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How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean

Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Based on the model, they can also sweep or mop stairs.

Find models that have smart features such as remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions or keep track of the progress. Some can even suspend, recharge and return to where they were when they left.

1. Battery Life

With self-driving cars, drones that navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture, it's safe say the future of cleaning is here. However, as with all technologies it needs some care to keep it working smoothly.

The most important factor in the longevity of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, checking for tangled hairs regularly and keeping the brushes from getting blocked will make your robot run more effectively.

The conditions in which your robot is stored can also impact the performance of your battery. Extreme temperatures and cold can affect the battery's performance. You can extend the life of your robot's battery by charging it up to 50% and then storing it in a cool place. Also, take it away from the power source when being used. Many smart devices also feature periodic firmware updates that can improve performance and optimize battery. Check the app to see if there's any updates.

A robot auto vacuum and mop is a great alternative for those with a lot of hard flooring. It will get rid of dirt and debris fast and efficiently leaving your floors sparkling. If you're looking for more than just a quick clean-up, look for a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.

Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation with strong suction and a range of mopping functions to deliver an extensive, thorough clean of your 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 detect objects such as shoes and clutter to automatically clean around them. And it's self-emptying, 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 great for quick midweek cleanups however, they lack the suction capacity to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Moreover, even the best automatic vacuum and mop robot vacuums can be caught up in cords and toys and miss piles of dirt that are close to the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs under furniture. Their onboard dust bins fill up so quickly that they need to return to their charging docks to self-empty--a process that can take as long as half an hour for some models.

It is important to choose a robot vacuum with a large trash bin that can be emptied into the dock without needing to return to finish the task. You'll want to decide whether 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 apply 100 grams of sand on an area of medium-pile carpet and use a robot vacuum to vacuum it over the surface. We then weigh the amount of sand in the vacuum's onboard dust bin to determine how much dirt it has collected. A high volume of dirt suggests that the bin could get fuller faster and could force the robot vacuum cleaner to stop its cleaning cycle, or worse, stop working completely.

The good news is that a lot of premium robot vacuums feature an enormous dust bin that can easily be emptied and you can set up them to empty their bases at least once a day or more. Keep a can of compressed air nearby to blow away any hairs that are tangled in the rotating brush, and to clean any filters according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

3. Wi-Fi Connectivity

The best robot vacuums offer many connectivity options to connect to your home's Wi-Fi network. This lets the robot mop download and install updates to its software, as well as giving you the option to monitor your robot via an app or through voice-activated commands. Although not necessary it is a useful feature and a variety of customization options that will enhance your overall robot vacuuming experience.

To ensure they are running at their best the majority of models require a certain level of maintenance. For example emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Maintaining a close eye on consumable components and a regular schedule for 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 vary significantly depending on how often you use it, and whether you maintain it properly.

To function, a robot vacuum needs to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically include sensors for cliffs that alert the bot to steep drops as well as optical and laser sensors that help it "see" the layout of a room. Some robots that vacuum and mop also have mopping capabilities that are specialized, which can be useful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings using an upright vacuum.

The best 2-in-1 vacuums can also mop. This means that you don't have to switch between an automatic vacuum and an manual one. A prime example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and highly efficient robot vacuum that can also clean surfaces with its water tank and wash the mop pad in a way that is automatic. Its high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance skills made it the best robot vacuum award, as well as an AVTech Editors Choice award.

4. Cleaning Patterns

The best robot vacuums in our tests have impressive pickup scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets cleaning dust, dirt and pet hair. They also remove crumbs and debris along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. They can't remove deep-seated dirt or tangles of plush shag fibers such as canisters or uprights. They are also unable to pick up spilled food and liquids or heavy metal screws and may also be unable to reach certain areas of the home (including under furniture).

Many models have clever features that make them more user-friendly. Most models have an app that lets you schedule cleaning times and control the robot remotely. They can also integrate with your smart-home system, so you can use the robots with voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with different modes that allow you to select between mopping and sweeping or vacuuming. They can also return to their docks to recharge and pick up the area they left.

The technology for avoiding obstacles has improved in recent years, but you must still clear out toys, cords, and pet messes prior to running the robot. You'll also want to cover any floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard prior to tracing out the space for the first time, as the laser used by certain models may bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to crash into walls or floors.

Some of the top models utilize lidar to create 3D maps of your space. This helps the robot remember obstacles and plan an efficient route around them. Some also allow you to set no-go zones, so the robot is able to avoid certain areas, such as your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.

5. App Control

Many robots allow you to create a schedule for cleaning and control them hands-free using an app, which means you can clean your home when you're at work or away. Some robots can also self-empty their debris into a huge bin at the base. This can reduce dust release and is an excellent feature for those suffering from allergies.

Some robots, such as the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can detect objects on the floor and use a camera to coach them to avoid obstacles such as furniture legs, power cords or pet toys. This is an impressive feature that is offered in less expensive models. However, it's essential to regularly empty the dustbin of your robot and look for tangled hairs as they build up.

Some models also have the ability to create 3D representations. This is useful when you have more than one floor. You can then choose specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure that your robot is focused on what you want it to focus on, rather than wandering into areas that you don't need to clean.

Robots are ideal for midweek cleaning, but they cannot replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner particularly when it comes to rugs. They are more adept at picking up dirt from carpet than plain flooring, but can still not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds as well as tangled cords and socks. Choose a model that has spot and zone cleaning modes. This allows you to concentrate on certain areas without wasting time. There are also models that recharges and picks up the same place it left off, which is an enormous advantage in a big house.