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 innovative features like remote control of apps and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend and recharge, and then pick up where they were when they left.
1. Battery Life
With cars that drive themselves drones that fly through the skies and robot vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe to say that the future of cleaning is now here. As with all technology, some maintenance is required to ensure it's running smoothly.
The most important aspect in the long-term performance of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Check for tangled furs and keep the brushes from jamming.
Another factor is the environmental conditions where your robot is stored, as extreme temperatures and cold can impact the battery's performance. You can prolong the lifespan of your robot's battery by charging it to 50% and storing it in a cool area. Also, remove it from the power source when it is not being used. Furthermore, many smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization, so be sure to check your app for any updates that are available.
If you have a lot of hard floors, a robot vacuum is a great option. It's able to swiftly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you want more than a simple cleaning, you should search for a model that has superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.
The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top rated robot. automated vacuum cleaner combines advanced navigation, powerful suction, and a variety of mopping features to provide an extensive, thorough cleaning of your hard floor. It utilizes cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home, which 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 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 ideal for quick midweek cleaning but lack the suction to replace a plug in vacuum cleaner for a thorough clean. Even the best robot vacuums are susceptible to getting tangled in cords and toys. They can also miss dirt piles near baseboards and struggle to remove dust from under furniture. Their dust bins onboard fill up quickly that they need to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This could take as long as 30 minutes for some models.
As such, it's important to look for a robot vacuum with a large dustbin and can empty into its dock without returning to complete the job. You'll need to determine if you prefer bags or a model that is bagless. If you decide to go with the bagless version you'll need to know how much dust it can hold before you empty it.
In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand onto an area of carpet with a medium pile and use a robot vacuum to clean the carpet. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the vacuum's dust bin to determine how much dirt it has collected. A high amount indicates that the bin could be filled faster and cause your robot to stop cleaning.
It's good to know that many robot vacuums come with a large dustbin, which can be easily emptied. You can also schedule that they empty their bases at least two times per day. Keep a container filled with compressed air on hand to blow away hairs that have become tangled up in the rotating brush and to clean any filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The best robot vacuums offer various connectivity options to connect to the Wi-Fi network in your home. This enables the robot to download and install updates to its software, and also giving you the option to monitor your bot via an app or voice-activated commands. This feature isn't essential, but it does provide convenience and options for customization that can enhance your robot's overall vacuuming experience.
Most models require a certain amount of routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll to ensure that they function at peak efficiency. Regularly cleaning, detaching and checking consumable components will also increase their lifespan. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's lifespan is typically between three and five years. However, it can differ based on how often you use it and if you take care of it.
To function a robot vacuum, it has to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically have sensors that detect cliffs and alert the bot to steep slopes and laser and optical sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Certain robots also have mopping capabilities that are specialized which is useful to keep floors clean between deep cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.
The most efficient 2-in-1 robots vacuum and mop and sweep, which means you can bypass the need to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a robust, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can also wash its mop pad and wipe down surfaces using its water tank. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities have earned it the CR's top robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors Choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The best robot vacuums that we tested have impressive pickup scores on hard floors and low pile carpets. They get rid of dirt, dust and pet hair. They also get rid of particles and crumbs along the baseboards and along the edges of rooms. They aren't able to remove dirt that is deep-seated or tangles of plush shag fibers like an upright or canister. They aren't able to pick up spilled liquids or food items, or use heavy metal screws. They may also leave out certain areas (including under furniture).
Many models come with clever features that make them more user friendly. They usually have an app that allows you to plan cleaning times and operate the robot remotely. They can also be integrated with your smart-home system, which means you can control them with voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with different modes that let you choose between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can recharge their docks and continue cleaning where they left.
The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved over years, but it is still essential to get rid of cords, toys and any pet debris prior to running the robot. It is also recommended to cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard before mapping out 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 a wall or 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 to identify obstacles and create an efficient route around them. Certain robots let you create no-go zones so that the robot will avoid certain areas, such as your pet's bowls of food or a rug that is expensive.
5. App Control
You can create a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots through an app. This lets you take care of your home while you're working or on vacation. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger container in their base, which reduces dust re-release and is a wonderful option for those suffering from allergies.
Some robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even 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 impressive feature is available on even cheaper models. However, it's important to regularly empty your robot's dustbin and check for hairs that have become tangled as they build up.
Some models can also create 3D representations. This is useful when you have more than one floor. You can then pick specific rooms and set digital zones for keeping out to ensure that your robot focuses on what you want it to focus on, rather than wandering into areas you don't need cleaning.
Robots are great for regular midweek cleanups, but they can't replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, especially on carpets. They are more adept at removing dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but they will be unable to find piles near baseboards or thresholds, as well as knotted cords and socks. Choose a model that has spots and zones cleaning modes. This allows you to concentrate on specific areas without wasting time. You'll also find a model that recharges and then resumes where it left off, which is an enormous advantage in a big house.