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 with smart features such as remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning time or monitor progress. Certain apps even allow you to pause and recharge, then pick up where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves drones that can navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe to claim that the future of home cleaning is here. As with any technology there is a need for some maintenance to keep it running smoothly.

The most important aspect in the longevity of your robot vacuum cleaners reviews is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that are tangled regularly, and preventing the brushes from becoming blocked will make your robot run more efficiently.

Another aspect is the climate in which your robot is stored because extreme heat and cold can impact the battery's performance. You can help preserve the life of your battery by ensuring that it is charged to 50% prior to storage, keeping it in an environment that is cool and disconnecting it from power sources when not in use. Furthermore, many smart devices have periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, such as battery optimization, so make sure to check the app for any available updates.

If you have lots of hard floors, a robot vacuum is a great option. It is able to take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. However, if you're looking to do more than just a quick cleanup, you'll want to consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and strong suction and a variety of mopping functions to deliver an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It uses cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This assists it in staying on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also identify things like clutter and shoes, and then automatically clean them. It also self-empties, meaning that you don't have to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin after each cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups, but they don't have the suction power to substitute for an electric vacuum cleaner when it comes to deep cleans. Moreover, even the best robotic vacuums can get tangled up 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 in order to self-empty, which can take up to an hour for certain models.

It is crucial to select the right robot vacuum that has an ample dust bin that can be empty into the dock without needing return to finish the task. You'll also want to consider whether you'd like bagged or unbagged models, and if you do choose a bagless option what amount of dust will it hold before it has to be empty.

In our tests we apply 100 grams of sand on the carpet in a medium pile and use a robot vacuum to sweep it across the carpet. We then weigh the amount of sand in the vacuum's dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has collected. A large amount suggests that the bin could get fuller and cause your robot to stop cleaning.

It's a good idea to know that a lot of robot vacuums have large dust bins that can be easily emptied. You can also schedule the cleaning of their bases at least one or two times a day. Keep a can of compressed air nearby to blow away hairs that have become tangled up in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuum cleaner and mop robot vacuums offer various options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This lets the robot download and install updates for its software, as well as allows you to monitor your robot via an app or through voice-activated commands. This feature is not essential but it offers convenience and customization options that can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.

Most models require a certain amount of routine maintenance, such as emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll, to ensure they are operating at peak efficiency. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching and examining consumable parts will also extend the life of their components. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the standard lifespan of a robot vacuum, though this can vary significantly depending on how often you use it, and whether you take care to maintain it properly.

To be able to function the robot vacuum, it needs to be able to map out your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically have cliff sensors that alert the robot vacuum Best to steep drops, as well as optical and laser sensors that allow it to "see" the layout of a room. Some robots also have mopping functions that are specifically designed for them, which can be useful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings with an upright vacuum.

The most effective 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum, allowing you to bypass the need to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that is able to wash its mop pad, and wipe down surfaces using its water tank. Its obstacle avoidance and mapping skills were so good that it won the CR's Best robot vacuums that mop vacuum Award, and also an AVTech Editors' Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums we tested in our tests have outstanding performance on carpets with low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also sweep away dust and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. They can't remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of plush shag fibers such as an upright or a canister. They also aren't able to remove spilled food and liquids or heavy metal screws and they could be unable to reach certain areas of the house (including under furniture).

Many models have sophisticated features that make them more user-friendly. Most models have an application that lets you schedule cleaning sessions, and control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart home system so that you can use voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have different modes that let you select between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks to recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, however it is still necessary to clean out any cords, toys and pet messes prior to operating the robot. Before mapping out the space, it is recommended to cover all ceiling-to-floor mirrors with cardboard. The laser used by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to hit a wall or a floor.

Some premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, with some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your surroundings. This allows the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some robots allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot avoids certain areas, like your pet's food bowls, or a costly rug.

5. App Control

You can set up an agenda for cleaning and control the robots with an app. This allows you to tidy your home even when you are at work or on vacation. Some robots can also self-empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This helps reduce dust release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.

Certain robots can detect objects on the ground and use a camera as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is a remarkable feature that is offered in less expensive models. However, it's important to clean the dustbin of your robot and look for hairs that are tangled when they begin to accumulate.

A top-quality model can also store multiple floor plans, which are useful if you live on multiple levels and some models can even create 3D models of your home. You can then select specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot stays focused on what you want it to, instead of wandering around areas that don't require cleaning.

Robots are great for midweek cleaning, but they cannot substitute a vacuum cleaner with a plug-in particularly when it concerns rugs. They are more adept at removing dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but they will miss piles near baseboards and thresholds, as well as strangling cords and socks. Find a robot that has spots and zones cleaning modes. This allows you to concentrate on certain areas and not waste time. You can also find a model that recharges and then resumes where it left off which is an enormous advantage in a big house.