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.
Look for models with smart features such as app control and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of progress. Some even allow you to stop, recharge and then pick up where they left off.
1. Battery Life
With cars that drive themselves drones that can navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that nimbly maneuver around furniture, it's safe to say the future of cleaning is here. However, as with all technologies it requires some upkeep to keep it working smoothly.
The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most crucial factor in the life of your robot. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, checking for hairs that have become tangled frequently and preventing the brushes from becoming stuck will help your robot run more efficiently.
The conditions in which your robot is stored may affect battery performance. Extreme temperatures and cold 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 area. Also, remove it from the power source when being used. Most smart devices also have periodic firmware updates which can optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to check if there are any updates.
A robot vacuum is a great option for those who have a lot of hard flooring. It can quickly and effectively remove loose dirt and debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. However, if you're looking to do more than just a quick cleaning, you'll need to look for a model with superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.
The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top-rated robotic. It combines advanced navigation, powerful suction, and a range of mopping options to offer an extensive, thorough cleaning of your hard floor. It uses LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it stay on track and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also identify things like clutter and shoes to automatically clean them. And it's self-emptying, meaning you won't have to return the vacuum back to its base station to empty its bin every cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are good for quick midweek cleaning however, they lack the suction to replace a plug in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. Even the best robot vacuums are susceptible to getting tangled in cords and toys. They can also miss dirt piles near the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate dust from under furniture. The dust bins on their own get so full that they have to return to their charging docks to self-empty--a process that can take up to half an hour for certain models.
It is essential to select a robot vacuum with a large trash bin that can be emptied into the dock without needing to return to complete the job. You'll want to decide whether you prefer bagged models or a bagless one. If you decide to go with the bagless version, you'll need to know the amount of dust it can hold before you can empty it.
In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand on a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. The amount of sand that is weighed in the vacuum's dust bin onboard allows us to determine the amount dirt that has been accumulated. A high volume of dirt indicates that the bin could fill up more quickly and could force your robot to pause its cleaning process or, even worse, stop working completely.
It's important to know that many robot vacuums have large dust bins that can be easily empty. You can also set up them to empty their bases at least two times per day. Keep a bin filled with compressed air in your bag to blow out hairs that have become tangled up in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The best robot vacuums offer many options to connect to your home's WiFi. This allows the robot to download and install updates to its software, and also gives you the option to monitor your bot via an app or via voice-activated commands. While not essential, this feature offers convenience and personalization features that enhance the overall experience for robot vacuuming.
To ensure they are operating at their best, most models require some level of maintenance. For robotic hoovers emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Maintaining a close eye on consumable parts and a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment will extend their life span as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says that three to five years is the standard life expectancy of a robot vacuum, though this can differ greatly 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 obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to function. Advanced navigation systems incorporate sensors for cliffs, which warn the robot to steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that allow it to "see" the arrangement of rooms. Certain robots also have mopping capabilities that are specialized that can be helpful to keep floors clean between deep cleanings with an upright vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 vacuums can also mop. This means that you won't need to switch between a robot vacuum and a manual one. A prime example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that can clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash its mop pad automatically. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance skills earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors' Choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The best robot vacuums in our tests have impressive performance on hard floors and low-pile carpets and remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also sweep away dust and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. However, they are unable to eliminate deep down dirt or tangles of the carpet's shag carpet and also canister or upright vacuums. They are also unable to pick up spilled food and liquids or heavy metal screws and they could leave a few spots in the house (including under furniture).
Many models are equipped with clever features that make them more user friendly. Many models come with an app that lets you schedule cleaning sessions, and remotely control the robot. They can also be integrated with your smart-home system, so you can use them via voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have multiple modes that let you choose between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and pick up the area they left.
Obstacle-avoidance technology has advanced in recent years, but it is still necessary to clean out toys, cords, and pet messes prior running the robot. Before mapping out the space, it is recommended to cover all floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The laser used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to bump against the wall or floor.
More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, some making use of lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This helps the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Certain robots let you create no-go zones so that the robot avoids certain areas, such as your pet's bowls of food or an expensive rug.
5. App Control
You can create a cleaning schedule and control the robots with an app. This allows you to clean your home while you're at work or away on vacation. Some robots can also self-empty their debris into a huge bin at the base. This can reduce dust rerelease and is a great feature for those suffering from allergies.
Certain robots can detect objects on the ground and employ cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This feature is available on even smaller models. It's crucial to clean your robot's trash bin and check for tangled hairs as they build up.
A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor plans, which are helpful if you live on more than one floor and some models can even create 3D representations of your home. You can then choose specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot stays focused on what you want it to do, instead of wandering around in areas that don't require cleaning.
Robots are great for midweek cleanups but they're not able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, particularly on carpets. They're better at removing dirt embedded in carpet than plain floors, however they're still unable to pick up piles of debris near thresholds and baseboards, as well as tangled socks and cords. To get the most out of your robot, look for models with zone and spot cleaning modes to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. You can also find a model that recharges and resumes where it left off which is an enormous benefit for a house with a lot of rooms.