How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending on the model, they may also sweep, mop, and even vacuum staircases.
Look for models with intelligent features, like remote access and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions or keep track of the progress. Certain apps even allow you to pause and recharge, then return to where they left off.
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 say the future of cleaning is now here. But as with any technology it needs some care to ensure it's running efficiently.
The cycle of charging and discharging the battery is the most important aspect for the life of your robot. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, checking for hairs that have become tangled frequently and preventing the brushes from becoming blocked will aid in running your robot more effectively.
The location that your robot is kept can impact the performance of your battery. Extreme cold and heat may impact the battery's performance. You can extend the life of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and storing it in a cool place. Also, take it away from the power source when it is not using it. Many smart devices also feature periodic firmware updates that help optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to see if there's any updates.
A robot vacuum is a great option for those who have lots of hard flooring. It's able to swiftly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. If you're looking for more than a simple cleanup, you'll want to consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.
Our top-rated robot, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation with an impressive suction system and a range of mopping functions to provide an efficient, deep cleaning of your hard floors. It uses cameras and LiDAR sensors to create detailed maps of your home. This helps it stay on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect items such as clutter and shoes, and clean around them automatically. It's also self-emptying, so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the trash after each cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are great for quick midweek cleaning however, they lack the suction to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Even the top robot vacuums are susceptible to getting tangled in cords and toys. They also can miss dirt piles near the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate dust from under furniture. The dust bins onboard are filled quickly, and they have to return to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take up to 30 minutes for certain models.
Therefore, it's crucial to choose a vacuum that has a big dustbin and can empty into its dock and not return to finish the job. good robot vacuum is also important to think about whether you'd like a bagged or bagless model and, if you choose a bagless model, how much dust will be able to hold before needing to be empty.
In our tests, we apply 100 grams of sand onto an area of carpet with a medium pile and utilize a robot vacuum clean the carpet. Weighing the amount of sand in the vacuum's dust bin onboard allows us to determine the amount of dirt that has been collected. A large amount of dirt indicates that the onboard bin may be filled up faster and could force your robot to stop its cleaning process or even stop working altogether.
The positive side is that many top robot vacuums come with a large dustbin that is easily empty, and you can schedule them to empty their bases at least once per day or more. It's important to keep a bottle of compressed air in your bag to blow out hairs that are tangled in the rotating brush. You can also clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums have a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This enables the robot to download and install updates to its software, as well as allows you to monitor your robot via an app or voice-activated commands. This isn't a necessity, but it does provide the convenience of customization and can enhance your robot's overall vacuuming experience.
The majority of models require some form of regular maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll, to ensure that they function at their peak performance. Monitoring consumable parts and following a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment will increase their lifespan as well. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's lifespan is typically between three and five years. However, this can differ based on how often you use it and whether you take care of it.
A robot vacuum must be able to navigate around obstacles and map your floor to function. Advanced navigation systems typically have cliff sensors that alert the bot to a steep drop, as well as optical and laser sensors that help it "see" the layout of a room. Some robots also come with a specialized mopping function which is useful for maintaining floors in between deeper cleanings with the use of a stand-up vacuum.
The most efficient 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum making it possible to skip the step of having to switch between two types of vacuum. A prime example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that can also clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash the mop pad automatically. Its high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors' Choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums in our tests have outstanding performance on carpets with low pile and hard floors cleaning dust, dirt, and pet hair. They also get rid of crumbs and debris along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. They aren't able to remove dirt that is deep-seated or tangles of shag fibers, like an upright or a canister. They also can't pick up spilled food and liquids or heavy metal screws, and they may be unable to reach certain areas of the home (including under furniture).
Many models have clever features that make them more user-friendly. They usually come with an app, allowing you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart home system, so that you can make voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes, which allow users to choose between sweeping and mopping or vacuuming. They can recharge their docks and continue cleaning the area they left off.
The technology to avoid obstacles has improved over years, but it's still important to take away cords, toys and any pet debris prior to running the robot. Before you can map out your room, you'll need 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 a wall or a floor.
Some of the top models utilize lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This helps the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some robots let you create no-go zones to ensure that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, for example, your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.
5. App Control
Many robots allow you to set a timer to clean and operate them without hands using an app, meaning you can keep your home clean when you're at work or away. Some robots will also empty their dust into a large bin at the base. This can reduce dust release and is a wonderful feature for people suffering from allergies.
Some robots are able to detect objects on the ground and employ cameras as a way to avoid obstacles like power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is an impressive capability and is even available in cheaper models. However, it's important to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and look for hairs that have become tangled as they build up.
Certain models can also create 3D representations. This is helpful when you have multiple floors. You can select specific rooms and set digital "keep-out" zones to ensure your robot only is cleaning the areas you want.
Robots are good for midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner especially when it concerns rugs. They are better in removing dirt from carpet than bare flooring, but they can not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds as well as knotted cords and socks. Choose a model that has spots and zones cleaning modes. This allows you to focus on specific areas without having to spend time. You can also find models that charge and then resume the same place they left off. This is ideal for houses with large spaces.