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.
Find models that have smart features such as remote control of apps and remote access. Apps can be used to plan cleaning sessions and keep track of progress. Certain apps even allow you to 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 nimbly maneuver around furniture, it's safe say that the future of cleaning is here. Like all technologies, some maintenance is required to ensure it's running smoothly.
The most crucial factor in the longevity of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Be sure to check for furs that have become tangled and stop the brushes from jamming.
Another factor is the climate in which your robot is kept, as extreme temperatures and cold can affect the battery's performance. You can prolong the life of your battery by ensuring it is charged to 50% prior to storage, storing it in an environment that is cool and taking it off of sources of power when it is not in use. Furthermore, many smart devices receive periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization. So make sure to check your app for any updates that are available.
For those with lots of hard floors, a robotic vacuum is a good choice. It is able to quickly and efficiently remove loose dirt and debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you're looking for more than just a quick cleaning, you'll need to consider a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.
Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation with a powerful suction and a range of mopping functions to deliver an efficient, deep cleaning of your floors. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of the home. This allows it to keep its course and avoid getting caught in furniture legs or power cables. It also can detect objects like shoes and clutter, and clean them up automatically. And it's self-emptying, meaning that you don't have to return the vacuum back to its base station to empty its bin after every cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are ideal for quick midweek clean-ups however they don't have the suction power to substitute for the power of a plug-in vacuum cleaner for deep cleans. Even the most powerful robotic vacuums can be prone to getting caught in cords and toys. They can also ignore dirt piles in the vicinity of baseboards and struggle to get rid of dust from under furniture. Their onboard dust bins get so full that they need to return to their charging docks in order to self-empty, which can take as long as half an hour for some models.
Therefore, it's crucial to choose a vacuum that has a large dustbin that can be empty into its dock without having to return to finish the task. It is also important to think about whether you'd prefer a bagged or bagless model If you decide to opt for a bagless version the amount of dust it hold before it has to be cleaned.
In our tests we apply 100 grams of sand to the carpet in a medium pile and utilize a robot vacuum clean the carpet. The amount of sand that is weighed in the vacuum's dust bin onboard lets us determine the amount dirt that has been collected. A large amount of dirt suggests that the bin onboard could fill up more quickly and could cause your robot to pause its cleaning cycle, or worse, stop working altogether.
The positive side is that many high-end robot vacuums have an enormous dust bin that is easily empty and you can set up them to empty their bases at least once a day or more. It is recommended to keep a bottle of compressed air handy to blow hairs out that have tangled in the rotating brush. You can also clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The best robot vacuums have many options to connect to your home's WiFi network. This allows the robot to download and install updates for its software, and gives you the option to monitor your bot via an app or via voice-activated commands. While not essential, this feature offers convenience and a variety of customization options that will enhance the overall experience for robot vacuuming.
The majority of models require some form of regular maintenance, like emptying the dust bin and cleaning the brush roll to keep them functioning at top performance. Regularly cleaning, detaching, and checking consumable parts will also extend the life of their components. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, states that a robot's life is typically between three and five years. However, it can vary based on the frequency you use it, and also if you take care to maintain it.
To function a robot vacuum, it has to be able to map out your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems include sensors for cliffs, which warn the bot of steep drops. They also have laser and optical sensors to help it "see" the plan of rooms. Some robots come with mopping functions that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings by using a vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 robots can vacuum and mop making it possible to avoid the hassle of having to switch between the manual and robot vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a robust, highly efficient robot vacuum cleaner that is able to clean its mop pad and wipe down surfaces using its water tank. Its obstacle avoidance and mapping 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 best robot vacuums in our tests have excellent performance on hard floors and low-pile carpets and remove dust, dirt and pet hair. They also take out particles and crumbs along the baseboards as well as at the edges of rooms. However, they cannot get rid of deep down dirt or tangles in soft shag carpets and also an upright or canister vacuum. They cannot pick up spilled liquids or food items, or use large screws made of metal. They may also leave out certain areas (including under furniture).
Many models have smart features that make them more user-friendly. They typically have an app which allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and control the robot remotely. They can also be integrated with your smart-home system, which means you can control them with voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes that let you pick between sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. Best robot vacuum cleaner UK can also recharge at their docks and continue cleaning where they left off.
The technology to avoid obstacles has improved over years, but it's still essential to get rid of cords, toys and pet clutter before operating the robot. You should also cover any mirrors from floor to ceiling with cardboard prior to tracing out the space for the first time as the laser used by some models can bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to crash into a wall or floor.
More premium models have advanced mapping capabilities, with some using lidar to create an 3D map of your space. This allows the robot to recognize obstacles and devise an efficient path around them. Certain robots let you create no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, like your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.
5. App Control
You can set up an agenda for cleaning and control the robots through an app. This allows you to tidy your home even when you're working or on vacation. Certain robots also have the capability to self-empty to a larger bin at their base which can reduce dust release and is a great feature for allergy sufferers.
Some robots can spot objects on the ground and employ cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This is an impressive feature, and it's even available in cheaper models. However, it's essential to regularly empty your robot's dustbin and check for tangled hairs as they build up.
A high-end model is also able to store multiple floor maps, which can be useful if you live on multiple levels, and some can create 3D representations of your home. You can then choose specific rooms and set digital zones for keeping out to ensure that your robot is focused on what you want it to focus on, instead of wandering around areas that you don't need to clean.
Robots are good for midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to replace a plug-in vacuum especially when it is a rug. They are better at picking up dirt from carpets than bare flooring, but they can not pick up piles close to baseboards and thresholds as well as strangling cords and socks. Find a robot that has spot and zone cleaning modes. This allows you to concentrate on certain areas and not waste time. You'll also find a model that recharges and picks up where it left off which is a major benefit in a large house.