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 with clever features, such as remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and monitor progress. Some apps can even stop and recharge, then resume where they stopped.
1. Battery Life
It's safe to say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive independently drones that flutter through the air and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture in a snap It's safe to say that the future is now here. However, as with all technologies it requires some upkeep to keep it running efficiently.
The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most important aspect for the life of your robot. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that are tangled regularly, and preventing the brushes from becoming jammed will all aid in running your robot more efficiently.
Another factor is the environmental conditions where your robot is stored as extreme temperatures and cold can affect the battery's performance. You can help preserve the battery's life by ensuring it is charged to 50% before storage, storing in an area that is cool, and taking it off of sources of power when not in use. Additionally, most smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that can optimize performance, including battery optimization, so be sure to check the app for any updates that are available.
If you have lots of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is an excellent option. It is able to take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. However, if you're looking to do more than a simple cleanup, you'll want to choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top-rated robot. It combines advanced navigation, powerful suction, and a range of mopping options to offer an efficient, thorough clean of your hard flooring. It uses cameras and LiDAR sensors to create precise maps of your home, which helps it stay on track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It can also identify items such as clutter and shoes, and then clean them up. It's also self-emptying, which means you won't have to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin every 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 a thorough clean. Even the most powerful robotic vacuums are prone to becoming entangled in cords and toys. They also tend to miss dirt piles near the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate crumbs from under furniture. Their onboard dust bins fill up so quickly that they have to return to their charging docks in order to empty themselves, which can take as long as half an hour for certain models.
It is important to choose the right robot vacuum that has an ample dust bin that can be empty into the dock without needing return to finish the job. You'll need to decide if you prefer bagged models or a bagless one. If you decide to go with the bagless option you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you empty it.
In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand onto an area of carpet with a medium pile and use a robot vacuum to vacuum it over the surface. We then weigh the amount of sand in the onboard dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has accumulated. A large amount suggests that the bin onboard may get fuller and force your robot to stop cleaning.
The good news is that a lot of high-end robot vacuums have an enormous dust bin that can easily be emptied and you can even schedule them to empty into their bases at least once a day or more. Keep a container filled with compressed air in your bag to blow out any hairs that are tangled in the rotating brush, and to clean the filters in accordance to the instructions of the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums offer various options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This lets the robot update its software and gives you the option of monitoring your robot through an app or using voice commands. This feature is not essential however it provides the convenience of customization and can improve the overall robot vacuuming experience.
Most models require some level of regular maintenance, such as emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll to ensure that they function at top performance. Monitoring consumable components and a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment can extend their life span too. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says that three to five years is the average lifespan of a robot vacuum, though this can differ greatly based on how often you use it and if you take care of it in a proper manner.
A robot vacuum must be able navigate obstacles and map your floor in order to work. Advanced navigation systems usually include cliff sensors that alert the bot to steep drops as well as laser and optical sensors that help it "see" the layout of a room. Some robots also have mopping capabilities that are specialized, which can be useful to keep floors clean between deep cleanings using a stand-up vacuum.
The most effective 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you don't need to switch between the robot vacuum and manual vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a robust, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can also wash its mop pad, and wipe down surfaces using its water tank. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities made it the best robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors' Choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums in our tests have outstanding pickup scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets and remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also take out debris and crumbs from the baseboards and at the edges of rooms. However, they cannot eliminate deep down dirt or tangles in soft shag carpets and also canister or upright vacuums. Going On this page can't pick up spilled liquids and food, or heavy metal screws and may also be unable to reach certain areas of the house (including under furniture).
Many models come with clever features that make them more user-friendly. They typically come with an app, allowing you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can be integrated with your smart-home system so that you can make voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes, which allow users to choose between mopping and sweeping or vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and pick up where they left off.
Obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, but you still need to clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before operating the robot. Before mapping out the room, you'll need to cover all floor-to ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The lasers used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to bump against a wall or a floor.
Some premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot remember obstacles and plan the most efficient path around them. Some models also let you create no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.
5. App Control
You can create a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots using an app. This allows you to tidy your home even when you are at work or away on vacation. Some robots will also empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This helps reduce dust release and is a wonderful feature for those suffering from allergies.
Certain robots, like the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to avoid obstacles such as furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This amazing feature is available on even cheaper models. It's important that you regularly empty the robot's dustbin and also examine it for fur that has become tangled as it builds up.
A high-end model can also store multiple floor maps, which can be helpful if you live on more than one level and some models can even create 3D representations of your home. You can choose specific rooms and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.
Robots are ideal for midweek cleaning, but they cannot replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner especially when it concerns rugs. They are better at removing dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but can still not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds as well as knotted cords and socks. To get the most out of your robot, search for models with zone and spot cleaning modes to focus on specific areas and reduce the need for cleaning. You can also find models that charge and resume the same place they stopped. This is ideal for houses with large spaces.