set up digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot only cleans the areas you want.

Robots are great for midweek cleaning but they're not able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, especially on carpets. They're better at picking up dirt that's embedded in carpet than floors that are unfinished, but they're still unable to pick up piles of debris close to thresholds and baseboards, as well as cords and socks that are tangled. To make the most of your robot, Robot Vacuum Best look for a model with zone and spot cleaning modes to target particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. There are also models that recharges and picks up where it left off, which is a major benefit in a large house.