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.
Look for models that have advanced features, such as remote access and app control. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and monitor the progress. Certain apps even allow you to stop and recharge, then return to where they stopped.
1. Battery Life
It's safe to say that the future of cleaning is here. With cars that drive on their own drones that flutter through the air and robot vacuums that move through furniture effortlessly, it is safe to say that the future is here. However, like all technology, it requires some maintenance to ensure it's running efficiently.
The most crucial factor in the life of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, examining for hairs that are tangled regularly, and making sure that the brushes are not blocked will make your robot run more efficiently.
The environment that your robot is stored can also impact the performance of your battery. Extreme cold and heat may impact battery performance. You can prolong the battery's life by ensuring it is charged to 50% prior to storage, storing it in a cool place, and removing it from power sources 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 the app for any available updates.
For those with lots of hard floors, a robot vacuum is a good choice. It's able to swiftly and efficiently get rid of dirt and other debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. If you're looking for more than a quick clean-up, you should look for a model that has superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.
Our top-rated robot The Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation and an impressive suction system and a range of mopping features to offer a thorough, deep clean of your hard floors. It uses cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home, which assists it in staying on track and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect items like shoes and clutter, and then clean them up. It also self-empties 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 clean-ups, but they don't have the suction power to replace the power of a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Even the top robotic vacuums can be prone to getting tangled in cords and toys. They can also overlook dirt piles near baseboards and struggle to get rid of crumbs from under furniture. The dust bins on their own are so full that they must return to their charging docks to self-empty--a process that can take up to an hour for some models.
It is essential to select the right robot vacuum that has a large dustbin that can be emptied into the dock without needing return to finish the task. You'll want to decide whether you prefer bags or a bagless one. If you choose the bagless version you'll need to know how much dust it will hold before you have to empty it.
In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand on the carpet in a medium pile and utilize a robot vacuum vacuum it over the surface. The amount of sand that is weighed in the vacuum's dust bin onboard allows us to measure the amount dirt that has been collected. A high amount means that the bin could get fuller and cause your robot to stop cleaning.
The positive side is that many premium robot vacuums feature an enormous dust bin that can easily be emptied, and you can schedule them to empty into their bases at least once per day or more. Keep a bin filled of compressed air nearby to blow out hairs that have become tangled in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The best robot vacuums offer various connectivity options for connecting to your home's Wi-Fi. This allows the robot to update its software and also gives you the possibility of monitoring your robot through an app or voice commands. This feature isn't essential, but it does provide convenience and options for customization that can improve the overall robot vacuuming experience.
Most models require a certain amount of regular maintenance, like emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll to keep them functioning at their peak performance. A regular schedule of cleaning, detaching and examining consumable parts will also extend the life of their components. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says that three to five years is the typical life expectancy for a robot vacuum. However, it can differ significantly based on the frequency you use it and whether you take care of it properly.
In order to operate the robot vacuum, it needs to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems usually include sensors that detect cliffs and alert the bot to steep slopes as well as optical and laser sensors that allow it to "see" a room's layout. Some robots have mopping functions that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings using a vacuum.
The most effective 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum, allowing you to avoid the hassle of having to switch between two types of vacuum. One example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that can clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash the mop pad automatically. Its superior mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities have earned it the CR's top robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums in our tests have excellent performance on carpets with a low pile and hard floors, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also take out debris and crumbs from the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. They cannot remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of shag fibers, like an upright or canister. They are also unable to pick up spilled liquids and food, or heavy screws and may also miss a few areas of the home (including under furniture).
Many models come with sophisticated features that make them more user-friendly. Many models come with an application that lets you schedule cleaning sessions, and control the robot remotely. They also can 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 pick between sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and pick up the area they left.
The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, but you still need to clear out toys, cords, and pet messes before running the robot. Before autonomous vacuum can map out your space, it is recommended to cover all ceiling-to-floor mirrors with cardboard. The lasers used by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to crash against walls or floors.
The most expensive models come with advanced mapping capabilities, with some using lidar to generate a 3D map of your space. This helps the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some robots allow you to designate no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, for example, your pet's food bowls, or a costly rug.
5. App Control
Many robots allow you to create a schedule for cleaning and manage them hands-free using an app, which means you can clean your home while you're working or away. Certain robots also have the ability to self-empty to a larger bin in their base, which reduces dust release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.
Some robots can spot objects on the ground and utilize cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This amazing feature is also available on cheaper models. It's important that you regularly empty the robot's dustbin and also check for tangled fur as it gets accumulated.
A high-end model can also store multiple floor plans, which are helpful if you live on more than one floor and some models can even create 3D models of your home. 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, instead of wandering around in areas you don't need cleaning.
Robots are great for routine midweek cleanups however they aren't able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, particularly on carpets. They are better at removing dirt embedded in carpet than plain floors, however they're not able to spot piles of debris that are close to thresholds and baseboards as well as cords and socks that are tangled. To get the most out of your robot, choose models with zone and spot cleaning modes to focus on particular areas and prevent unnecessary cleaning. There are also models that recharges and picks up the same place it left off, which is a major advantage in a big house.
