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 that include smart features such as app control and remote access. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and keep track of progress. Some can even stop, recharge and then pick up where they left off.

1. Battery Life

It's safe to say that the future of cleaning is here. With cars that can drive independently drones that flutter through the air and robot vacuums that can move through furniture effortlessly, it is safe to say that the future is now here. Like all technologies, some maintenance is required to keep it running smoothly.

The most crucial factor in the life of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Keep the dustbin full and empty. Make sure you check for furs that are tangled and stop the brushes from getting jammed.

Another aspect is the environmental conditions where your robot is stored as extreme cold and heat can affect battery performance. You can prolong the life of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and storing it in a cool location. Also, remove it from the power source when using it. The majority of smart devices also come with periodic firmware updates that can improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to see if there are any updates.

A robot vacuum is a great option for those who have lots of hard flooring. It will remove dirt and debris quickly and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. However, if you're looking to do more than just a quick cleaning, you'll need to consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation, strong suction and a variety of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This allows it to keep its course and robot vacuums with mop avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also identify objects such as clutter and shoes to automatically clean around them. It's also self-emptying, so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the bin after every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are excellent for quick midweek cleaning however they don't have the suction power to replace an electric vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Furthermore, even the top robot vacuums can be caught with toys and cords and miss piles of dirt close to the baseboards, and struggle with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. And, their onboard dustbins are so full that they need to return to their charging docks to self-empty, which can take as long as half an hour for some models.

It is important to choose a robot vacuum with a large dustbin that can be emptied into the dock without having to return to complete the job. You'll need to determine if you prefer a bagged model or a model that is bagless. If you opt for the bagless model you'll need to determine the amount of dust it can hold before at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the typical life expectancy for the robot vacuum, but this can differ greatly based 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 include cliff sensors, which alert the robot of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors that help "see" the arrangement of a room. Certain robots also have a specialized mopping function that can be helpful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings using an upright vacuum.

The most efficient 2-in-1 robots vacuum and mop, allowing you to 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 high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance abilities earned it CR's best robot cleaner robot vacuums with mop vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors' Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The top robot vacuums we test have excellent pickup scores on hard floors as well as carpets with low pile. They get rid of dirt, dust and pet hair. They also take out debris and crumbs from the baseboards and at the edges of rooms. But they can't remove deep-down dirt or tangles that are a part of plush shag carpet fibers as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They also can't pick up spilled food and liquids or screws made of heavy metal and may also miss a few areas of the home (including under furniture).

Many models are equipped with clever features that make them more user friendly. They typically include an app, which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and manage the robot remotely. They also can be integrated with your smart-home system which means you can control them via voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes that let you select between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has advanced over the years, but it is still important to take away cords, toys and any pet clutter before operating the robot. It is also recommended to cover any mirrors that are floor-to-ceiling with cardboard before mapping out the space for the first time because the laser used by certain models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to crash into the floor or wall.

Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This helps the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some robots let you create no-go zones to ensure that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls, or a costly rug.

5. App Control

You can set up an agenda for cleaning and control the robots through an app. This allows you to clean your home while you are at work or on vacation. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger container at their base which can reduce dust release and is an excellent feature for people suffering from allergies.

Some robots can spot objects on the ground and use cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is an impressive feature, and it's even offered in less expensive models. It is essential to regularly empty the dust bin of your robot, and that you check for tangled fur as it builds up.

A high-end model can also store multiple floor maps, Robot vacuum best which can be helpful if you live on more than one level, and some can create 3D representations of your home. You can choose specific rooms, and set up digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are good for midweek cleaning, but they cannot substitute a vacuum cleaner with a plug-in particularly when it is a rug. They're better at removing dirt embedded in carpet than bare floors, but they can still miss piles of debris near baseboards and thresholds, as well as cords and socks that have become tangled. To make the most of your robot, look for a model with zone and spot cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. You can also find a model that recharges and picks up where it left off, which is a major advantage in a big house.