How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Based on the model, they may also sweep, mop and even vacuum stairs.

Look for models with advanced features, such as remote access and app control. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and track progress. Some can even pause, recharge and resume where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

With self-driving cars drones that can navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture, it's safe to say that the future of cleaning is now here. As with all technology, some maintenance is required to ensure it's running smoothly.

The most important factor in the long-term performance of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Check for tangled furs and stop the brushes from clogging.

The environment in which your robot is stored may affect the performance of your battery. Extreme temperatures and cold could affect battery performance. You can prolong the life of your battery by ensuring it's charged to 50% prior to storage, storing in an area that is cool, and disconnecting it from sources of power when not in use. The majority of smart devices also come with periodic firmware updates which can optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to see if there's any updates.

A robot vacuum is a great alternative for those with a lot of hard flooring. It's able to swiftly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than a quick clean-up, look for a model that offers superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and strong suction and a variety of mopping features to offer a thorough, deep clean of your floors. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting caught in furniture legs or power cables. It can also detect objects like shoes and clutter to automatically clean around them. And it's self-emptying, meaning that you don't have to return the vacuum back to its base station to empty its bin after each cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are good for quick midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Even the most powerful robotic vacuums can be prone to getting tangled in cords and toys. They can also miss dirt piles near the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate the crumbs that have accumulated under furniture. Their dustbins onboard fill up quickly that they need to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for certain models.

It's therefore important to look for a robot vacuum with a large dustbin that can be empty into its dock and not return to complete the job. You'll want to decide whether you prefer bags or a one that doesn't have a bag. If you choose the bagless option you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you empty it.

In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand to an area of carpet with a medium pile and utilize a robot autonomous vacuum automatic vacuum and mop it over the surface. The amount of sand that is weighed in the bin of dust onboard lets us determine the amount of dirt that has been collected. A high amount means that the bin onboard may get fuller and force the robot to stop cleaning.

The good news is that many top robot vacuums come with an enormous dust bin which is easily empty, and you can schedule them to empty their bases at least once per day or more. Keep a container filled with compressed air on hand to blow out hairs that have become tangled in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums come with various options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This allows the robot to update its software and provides you with the option of monitoring your robot via an app or voice commands. This feature isn't essential, but it does provide the convenience of customization and can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they're operating at their best, most models require some level of maintenance. For example, emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Regularly cleaning, detaching and checking consumable parts will also extend the life of their components. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing states that three to five years is the typical lifespan of a robot vacuum. However, this can vary significantly depending on how often you use it and whether you maintain 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 incorporate sensors for cliffs, which warn the robot vacuum cleaner reviews of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors to help it "see" the plan of a room. Certain robots also have mopping functions that are specifically designed for them which is useful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings using a stand-up vacuum.

The most effective 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum and sweep, which means you can bypass the need to switch between the manual and robot vacuum and mop vacuum. A prime example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that can also clean surfaces with its water tank and wash the mop pad automatically. Its high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance abilities earned it CR's best automatic vacuum cleaner robot Vacuum Best vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot vacuums in our tests have impressive pickup scores for carpets with a low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also remove debris and crumbs from the baseboards and at the edges of rooms. They can't remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of plush shag fibers such as an upright or a canister. They also can't pick up spilled food and liquids or heavy metal screws and they could leave a few spots in the home (including under furniture).

Many models come with sophisticated features that make them more user-friendly. The majority of models include an application that lets you schedule cleaning times and control the robot remotely. They can also integrate 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 the area they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, however it is still necessary to clean out cords, toys, and pet messes before operating the robot. Before mapping out the room, you'll want to cover all ceiling-to-floor mirrors with cardboard. The lasers used by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to crash against the wall or floor.

Certain models that are top of the line use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This allows the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient route around them. Some robots allow you to create no-go zones to ensure that the robot avoids certain areas, such as your pet's bowls of food or a costly rug.

5. App Control

You can set up an agenda for cleaning and control the robots with an app. This lets you clean your home while you're working or away on vacation. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger container in their base which helps reduce dust re-release and is a wonderful option for those suffering from allergies.

Some robots, like the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, Robot Vacuum Best can even spot objects on the floor and use a camera to teach them to avoid obstacles such as furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This is an impressive feature and is even available in less expensive models. However, it's essential to clean the dustbin of your robot and look for hairs that are tangled when they begin to accumulate.

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

Robots are ideal for midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner particularly when it is a rug. They're better at removing dirt embedded in carpet than bare floors, but they can still miss piles of debris near baseboards and thresholds, as well as cords and socks that are tangled. To get the most out of your robot, search for models that have zone and spot cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and robot vacuum best prevent unnecessary cleaning. You'll also find a model that recharges and then resumes where it left off which is an enormous advantage in a big house.