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.
Find models with smart features, such as remote access and app control. You can use apps to schedule cleaning sessions and monitor the progress. Some apps allow you to pause, recharge and return to where they left off.
1. Battery Life
With cars that drive themselves drones that fly through the skies, and robot vacuums that nimbly maneuver around furniture, it's safe to claim that the future of home cleaning is now here. However, like all technology, it requires some maintenance to keep it running smoothly.
The most important factor in the longevity of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Be sure to check for furs that have become tangled and prevent the brushes from getting jammed.
Another aspect to consider is the environment in which your robot is stored, because extreme heat and cold can affect battery performance. You can extend the life of your battery by ensuring that it is fully charged prior to storage, storing in an environment that is cool and taking it off of sources of power when it is not in use. Additionally, most smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization. So make sure to check your app for any available updates.
For those who have lots of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a great option. It can remove dirt and debris quickly and efficiently, leaving your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than a simple cleanup, you'll want to choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation with an impressive suction system and a variety of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting caught in furniture legs or power cables. It can also detect objects such as clutter and shoes to automatically clean them. 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 but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for a thorough clean. Furthermore, even the top robotic vacuums can get tangled with toys and cords and miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs on furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled quickly, and they have to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for some models.
As such, it's important to look for a robot vacuum with a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock without returning to finish the task. You should also consider whether you'd like bagged or unbagged models If you decide to 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 to the carpet in a medium pile and utilize a robot vacuum vacuum it over the surface. Weighing the amount of sand in the dust bin onboard allows us to measure the amount dirt that has been accumulated. A high amount means that the bin onboard could fill up faster and force the robot to stop cleaning.
The positive side is that many high-end robot vacuums have a large dust bin that can easily be emptied and you can even schedule the emptying of their bases at least once per day or more. It's important to keep a bottle of compressed air handy to blow hairs out that are tangled in the rotating brush and clean any filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums have a variety of connectivity options for connecting to the Wi-Fi network in your home. This enables the robot to download and install updates for its software, and also giving you the option to monitor your robot using an app or through voice-activated commands. This isn't a necessity, but it offers convenience and options for customization that can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.
Most models require some level of routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll to ensure that they function at peak efficiency. Monitoring consumable parts and a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will increase their life span as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says three to five years is the standard life expectancy of a robot vacuum, though it can differ significantly based on the frequency you use it and if you take care of it in a proper manner.
A robot vacuum must be able to navigate around obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to function. Advanced navigation systems have cliff sensors that alert the bot of steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors to help it "see" the arrangement of the room. Certain robots have mopping capabilities that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings with the use of a vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 robots can mop and vacuum making it possible 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 highly efficient robot vacuum that is able to clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash its mop pad automatically. Its mapping and obstacle avoidance capabilities were so impressive that it won the CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, as well an AVTech Editors' Choice Award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums we test have excellent pickup scores on hard floors as well as carpets with a low pile. They remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also clean up particles and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. But they can't remove deep-down dirt or tangles of plush shag carpet fibers as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They also can't pick up spilled liquids and food, or heavy metal screws, and they may be unable to reach certain areas of the house (including under furniture).
Many models come with sophisticated features that make them more user-friendly. robotvacuummops of models include an application that lets you schedule cleaning times and also control the robot remotely. They can also be integrated with your smart-home system, so you can use the robots with voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have different modes that let you choose between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can also recharge at their docks and continue cleaning the area they left.
The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, however it is still necessary to clean out cords, toys, and pet messes prior to operating the robot. It is also recommended to cover any mirrors that are floor-to-ceiling with cardboard before tracing the room for the first time since the lasers used by certain models may bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to crash into the floor or wall.
The most expensive models come with advanced mapping capabilities, some using lidar to generate an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot to recognize obstacles and devise an efficient path around them. Some also allow you to set no-go zones, so the robot is able to avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.
5. App Control
Many robots allow you to set a timer for cleaning and manage them hands-free using an app, which means you can take care of your home while you're working or away. Some robots are also able to self-empty into a larger container in their base which can reduce dust release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.
Certain robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can detect objects on the floor and use a camera to coach them to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This feature is available on less expensive models. It's important that you regularly empty the robot's dustbin, and that you look for fur that is tangled as it accumulates.
Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is helpful if you have more than one floor. You can select specific rooms and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only is cleaning the areas you want.
Robots are ideal for midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner particularly when it comes to rugs. They are more adept in removing dirt from carpet than bare flooring, but can still be unable to find piles near baseboards or thresholds, as well as knotted cords and socks. To get the most value from your robot, choose models that have spots and zone cleaning modes to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. You can also find a model that recharges and then resumes the same place it left off, which is a huge advantage in a big house.