How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending 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 monitor progress. Some apps can even suspend and recharge, and then pick up where they stopped.

1. Battery Life

It's safe to say that future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive independently drones that flutter through the air, robot vacuum best and robotic hoovers vacuums that can maneuver through furniture effortlessly, it is certain that the future is now here. But as with any technology, it requires some maintenance to keep it running efficiently.

The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most important factor for the life of your robotic device. Keep the dustbin filled and empty. Check for tangled furs and prevent the brushes from clogging.

Another factor is the environmental conditions where your robot is kept, as extreme cold and heat can impact battery performance. You can prolong the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and storing it in a cool area. Also, disconnect it from the power source when not using it. Many smart devices also feature periodic firmware updates that can improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to see if there's any updates.

For those who have many hard floors, a robot vacuum is a great option. It is able to quickly and efficiently remove loose dirt and debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. 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 The Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and an impressive suction system and a range of mopping features to offer a thorough, deep clean of your floors. It uses LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of the home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also detect items like clutter and shoes and clean them up automatically. It also self-empties, meaning that you don't have to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin after every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are great for quick midweek cleanups however they don't have the suction capacity to replace the power of a plug-in vacuum cleaner when it comes to deep cleaning. In addition, even the most powerful robotic vacuums can become tangled up in cords and toys and miss piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs on furniture. The dust bins on their own fill up so quickly that they must return to their charging docks in order to self-empty--a process that can take up to an hour for some models.

As such, it's important to choose a vacuum with a large dustbin that can be empty into its dock without having to return to complete the job. You'll also want to consider whether you'd prefer bagged or unbagged models, and if you do choose a bagless model, how much dust will be able to hold before needing to be empty.

In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand to the carpet in a medium pile and employ a robot vacuum to clean the carpet. We then weigh the amount of sand that we find in the onboard dust bin to determine how much dirt it has accumulated. A large amount suggests that the bin could fill up faster and force your robot to stop cleaning.

It's important to know that most robot vacuums have an enormous dust bin that can be easily empty. You can also set up that they empty their bases at least one or two times a day. Keep a container filled of compressed air nearby to blow away hairs that have become tangled up in the rotating brush and to clean any filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The top robot vacuums provide many connectivity options to connect with the Wi-Fi network in your home. This lets the robot update its software and also gives you the possibility of monitoring your robot through an app or voice commands. While not essential, this feature offers convenience and a variety of customization options that will enhance the overall experience for robot vacuuming.

To keep them running at their best automatic vacuum and mop the majority of models require some level of maintenance. For instance emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Monitoring consumable parts and a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will extend their life span as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the typical life expectancy for a robot vacuum, though this can differ greatly based on the frequency you use it, and whether you take care to maintain it properly.

A robot vacuum has to be able navigate obstacles and map your floor to work. Advanced navigation systems incorporate cliff sensors, which alert the robot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors to help it "see" the plan of rooms. Some robots come with mopping capabilities that can be used to keep floors between deep cleanings by using the use of a vacuum.

The most effective 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you don't have to switch between the robot vacuums with mop vacuum and an manual one. One 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 in a way that is automatic. Its high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance skills have earned it the CR's top robot mop vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums we tested in our tests have excellent pick-up scores for carpets with a low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also remove particles 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 canister. They also aren't able to remove spilled liquids and food, or screws made of heavy metal and they could miss a few areas of the home (including under furniture).

Many models come with smart features which make them more user-friendly. Most models come with an application that lets you schedule cleaning sessions and remotely control the robot. They can be integrated with your smart home system so that you can make voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with different modes that allow you to select between mopping and sweeping or vacuuming. They can also return to their docks to recharge and pick up the area they left.

The technology to avoid obstacles has improved over years, but it is still essential to get rid of cords, toys, and pet clutter before operating the robot. Before you map out the space, it is recommended to cover all floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The lasers employed by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the Robot vacuum best to bump against walls or floors.

More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, with some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your surroundings. This helps the robot recognize obstacles and plan the most efficient route to avoid them. Some also allow you to define no-go zones, so the robot is able to avoid certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

Many robots allow you to set a timer for cleaning and manage their movements hands-free with an app, which means you can take care of your home when you're at work or away. Some robots will also empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This can reduce dust release and is a wonderful feature for allergy sufferers.

Some robots can spot objects on the ground and use a camera as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is an impressive capability, and it's even available in cheaper models. However, it's essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and look for tangled hairs as they accumulate.

Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is helpful in the event that you have multiple floors. You can choose certain rooms, and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are great for midweek cleaning, but they can't substitute a vacuum cleaner with a plug-in particularly when it comes to rugs. They're better at picking up dirt embedded in carpet than floors that are unfinished, but they can still miss piles of debris close to thresholds and baseboards and tangled socks and cords. To get the most out of your robot, choose models that have spots and zone cleaning options to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. You'll also find a model that recharges and picks up the same place it left off, which is an enormous benefit for a house with a lot of rooms.