How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

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

Find models with advanced features, such as remote access and app control. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and monitor the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend, recharge and pick up where they left off.

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. However, like all technology it needs some care to keep it working efficiently.

The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most important aspect for the life of your robotic device. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, checking for hairs that have become tangled frequently, and making sure that the brushes are not jammed will all help your robot Vacuum best run more effectively.

The environment the robot is stored may affect the battery's performance. Extreme cold and heat may impact battery performance. You can prolong the lifespan 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 using it. Many smart devices also feature periodic firmware updates that can optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to see if there are any updates.

A robot vacuum is an excellent option for those who have a lot of hard flooring. It is able to get rid of dirt and debris fast and efficiently, leaving your floors sparkling. If you want more than a quick clean-up, look for a model that offers superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.

The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top-rated robotic. It combines advanced navigation, powerful suction and a range of mopping features to provide an extensive, thorough cleaning of your hard flooring. It uses LiDAR sensors and cameras to create precise maps of your home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting caught on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect objects like clutter and shoes to automatically clean around them. 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 great for quick midweek cleaning, however, they lack the suction to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for a thorough clean. In addition, even the most powerful robotic vacuums can become tangled up in cords and toys, miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs under furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled quickly, and they have to go back to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take up to 30 minutes for some models.

Therefore, it's crucial to choose a vacuum with a large dustbin that can be empty into its dock and not return to complete the job. It is also important to think about whether you'd like a bagged or bagless model and, if you choose a bagless option the amount of dust it hold before three and five years. However, this could vary depending on how frequently you use it and whether you take care to maintain it.

A robot vacuum must be able to navigate around obstacles and map your floor to be able to perform. Advanced navigation systems usually include cliff sensors that alert the robot to steep drops as well as optical and laser sensors that allow it to "see" a room's layout. Some robots also come with mopping functions that are specifically designed for them that can be helpful for keeping floors clean between deeper cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.

The most effective 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means that you won't have to switch between an automatic vacuum and manual vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a robust, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can wash its mop pad and clean up surfaces with its water tank. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance skills have earned it the CR's top robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best rated robot vacuum robot vacuums we tested had impressive pick-up scores on hard floors as well as low pile carpets. They remove dirt, dust and pet hair. They also remove dust and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. But they can't remove deep-down dirt or tangles of soft shag carpets as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They are also unable to pick up spilled liquids and food, or screws made of heavy metal and may also be unable to reach certain areas of the house (including under furniture).

Many models have clever features that make them more user friendly. Many models come with an application that lets you schedule cleaning times and control the robot remotely. They can also integrate with your smart home system, which means you can control the robots with voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have different modes that allow you to choose between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and pick up the area they left.

Obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, but you must still clear out toys, cords, and robot vacuum best pet messes before running the robot. Before you can map out your room, you'll need to cover all floor-to ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The laser used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to crash against a wall or a floor.

The most expensive models come with advanced mapping capabilities, some making use of lidar to create a 3D map of your space. This helps the robot identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some also allow you to define no-go zones, so the robot can avoid specific 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 clean your home while you are at work or on vacation. Certain robots also automatically empty their trash into a large bin at the base. This reduces dust release and is an excellent feature for those suffering from allergies.

Some robots can spot objects on the ground and utilize cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is an impressive feature and is even available in less expensive models. It is essential to regularly empty the robot's dustbin, and that you check for tangled fur as it accumulates.

A top-quality model can also store multiple floor maps, which is useful if you live on more than one floor and some models can even create 3D models of your home. You can select specific rooms, and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.

Robots are great for midweek cleanups, but they can't substitute for a full-sized plug-in vacuum, particularly 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. Look for a robot with spots and zones cleaning modes. This allows you to concentrate on specific areas without having to spend time. You can also find models that can charge and resume the same place they stopped. This is ideal for homes with large rooms.