How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending on the model, they can also sweep or mop stairs.
Find models that have smart features such as remote control and app control. You can use apps to schedule cleaning sessions and monitor the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend, recharge and resume where they stopped.
1. Battery Life
It's safe to say that future of cleaning has arrived. With cars that can drive by themselves drones that flutter through the air, and robot vacuums that can move around furniture with ease, it is possible to say that the future is now upon us. As with all technology it is necessary to maintain it to keep it running smoothly.
The battery's charge-discharge cycles are the most important aspect for the longevity of your robot. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, checking for tangled hairs regularly and making sure that the brushes are not jammed will all aid in running your robot more effectively.
Another aspect is the environmental conditions where your robot is stored because extreme heat and cold can affect battery performance. You can extend the life of your battery by ensuring it's charged to 50% before storage, storing it in an area that is cool, and taking it off of sources of power when not in use. In addition, the majority of smart devices have periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization, so be sure to check your app for any available updates.
If you have many hard floors, a robot vacuum is an excellent option. It can get rid of dirt and debris fast and efficiently, leaving your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a quick cleaning, you should search for a model with superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.
Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation, an impressive suction system and a variety of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your floors. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of the home. This helps it stay on course and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It also can detect objects like shoes and clutter, and clean them up automatically. 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 deep cleans. Even the best robot vacuums are susceptible to becoming entangled in cords and toys. They also can ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of baseboards and struggle to remove the crumbs that have accumulated under furniture. Their onboard dust bins are so full that they need to return to their charging docks to self-empty, which can take as long as half an hour for some models.
As such, it's important to look for a robot vacuum that has a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock without returning to finish the job. You'll also want to consider whether you'd like a bagged or bagless model, and if you do choose a bagless model, how much dust will it hold before it needs to be cleaned.
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 that we find in the vacuum's onboard dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has accumulated. A high amount means that the bin onboard may get fuller and force your robot to stop cleaning.
It's important to know that most robot vacuums come with a large dustbin, which can be easily empty. You can also set up that they empty their bases at least one or two times per day. It is also a good idea to keep a container of compressed air handy 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 top robot vacuums have a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This lets the robot download and install updates to its software, and allows you to monitor your robot via an app or via voice-activated commands. This feature is not essential but it offers the convenience of customization and can enhance your robot's overall vacuuming experience.
To keep them running at their best, most models require some level of maintenance. For example, emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Monitoring consumable parts and a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will increase their life span as well. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's life expectancy is between three and five years. However, it can vary depending on how frequently you use it and if you take care to maintain it.
In order to operate, a robot vacuum needs to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems have sensors for cliffs, which warn the robot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that help "see" the arrangement of a room. Certain robots have mopping functions that can be used to keep floors between deep cleanings with vacuums.
The most effective 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum, allowing you to bypass the need to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. One of the best examples is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that is able to clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash the mop pad automatically. Its mapping and obstacle avoidance abilities were so effective that it was awarded CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, as well an AVTech Editors Choice Award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums in our tests have outstanding pick-up scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also sweep away crumbs and debris from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. But they can't eliminate deep down dirt or tangles in the carpet's shag carpet as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They also aren't able to remove spilled food and liquids or screws made of heavy metal and they could be unable to reach certain areas of the home (including under furniture).
Many models have smart features which make them more user-friendly. Many models have an app that allows you to schedule cleaning times and also control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart-home system so that you can make voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes, which allow users to choose between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can return to their docks for a recharge and resume cleaning the area they left.
Obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, but you must still clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before running the robot. Before you can map out your room, you'll need to cover all ceiling-to-floor mirrors with cardboard. The laser used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to bump against walls or floors.
Some premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some using lidar to create a 3D map of your space. This allows the robot to remember obstacles and plan an efficient path around them. Certain robots let you create no-go zones to ensure that the robot will avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.
5. App Control
You can set up a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots through an app. This lets you tidy your home even when you are at work or away on vacation. Some robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger container in their base, which reduces dust re-release and is an excellent feature for people suffering from allergies.
Certain robots, like the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and use a camera to teach them to stay clear of obstacles such as furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This is an impressive capability, and it's even available in less expensive models. It's crucial to regularly empty your robot's dustbin and check for hairs that have become tangled when they begin to accumulate.
A top-quality model can also store multiple floor maps, which is beneficial if you live in more than one floor, and some can create 3D representations of your home. You can then choose specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot focuses on what you want it to focus on, instead of wandering around areas that don't require cleaning.
auto vacuum cleaner are good for midweek cleaning, but they can't substitute a vacuum cleaner with a plug-in especially when it comes to rugs. They are more adept in removing dirt from carpet than plain flooring, but can still not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds, as well as tangled cords and socks. To get the most value from your robot, look for models with spots and zone cleaning options to focus on specific areas and reduce the need for cleaning. You'll also find a model that recharges and then resumes the same place it left off, which is an enormous benefit for a house with a lot of rooms.