How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending on the model, they could also sweep, mop, and even vacuum stairs.

Look for models that include clever features, such as remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some apps can even stop and recharge, then return to where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

It's safe to say that the future of cleaning is here. With cars that can drive by themselves, drones that fly through the air, and robot vacuums that can move around furniture in a snap, it is certain that the future is now here. Like all technologies there is a need for some maintenance to ensure it's running smoothly.

The most important aspect in the longevity of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Keep the dustbin filled and empty. Be sure to check for furs that have become tangled and keep the brushes from clogging.

The location the robot is kept can impact the battery's performance. Extreme heat and cold may impact battery performance. You can help preserve the life of your battery by ensuring it is fully charged prior to storage, storing in an environment that is cool and removing it from power sources when not in use. Most smart devices also have periodic firmware updates that help improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to see if there's any updates.

A robot vacuum is a great alternative for those with many hard floors. It is able to take away dirt and debris quickly and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a simple clean-up, you'll want choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.

Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and an impressive suction system and a variety of mopping functions to deliver an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It utilizes LiDAR sensors and cameras to create precise maps of your home, which allows it to stay on the right track and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect items like clutter and shoes and then clean them up. It's also self-emptying so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the bin after every cleaning session.

2. Dust Bin

Robots are good for quick midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Moreover, even the Best robot vacuum cleaner UK robotic vacuums can get tangled with toys and cords, miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. Their onboard dust bins fill up so quickly that they must return to their charging docks to empty themselves, which can take as long as half an hour for certain models.

Therefore, it's crucial to look for a robot vacuum that has a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock and not return to finish the task. You'll also want to consider whether you'd prefer bags or a bagless model If you decide to choose a bagless option, how much dust will it hold before it needs to be empty.

In our tests we applied 100 grams of sand top drop, as well as optical and laser sensors that allow it to "see" the layout of a room. Some robots also have mopping capabilities that are specialized that can be helpful for maintaining floors in between deep cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.

The most efficient 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum and sweep, which means you can skip the step of having to switch between the manual and robot vacuum with mop vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient vacuum cleaner that can also wash its mop pad, and wipe down surfaces using its water tank. Its obstacle avoidance and mapping abilities were so effective that it won CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, and also an AVTech Editors' Choice Award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot vacuums in our tests have excellent performance on carpets with low pile and hard floors cleaning 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 in soft shag carpets and also canister or upright vacuums. They are also unable to pick up spilled food and liquids or screws made of heavy metal and may also leave a few spots in the home (including under furniture).

Many models come with sophisticated features that make them more user-friendly. The majority of models have an app that allows you to schedule cleaning times and control the robot remotely. They can be integrated with your smart home system, to allow voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes, which allow users to choose between mopping and sweeping or vacuuming. They can return to their docks to recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, however you must still clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before running the robot. Before mapping out the room, you'll want to cover all floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The lasers employed by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to bump against walls or floors.

Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This allows the robot to remember obstacles and plan an efficient path around them. Some models also let you define no-go zones, so the robot hoover is able to avoid certain areas like your pet's food bowls or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

Many robots let you create a schedule for cleaning and manage them without hands using an app, which means you can take care of your home when you're at work or away. Some robots can also self-empty their debris into a huge bin at the base. This reduces dust rerelease and is a great 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 also available on cheaper models. It is essential to regularly empty the dust bin of your robot and look for fur that is tangled as it accumulates.

Some models can also create 3D representations. This is beneficial in the event that you have multiple floors. You can then pick specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot focuses on what you want it to do, instead of wandering around areas that you don't need to clean.

Robots are great for midweek cleaning, but they can't substitute for a full-sized plug-in vacuum, especially on carpets. They're better at removing dirt embedded in carpets than bare floors, but they're still unable to pick up piles of debris that are close to thresholds and baseboards as well as cords and socks that are tangled. Find a robot that has spots and zones cleaning modes. This allows you to focus on specific areas and not waste time. You can also find models that charge and resume where they stopped. This is ideal for houses with large spaces.