How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Based 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 plan cleaning sessions and monitor the progress. Some can even pause, recharge and resume where they stopped.
1. Battery Life
With self-driving cars 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 there is a need for some maintenance to ensure it's running smoothly.
The cycle of charge and discharge for the battery is the most important aspect for the life of your robot. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that are tangled regularly, and keeping the brushes from getting stuck will help your robot run more efficiently.
Another factor is the environmental conditions where your robot is kept, because extreme heat and cold can impact battery performance. You can prolong the life of your battery by ensuring it's fully charged prior to storage, keeping it in an environment that is cool and taking it off of power sources when not in use. The majority of smart devices also come with periodic firmware updates which can improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to check if there are any updates.
A robot vacuum is a great alternative for those with lots of hard flooring. It is able to quickly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you're looking for more than a simple clean-up, you'll want consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.
The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top-rated robotic. It is a combination of advanced navigation, powerful suction and a variety of mopping features to provide an efficient, thorough clean of your hard flooring. It makes use of cameras and LiDAR sensors to create precise maps of your home. This assists it in staying 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 trash after each cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups however, they lack the suction power to substitute for an electric vacuum cleaner when it comes to deep cleaning. In addition, even the most powerful robot vacuums can be caught in cords and toys and miss piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, and struggle with crumbs on furniture. Their dustbins onboard fill up so fast that they have return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This could take as long as 30 minutes for some models.
Therefore, it's crucial to look for a robot vacuum that has a large dustbin that can be empty into its dock and not return to finish the task. You should also consider whether you'd prefer bags or a bagless model and, if you opt for a bagless version, how much dust will it hold before it has to be empty.
In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand on the carpet's surface in a medium pile. We utilized a robot vacuum cleaner to remove the sand. The amount of sand that is weighed in the vacuum's dust bin onboard lets us determine the amount of dirt that has been accumulated. A large amount of dirt suggests that the onboard bin may get fuller faster and may force your robot to stop its cleaning cycle or, even worse, stop working altogether.
The positive side is that many top robot vacuums come with a large dust bin which is easily empty, and you can schedule them to empty into their bases at least once per day or more. It's recommended to keep a bottle of compressed air in your bag to blow out hairs that have become entangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums have many options to connect to your home's WiFi network. This lets the robot update its software and gives you the possibility of monitoring your robot via an app or voice commands. This isn't a necessity, but it does provide the convenience of customization and can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.
Most models require a certain amount of routine maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll to ensure they are operating at peak efficiency. Maintaining a close eye on consumable parts and following a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will extend their life span as well. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's life is typically between three and five years. However, this can differ based on how often you use it and whether you take care to maintain it.
A robot vacuum has to be able navigate obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to be able to perform. Advanced navigation systems include cliff sensors, which alert the robot of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors that allow it to "see" the plan of the room. Some robots also come with mopping functions that are specifically designed for them, which can be useful to keep floors clean between deeper cleanings with a stand-up vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 vacuums also mop. This means you don't have to switch between a robot vacuum and a manual one. One of the best examples is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that is able to wipe down surfaces with its water tank and wash the mop pad in a way that is automatic. 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 top robot vacuums we test have excellent pickup scores on hard floors and carpets with low pile. They get rid of dirt, dust and pet hair. They also clean up particles and crumbs from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. But robot vacuum cleaner reviews can't remove deep-down dirt or tangles of the carpet's shag carpet as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They also aren't able to remove 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 come with smart features that make them more user-friendly. Most models include an app that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, and remotely control the robot. They can be integrated into your smart home system, so that you can use voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some models have multiple modes, which allow you to select between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can also recharge at their docks and continue cleaning where they left off.
The technology to avoid obstacles has improved over the years, but it's still essential to get rid of cords, toys and any pet mess before you run the robot. Before you can map out your room, you'll want to cover all ceiling-to-floor mirrors with cardboard. The laser used by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to bump against walls or floors.
Some of the top models utilize lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This helps the robot remember obstacles and design the most efficient route to avoid them. Some models also let you create no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.
5. App Control
Many robots let you set a schedule for cleaning and manage them without hands using an app, meaning you can clean your home when you're at work or away. Some robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger bin at their base which can reduce dust release and is a wonderful feature for allergy sufferers.
Some robots, such as the more expensive Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and use a camera to coach them to stay clear of obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is a remarkable feature that is available in cheaper models. It's important that you regularly empty the dust bin of your robot, and that you check for tangled fur as it accumulates.
Some models can also create 3D representations. This is helpful when you have more than one floor. You can select certain rooms, and create digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot only cleans the areas you want.
Robots are great for midweek cleaning, but they can't replace a full-size plug-in vacuum, especially on carpets. They are better at picking up dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but can still not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds, as well as strangling cords and socks. To get the most out of your robot, choose models that have zone and spot cleaning modes to target particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. There are also models that recharges and picks up where it left off which is a huge benefit in a large house.