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 have intelligent features, like remote access and app control. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some even allow you to stop, recharge and then pick up where they were when they left.
1. Battery Life
With self-driving cars, drones that navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that nimbly maneuver around furniture, it's safe to say the future of cleaning is now here. But as with any technology it needs some care to ensure it's running smoothly.
The cycle of charging and discharging the battery is the most crucial factor in the longevity of your robotic device. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, checking 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 kept, as extreme temperatures and cold can affect the battery's performance. You can prolong the life of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and storing it in a cool place. Also, take it away from the power source when being used. Many smart devices also feature periodic firmware updates that help optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to see if there's any updates.
For those with many hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a good choice. It is able to quickly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than a simple clean-up, you should look for a model that has superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.
Our top-rated robot, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation with an impressive suction system 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. Robot Vacuum Mops allows it to keep its course and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also identify objects like clutter and shoes to automatically clean them. It also self-empties, meaning you won't have to return the vacuum back to its base station to empty its bin after each cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups however, they lack the suction power to replace an electric vacuum cleaner for deep cleaning. Furthermore, even the top robotic vacuums can become tangled up in cords and toys and miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs under furniture. The dust bins on their own fill up so quickly that they must return to their charging docks to self-empty, which can take up to half an hour for some models.
As such, it's important to look for a robot vacuum with a large dustbin and can empty into its dock without returning to finish the job. You'll want to decide whether you prefer a bagged model or a bagless one. If you decide to go with the bagless model you'll need to determine how much dust it will hold before you can empty it.
In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand on a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum to remove the sand. We then weigh the amount of sand in the vacuum's onboard dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has accumulated. A high amount means that the bin could get fuller and force your robot to stop cleaning.
The good news is that many high-end robot vacuums have an enormous dust bin that can easily be emptied and you can set up them to empty their bases at least once a day or more. It is also a good idea to keep a container of compressed air in your bag to blow hairs out that have tangled in the rotating brush and clean any filters according to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The best robot vacuums have many options to connect to your home's WiFi network. This allows the robot to update its software and provides you with the option of monitoring your robot via an app or voice commands. While not essential it is a useful feature and personalization features that enhance the overall experience of robot vacuuming.
To ensure they are running at their best they require a certain level of maintenance. For example emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Regularly cleaning, detaching and checking consumable parts will also extend the life of their components. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's life expectancy is between three and five years. However, this could vary depending on how frequently you use it, and also if you maintain it properly.
A robot vacuum must be able navigate obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to be able to perform. Advanced navigation systems usually include cliff sensors that alert the bot to steep drops, as well as optical and laser sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Some robots also come with a specialized mopping function that can be helpful for keeping floors clean between deeper cleanings with a stand-up 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 can also wipe down surfaces with its water tank and wash its mop pad in a way that is automatic. Its mapping and obstacle avoidance capabilities were so impressive that it won the CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, as well an AVTech Editors' Choice Award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums we tested in our tests have outstanding pick-up scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors and remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also get rid of particles and crumbs along the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. They can't remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of shag fibers like an upright or canister. They can't pick-up spilled liquids and food, or the weight of metal screws. They might also leave out certain areas (including under furniture).
Many models have clever features that make them more user-friendly. They typically have an app allowing you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart home system, to allow voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have different modes that let you pick between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks to recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, however you must still clear out any cords, toys and pet messes before operating the robot. You should also cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard before mapping out the room for the first time, since the lasers employed by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to bump into walls or floors.
More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, with some using lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot remember obstacles and determine the most efficient route around them. Some also allow you to define no-go zones, so the robot will not be able to enter certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.
5. App Control
You can set up a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots with an app. This lets you tidy your home even when you're working or on vacation. Some robots will also empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This reduces dust release and is an excellent feature for people suffering from allergies.
Some robots, such as the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and use a camera to coach them to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is an impressive capability, and it's even available in cheaper models. It's crucial to clean your robot's dustbin and check for hairs that are tangled as they build up.
Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is useful when you have more than one floor. You can choose specific rooms, and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you want.
Robots are great for routine midweek clean-ups however they aren't able to replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, especially on carpets. They are better at removing dirt that's embedded in carpet than floors that are unfinished, but they're still unable to pick up piles of debris close to thresholds and baseboards, and cords and socks that are tangled. To get the most out of your robot, look for models with zone and spot cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. You'll also find a model that recharges and then resumes where it left off which is an enormous benefit for a house with a lot of rooms.