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.

Look for models with smart features such as app control and remote access. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and monitor progress. Certain apps even allow you to pause and recharge, then return to where they left off.

1. Battery Life

With cars that drive themselves drones that fly through the skies and robot vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe to say the future of cleaning is now here. Like all technologies it is necessary to maintain it 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. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that have become tangled frequently and making sure that the brushes are not blocked will help your robot run more efficiently.

Another aspect is the environment in which your robot is stored because extreme heat and cold can affect the battery's performance. You can extend the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and storing it in a cool place. Also, take it away from the power source when being used. Additionally, most smart devices have periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, such as battery optimization, so be sure to check the app for updates.

For those with lots of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a good choice. It will take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently, leaving your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a simple cleanup, you'll want to choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Our top-rated robot vacuum and mop, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and strong suction and a wide range of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It makes use of cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home, which helps it stay on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect items such as clutter and shoes, and clean them up automatically. It's also self-emptying so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the trash after each 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 robotic cleaner and mop vacuums can get tangled in cords and toys, miss piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. The dust bins on their own get so full that they need to return to their charging docks in order to self-empty--a process that can take up to an hour for certain models.

It is crucial to select a robot vacuum with a large trash bin that can be emptied into the dock without needing return to finish the job. It is also important to think about whether you'd like a bagged or bagless model and, if you choose a bagless model what amount of dust will it hold before it has to be cleaned.

In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand to the carpet's surface in a medium pile. We used a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. The amount of sand that is weighed in the dust bin onboard allows us to measure the amount of dirt that has been collected. A large amount of dirt suggests that the bin could get fuller faster and could force your robot to pause the cleaning process or even stop working completely.

The good news is that many premium robot vacuums feature a large dust bin that can easily be emptied, and you can schedule them to empty into their bases at least once per day or more. Keep a can of compressed air nearby to blow away any hairs that are tangled in the rotating brush and to clean the filters in accordance to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums offer a variety of connectivity options to connect with your home's Wi-Fi network. This allows the robot vacuum and mop to download and install updates to its software, and gives you the option to monitor your robot via an app or via voice-activated commands. This feature is not essential but it does provide convenience and customization options that can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.

Most models require a certain amount of regular maintenance, like emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll to ensure that they function at their peak performance. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching, and checking consumable components will also increase their lifespan. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, states that a robot's life expectancy is between three and five years. However, this can vary based on the frequency you use it and if you take care of it.

To function a robot vacuum, it has to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically include cliff sensors that alert the robot to a steep drop and optical and laser sensors that help it "see" the layout of a room. Certain robots have a mopping function that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings by using vacuums.

The best 2-in-1 robots can mop and vacuum and sweep, which means you can skip the step of having to switch between a robot and a manual vacuum. One of the best examples is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that is able to clean surfaces with its water tank and wash its mop pad in a way that is automatic. Its obstacle avoidance and mapping abilities were so effective that it was awarded the CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, along with an AVTech Editors Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums we tested in our tests have excellent performance on hard floors and low-pile carpets and remove dust, dirt, and pet hair. They also get rid of debris and crumbs from the baseboards and at the edges of rooms. But they can't remove deep-down dirt or tangles of soft shag carpets as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They are also unable to pick up spilled food and liquids or heavy screws and they could miss a few areas of the home (including under furniture).

Many models are equipped with smart features which make them more user-friendly. Many 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, which means you can control the robots with voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes, which allow you to choose between mopping and sweeping or vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and continue cleaning where they left off.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, but you still need to clear out cords, toys, and pet messes before operating the robot. You'll also want to cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard before mapping out the space for the first time as the laser used by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to crash into walls or floors.

Certain models that are top of the line use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This helps the robot recognize obstacles and determine the most efficient path around them. Some robots let you designate no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, such as 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 allows you to clean your home while you're 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 is a great feature for people suffering from allergies.

Certain robots can detect objects on the ground and utilize cameras as a way to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is an impressive capability that is available in less expensive models. However, it's important to clean the dustbin of your robot and look for hairs that are tangled as they accumulate.

A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor maps, which can be helpful if you live on more than one floor and some models can even create 3D models of your house. You can pick specific rooms, and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot vacuum that vacuums and mops only is cleaning the areas you want.

Robots are great for midweek cleaning, but they can't replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner especially when it is a rug. They are more adept in removing dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but they can be unable to find piles near baseboards or thresholds, as well as strangling cords and socks. To make the most of your robot, choose a model with spots and zone cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. You'll also find a model that recharges and resumes where it left off which is an enormous advantage in a big house.