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 staircases.

Look for models that have intelligent features, like remote access and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning time or keep track of the progress. Some apps allow you to pause and recharge, then return to where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

It's safe to say that future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive on their own, drones that fly through the air, and robotic vacuums that can move around furniture in a snap, it is safe to say that the future is now upon us. But as with any technology it requires some upkeep to keep it running smoothly.

The most crucial 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. Make sure you check for furs that are tangled and prevent the brushes from jamming.

The environment in which your robot is kept can impact the battery's performance. Extreme cold and heat may impact battery performance. You can help preserve the life of your battery by ensuring that it is fully charged prior to storage, storing it in an area that is cool, and taking it off of power sources when not in use. Most smart devices also have periodic firmware updates that help optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to see if there are any updates.

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

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and strong suction and a wide range of mopping features to offer a thorough, deep clean of your hard floors. It makes use of cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home, which assists it in staying on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect items like shoes and clutter, and clean around them automatically. 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 great for quick midweek cleaning but lack the suction to replace a plug-in autonomous vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. Even the best robotic vacuums are prone to becoming entangled in cords and toys. They can also overlook dirt piles near baseboards and struggle to remove dust from under furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled so fast that they have return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take up to 30 minutes for some models.

Therefore, it's crucial to select a vacuum with a large dustbin that can be empty into its dock and not return to finish the task. You'll want to decide whether you prefer a bagged model or a model that is bagless. If you opt for the bagless option you'll need to know the amount of dust it can hold before you can empty it.

In our tests we apply 100 grams of sand onto an area of carpet with a medium pile and employ a robot vacuum to vacuum it over the surface. Weighing the amount of sand in the vacuum's dust bin onboard allows us to determine the amount of dirt that has been accumulated. A large amount suggests that the bin onboard may fill up faster and force the robot to stop cleaning.

It's important to know that many robot vacuums have a large dustbin, which can be easily emptied. You can also schedule that they empty their bases at least one or two times a day. Keep a can with compressed air on hand to blow out hairs that have become tangled in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuums have many connectivity options to connect with your home's Wi-Fi network. This allows the robot to update its software and also gives you the option of monitoring your bot through an app or using voice commands. This feature isn't essential, but it offers the convenience of customization and can improve the overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they're running at their best the majority of models require a certain amount of maintenance. For example emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching and checking consumable components will also increase their lifespan. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a Robot Vacuum Best's life is typically between three and five years. However, it can vary based on the frequency you use it, and also if you take care to maintain it.

A robot vacuum must be able to navigate around obstacles and map your floor to function. Advanced navigation systems include cliff sensors that alert the robot to steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that help "see" the arrangement of a room. Some robots have a mopping function that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings using a vacuum.

The most efficient 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum making it possible to skip the step of having to switch between two types of autonomous vacuum. One example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that can clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash its mop pad in a way that is automatic hoover. Its mapping and obstacle avoidance capabilities were so impressive that it was awarded CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, as well an AVTech Editors Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot vacuums that we test have excellent pickup scores on hard floors and carpets with a low pile. They remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also remove dust and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. They aren't able to remove dirt that is deep-seated or tangles of plush shag fibers such as an upright or a canister. They are also unable to pick up spilled liquids and food, or heavy screws and they could be unable to reach certain areas of the house (including under furniture).

Many models come with smart features that make them more user-friendly. Most models include an app that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and also control the robot remotely. They also can be integrated with your smart-home system, so you can use them with voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes, allowing users to choose between mopping and sweeping, or vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and pick up the area they left.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, but you must still clear 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 laser used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot vacuum that vacuums and mops to crash against a wall or a floor.

More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This allows the robot to remember obstacles and plan an efficient path around them. Some also allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot will not be able to enter certain areas like your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.

5. App Control

Many robots allow you to set a schedule for cleaning and manage them hands-free using an app, which means you can clean your home when you're at work or away. Certain robots also have the ability to self-empty into a larger container in their base which helps reduce dust release and is a wonderful option for those suffering from allergies.

Some robots can spot objects on the ground and employ cameras as a way to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is a remarkable feature, and it's even available in cheaper models. It is essential to regularly empty the dust bin of your robot, and that you examine it for fur that has become tangled as it gets accumulated.

A top-quality model can also store multiple floor plans, which are helpful if you live on more than one level and some models can even create 3D models of your house. You can pick specific rooms and set up digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are great for midweek cleanups however they aren't able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, particularly on carpets. They're better at picking up dirt embedded in carpets than floors that are unfinished, but they can still miss piles of debris that are close to baseboards and thresholds, and cords and socks that have become tangled. Look for a robot with spots and zones cleaning modes. This will allow you to concentrate on certain areas without wasting time. There are also models that can charge and resume where they stopped. This is ideal for homes with large rooms.