How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending on the model they can also sweep or mop stairs.
Find models that have smart features such as remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of progress. Some can even pause, recharge and return to where they left off.
1. Battery Life
It's safe to say that future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that can drive by themselves drones that flutter through the air, and robotic vacuums that move through furniture effortlessly, it is certain that the future is here. Like all technologies there is a need for some maintenance to keep it running smoothly.
The most important factor in the life 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 preventing the brushes from becoming blocked will help your robot run more efficiently.
Another aspect is the environmental conditions where your robot is kept, because extreme heat and cold can impact the battery's performance. You can prolong the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and storing it in a cool location. Also, disconnect it from the power source when using it. Additionally, most smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that improve performance, including battery optimization, so make sure to check your app for any updates that are available.
A robot vacuum is a fantastic option for those who have many hard floors. It will take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently and leave your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a simple clean-up, look for a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and strong suction and a variety of mopping functions to provide a thorough, deep clean of your floors. It utilizes LiDAR sensors and cameras to create detailed maps of your home. This assists it in staying on track and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also identify objects like clutter and shoes to automatically clean them. It's also self-emptying, so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the trash after every cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are great for quick midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Even the top robot vacuums are susceptible to getting caught in cords and toys. They also can ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of baseboards and struggle to remove dust from under furniture. The dust bins on their own fill up so quickly that they have to return to their charging docks in order to self-empty--a process that can take up to an hour for some models.
Therefore, it's crucial to choose a vacuum that has a big dustbin and can empty into its dock and not return to finish the task. You'll want to decide whether you prefer bags or a model that is bagless. If you opt for the bagless option you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you have to empty it.
In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand onto carpet with a medium pile and utilized a robot vacuum cleaner to vacuum the sand off. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the vacuum's dust bin to determine the amount of dirt it has collected. A high amount of dirt suggests that the onboard bin may be filled up faster and could force your robot to stop its cleaning cycle, or worse, stop working altogether.
It's important to know that many robot vacuums have large dust bins that is easily emptyable. You can also set up that they empty their bases at least one or two times a day. It's recommended to keep a container of compressed air handy to blow out hairs that have tangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The best robot vacuums offer a variety of connectivity options for connecting to your home's Wi-Fi. This enables the robot to download and install updates for its software, and also allows you to monitor your robot via an app or through voice-activated commands. Although not required it is a useful feature and a variety of customization options that will improve your 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 top performance. Monitoring consumable parts and following a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will extend their life span too. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the average lifespan of a robot vacuum, though it can differ significantly based on how often you use it and whether you take care of it in a proper manner.
A robot vacuum has to be able to navigate obstacles and map your floor to work. Advanced navigation systems typically have sensors that detect cliffs and alert the bot to steep slopes and laser and optical sensors that allow it to "see" the layout of a room. Certain robots also have a specialized mopping function which is useful to keep floors clean between deeper cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means you don't have to switch between a robot vacuum and an manual one. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can also wash its mop pad and clean surfaces with its water tank. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities have earned it the CR's top robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors Choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The best robot vacuums that we tested have impressive 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. However, they are unable to eliminate deep down dirt or tangles that are a part of soft shag carpets as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They also can't pick up spilled liquids and food, or heavy screws, and they may miss a few areas of the home (including under furniture).
Many models come with clever features that make them more user-friendly. Robot Vacuum Mops of models have an application that lets you schedule cleaning sessions, and also control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart home system, so that you can use voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes, which allow you to select between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, but you still need to clear out toys, cords, and pet messes prior operating the robot. It is also recommended to cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard before tracing the space for the first time since the lasers used by certain models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to hit a wall or floor.
More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some making use of lidar to create a 3D map of your surroundings. This allows the robot to recognize obstacles and devise an efficient route around them. Some robots allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot avoids certain areas, for example, your pet's food bowls or a costly rug.
5. App Control
You can set up a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots through an app. This lets you tidy your home even when you're working or on vacation. Certain robots also automatically empty their debris into a huge bin at the base. This can reduce dust release and is a wonderful feature for people suffering from allergies.
Some robots, such as the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can detect objects on the floor and use a camera to coach them to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This impressive feature is available on even cheaper models. However, it's essential to regularly empty your robot's trash bin and check for hairs that have become tangled as they build up.
A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor maps, which is useful if you live on more than one floor Some models also create 3D models of your home. You can then choose specific rooms and set digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot is focused on what you want it to do, instead of wandering around areas you don't need cleaning.
Robots are ideal for midweek cleaning, but they cannot replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner particularly when it is a rug. They are more adept at picking up dirt from carpet than bare flooring, but they can not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds, as well as tangled cords and socks. To get the most value from your robot, search for models with spots and zone cleaning options to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. You can also find models that charge and resume where they have left off. This is ideal for homes with large rooms.