How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Based on the model, they can also sweep, mop and even vacuum staircases.
Look for models that include clever features, such as app control and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of progress. Some apps can even pause and recharge, then pick up where they stopped.
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 any technology, some maintenance is required to keep it running smoothly.
The battery's charge-discharge cycles are the most important factor for the life of your robot. Keep the dust bin filled and empty, checking for tangled hairs regularly and making sure that the brushes are not jammed will all help your robot run more efficiently.
The environment in which your robot is stored can also impact the performance of your battery. Extreme cold and heat could affect the battery's performance. You can prolong the life of your battery by ensuring it is charged to 50% before storage, keeping it in an area that is cool, and disconnecting it from sources of power when not in use. Additionally, most smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that improve performance, such as battery optimization, so make sure to check your app for any updates that are available.
For those with many hard floors, a robotic vacuum is an excellent option. It can remove dirt and debris quickly and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. If you want more than a simple clean-up, you should look for a model that offers superior navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation with an impressive suction system and a range of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It makes use of LiDAR sensors and cameras to create precise maps of your home, which assists it in staying on the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also identify things like clutter and shoes to automatically clean around them. It also self-empties, meaning that you don't have to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin every cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups, but they don't have the suction power to replace an electric vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Furthermore, even the top robotic vacuums can become tangled up in cords and toys and miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs under furniture. Their onboard dust bins get so full that they have to return to their charging docks to self-empty, which can take up to an hour for some models.
As such, it's important to choose a vacuum that has a big dustbin and can empty into its dock and not return to finish the task. You'll need to decide if you prefer a bagged model or a bagless one. If you opt for the bagless model you'll need to determine the amount of dust it can hold before you have to empty it.
In our tests, we placed 100 grams of sand onto carpet with a medium pile and utilized a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. Weighing the amount of sand in the bin of dust onboard allows us to measure the amount of dirt that has been collected. A large amount of dirt indicates that the bin could get fuller faster and may force your robot to stop its cleaning process or, even worse, stop working completely.
The positive side is that many premium robot vacuums feature a large dustbin which is easily empty and you can even schedule them to empty their bases at least once a day or more. It's important to keep a can of compressed air handy to blow hairs out that are tangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters according to the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums provide many connectivity options to connect to your home's Wi-Fi. This lets the robot download and install updates for its software, and also giving you the option to monitor your robot using an app or voice-activated commands. This feature isn't essential, but it does provide convenience and customization options that can enhance the overall robot vacuuming experience.
Most models require a certain amount of regular maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll, to ensure that they function at top performance. Monitoring consumable parts and following a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will increase their lifespan as well. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's lifespan expectancy is between three and five years. However, this can differ based on how often you use it and if you maintain it properly.
A robot vacuum must be able navigate obstacles and determine the floor's layout in order to be able to perform. Advanced navigation systems incorporate sensors for cliffs, which warn the bot of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors to help it "see" the arrangement of the room. Certain robots have mopping functions that can be used to keep floors between deep cleanings using a vacuum.
The most effective 2-in-1 robots mop and vacuum and sweep, which means you can avoid the hassle of having to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. A prime example 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 its mop pad automatically. Its mapping and obstacle avoidance abilities were so effective that it was awarded the CR's Best Robot Vacuum Award, along with an AVTech Editors Choice Award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums we tested in our tests have outstanding pickup scores for carpets with low pile and hard floors and remove dust, dirt, and pet hair. They also clean up crumbs and debris from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. But they can't get rid of deep down dirt or tangles that are a part of soft shag carpets as well as an upright or canister vacuum. robot vacuum uk cannot pick up spilled liquids, food, or the weight of metal screws. They can also leave out certain areas (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 times and control the robot remotely. They can be connected to your smart-home system so that you can make voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes, allowing you to select between mopping and sweeping, or vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.
The technology to avoid obstacles has advanced over the years, but it is still necessary to remove cords, toys, and pet clutter before operating the robot. It is also recommended to cover any mirrors that are floor-to-ceiling with cardboard before tracing the space for the first time, as the laser employed by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to bump into walls or floors.
The most expensive models come with advanced mapping capabilities, with some using lidar to create a 3D map of your surroundings. This allows the robot to remember obstacles and determine the most efficient route to avoid them. Some robots allow you to create no-go zones so that the robot avoids certain areas, like your pet's food bowls or an expensive rug.
5. App Control
You can create a schedule for cleaning and manage the robots through an app. This lets you tidy your home even when you are at work or away on vacation. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty to a larger bin at the base of their machine which can reduce dust re-release and is an excellent feature for people suffering from allergies.
Certain robots can detect objects on the ground and use a camera as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is a remarkable feature that is available in cheaper models. It is essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and also examine it for fur that has become tangled as it accumulates.
A top-quality model can also store multiple floor plans, which are beneficial if you live in more than one level, and some can create 3D representations of your home. You can then select specific rooms and set digital zones for keeping out to ensure that your robot focuses on what you want it to do, instead of wandering around in areas you don't need cleaning.
Robots are ideal for midweek cleaning, but they can't replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner especially when it comes to rugs. They are better in removing dirt from carpet than plain flooring, but can still not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds as well as knotted cords and socks. To get the most value from your robot, choose models that have spots and zone cleaning modes to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. There are also models that charge and resume where they have left off. This is ideal for large houses.