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 staircases.
Find models with advanced features, such as remote access and app control. You can use apps to schedule cleaning time or keep track of the progress. Some can even pause, recharge and pick up where they were when they left.
1. Battery Life
It's safe to say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that drive by themselves drones that flutter through the air, and robot vacuums that move through furniture effortlessly, it is safe to say that the future is here. Like all technologies, some maintenance is required to ensure it's running smoothly.
The most important factor in the life of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that have become tangled frequently and making sure that the brushes are not blocked will help your robot run more effectively.
Another aspect to consider is the environment in which your robot is stored as extreme cold and heat can impact battery performance. You can help preserve the battery's life by ensuring it's charged to 50% before storage, keeping it in a cool place, and removing it from sources of power when it is 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 are any updates.
If you have many hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a great option. It is able to 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 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 a deep, thorough clean of your flooring. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of the home. This helps it stay on course and avoid getting caught in furniture legs or power cables. It also can detect objects 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 each cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are great for quick midweek cleaning however, they lack the suction to replace a plug in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. In addition, even the most powerful robotic vacuums can become tangled up in cords and toys and miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs that have fallen under furniture. The dust bins on their own fill up so quickly that they must return to their charging docks in order to self-empty, which can take up to an hour for certain models.
It is essential to select an automated vacuum cleaner with a large dustbin that can be empty into the dock without having to return to complete the task. It is also important to think about whether you'd like bags or a bagless model and, if you choose a bagless option, how much dust will it hold before it has to be empty.
In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand to a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to vacuum the sand off. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the vacuum's onboard dust bin to determine the amount of dirt it has accumulated. A high amount means that the bin onboard could get fuller and force your robot to stop cleaning.
It's good to know that most robot vacuums have large dust bins that can be easily emptied. You can also set up the cleaning of their bases at least two times per day. Keep a bin filled with compressed air in your bag to blow away any hairs that are tangled up in the rotating brush and to clean any filters in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums have many connectivity options for connecting to your home's Wi-Fi. This allows the robot to update its software and gives you the option of monitoring your robot through an app or using voice commands. While not essential it is a useful feature and customization features that can enhance the overall experience of robot vacuuming.
To keep them functioning at their peak the majority of models require a certain amount of maintenance. For instance, emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Regularly cleaning, detaching, and checking consumable parts will also extend their life. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says 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.
In order to operate a robot vacuum, it has to be able to map out your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems usually include sensors for cliffs that alert the robot to steep drops and laser and optical sensors that allow it to "see" the layout of a room. Some robots also have mopping functions that are specifically designed for them, which can be useful to keep floors clean between deep cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you don't have to switch between a robot vacuum and manual vacuum. One of the best examples is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that is able to wipe down surfaces with its water tank and wash its mop pad automatically. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance abilities 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 excellent pickup scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors cleaning dust, dirt, and pet hair. They also remove debris and crumbs from the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. They aren't able to remove dirt that is deep-seated or tangles of shag fibers such as an upright or a canister. They also aren't able to remove spilled food and liquids or heavy metal screws, and they may leave a few spots in the home (including under furniture).
Many models come with intelligent features that make them more user-friendly. They typically include an app, allowing you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart-home system so that you can make voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have 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 where they left off.
The technology for avoiding obstacles has advanced over the years, but it is still important to take away cords, toys and any pet mess before you run the robot. Before you can map out your space, it is recommended 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.
Certain models that are top of the line use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This helps the robot identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some models also let you create no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid 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 allows you to tidy your home even when you're at work or away on vacation. Some robots also have the ability to self-empty into a larger container in their base, which reduces dust release and is a wonderful feature for allergy sufferers.
Certain robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even detect objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to stay clear of obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This impressive feature is available on even cheaper models. It's essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and also check for tangled fur as it builds up.
Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is beneficial if you have multiple floors. You can then pick specific rooms and set digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot focuses on what you want it to, rather than wandering into areas you don't need cleaning.
Robots are great for midweek cleanups, but they can't substitute for a full-sized plug-in vacuum, particularly for carpets. They are better at removing dirt from carpet than plain flooring, but they will not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds, as well as knotted cords and socks. Look for a robot with spot and zone cleaning modes. This will allow you to concentrate on specific areas without having to spend time. There are also models that can charge and resume the same place they stopped. This is ideal for houses with large spaces.