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 app control and remote access. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and monitor progress. Some apps allow you to stop and recharge, then pick up where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

It's safe say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive on their own drones that fly through the air, and robotic vacuums that can maneuver around furniture in a snap, it is safe to say that the future is now here. As with any technology, some maintenance is required to keep it running smoothly.

The most important aspect in the long-term performance of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Make sure you check for furs that are tangled and stop the brushes from getting jammed.

The location that your robot is stored can also influence the performance of your battery. Extreme temperatures and cold may impact the battery's performance. You can prolong the battery's life by ensuring it's charged to 50% before storage, keeping it in a cool place, and taking it off of power sources 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.

For those with a lot of hard floors, a robot vacuum is a good choice. It can quickly and effectively get rid of dirt and other debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you're looking for more than a quick clean-up, look for a model with superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and a powerful suction and a wide range of mopping features to offer an extensive, thorough clean of your floors. It makes use of LiDAR sensors and cameras to create precise maps of your home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It also can detect things like clutter and shoes to automatically clean them. It's also self-emptying, so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the bin after each cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are great for quick midweek cleanups, but they don't have the suction power to replace an electric vacuum cleaner for deep cleaning. Even the top robotic vacuums are prone to becoming entangled in cords and toys. They also tend to ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate dust from under furniture. And, their onboard dustbins fill up so quickly that they have to return to their charging docks to empty themselves, which can take up to an hour for some models.

It's therefore important to select a vacuum that has a big dustbin that can be empty into its dock and not return to finish the task. You'll need to determine if you prefer bags or a bagless one. If you choose the bagless model you'll need to determine how much dust it can hold before you have to empty it.

In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand onto the carpet's surface in a medium pile. We used a robot vacuum cleaner to remove the sand. Weighing the amount of sand in the automatic vacuum cleaner and mop's dust bin onboard allows us to determine the amount dirt that has been accumulated. A large amount of dirt suggests that the bin could fill up more quickly and could cause your Robot vacuum best to pause its cleaning process or, even worse, stop working completely.

It's important to know that many robot vacuums have an enormous dust bin that can be easily empty. You can also schedule the cleaning of their bases at least one or two times per day. Keep a bin filled with compressed air in your bag to blow away hairs that have gotten caught in the rotating brush and to clean any filters according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuums have various connectivity options for connecting to your home's Wi-Fi. This allows the robot to download and install updates for its software, and also allows you to monitor your robot via an app or voice-activated commands. This isn't a necessity, however it provides convenience and customization options that can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they are functioning at their peak, most 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 will also extend their life. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing states that three to five years is the average life expectancy 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 must be able to navigate obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to function. Advanced navigation systems have cliff sensors, which alert the robot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors to help it "see" the arrangement of rooms. Certain robots also have mopping capabilities that are specialized, which can be useful to keep floors clean between deep cleanings using a stand-up vacuum.

The best automatic vacuum 2-in-1 vacuums can also mop. This means you don't need to switch between the robot vacuum and an manual one. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient vacuum cleaner that is able to wash its mop pad, and clean up surfaces with its water tank. Its obstacle avoidance and mapping skills were so good that it was awarded the the CR's Best Robot vacuum Award, as well an AVTech Editors Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot hoover and mop vacuums in our tests have impressive pickup scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also take out particles and crumbs along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. But they can't eliminate deep down dirt or tangles that are a part of the carpet's shag carpet as well as canister or upright vacuums. They can't pick-up spilled liquids or food items, or use heavy metal screws. They can also overlook certain areas (including under furniture).

Many models come with sophisticated features that make them more user-friendly. They usually include an app, which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can be integrated into your smart home system to allow voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have different modes that let you choose between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can recharge at their docks and continue cleaning the area they left off.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, but you still need to clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before running the robot. Before mapping out the room, you'll need to cover all floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The laser employed by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to bump against walls or floors.

Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This allows the robot to recognize obstacles and devise an 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 an expensive rug.

5. App Control

Many robots let you set a timer for cleaning and manage their movements hands-free with an app, so you can keep your home clean when you're at work or away. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger bin at the base of their machine, which reduces dust re-release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots, like the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect 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 cheaper models. It's essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and check for tangled fur as it accumulates.

Some models can also create 3D representations. This is useful when you have more than one floor. You can then pick specific rooms and set digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot is focused on what you want it to, instead of wandering around in areas that don't require cleaning.

Robots are good for midweek cleaning, but they can't replace a plug-in vacuum, especially when it is a rug. They're better at picking up dirt embedded in carpets than plain floors, however they can still miss piles of debris close to baseboards and thresholds, and cords and socks that have become tangled. Choose a model that has spots and zones cleaning modes. This allows you to focus on specific areas without having to spend time. You'll also find a model that recharges and then resumes where it left off which is a huge benefit for a house with a lot of rooms.