How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Depending on the model, they could also sweep, mop, and even vacuum stairs.
Look for models with smart features such as app control and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning time or keep track of the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend and recharge, and then resume where they stopped.
1. Battery Life
It's safe to say that the future of cleaning has arrived. With Read More In this article that can drive by themselves drones that fly through the air and robot vacuums that can maneuver around furniture with ease, it is possible to say that the future is here. However, like all technology, it requires some maintenance to keep it working efficiently.
The most crucial factor in the longevity of your robot is the battery's charge and discharge cycles. Make sure the dustbin is full and empty. Make sure you check for furs that are tangled and stop the brushes from jamming.
Another factor is the environmental conditions where your robot is stored, as extreme cold and heat can impact battery performance. You can help preserve the life of your battery by ensuring that it is charged to 50% prior to storage, storing it in an area that is cool, and removing it from sources of power when not in use. Additionally, most smart devices have periodic firmware updates that can improve performance, including battery optimization, so be sure to check the app for updates.
If you have lots of hard floors, a robot vacuum is a great option. It is able to get rid of dirt and debris fast and efficiently and leave your floors sparkling. If you want more than just a quick cleaning, you should search for a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.
Our top-rated robot is the Ecovacs Deebot T20, combines advanced navigation, an impressive suction system and a range of mopping functions to provide an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It uses LiDAR cameras and sensors to create precise maps of your home. This helps it keep its course and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It also can detect objects such as clutter and shoes, and clean them up automatically. It's also self-emptying, so you don't have to return it to its base to empty the trash after every cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are good for quick midweek cleaning but lack the suction to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. In addition, even the most powerful robotic vacuums can get tangled up in cords and toys, miss piles of dirt close to the baseboards, and have to contend with crumbs under furniture. Their dust bins onboard fill up quickly that they need to go back to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for certain models.
As such, it's important to look for a robot vacuum that has a big dustbin that can be empty into its dock without having to return to finish the task. You'll need to decide if you prefer bagged models or a bagless one. If you opt for 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 use a robot vacuum to clean the carpet. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the vacuum's onboard dust bin to determine the amount dirt it has collected. A large amount of dirt suggests that the bin onboard could get fuller faster and may force your robot to pause its cleaning cycle, or worse, stop working completely.
The positive side is that many top robot vacuums come with a large dust bin which is easily empty and you can even schedule the emptying of their bases at least once per day or more. It is also a good idea to keep a container of compressed air handy to blow out hairs that have become entangled in the rotating brush and clean any filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums come with a variety options for connecting to your home's WiFi network. This enables the robot to download and install updates for its software, and also gives you the option to monitor your robot using an app or via voice-activated commands. Although not required it is a useful feature and personalization features that improve your overall robot vacuuming experience.
To ensure they are functioning at their peak, most models require some level of maintenance. For instance emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Monitoring consumable components and a regular schedule for cleaning and detachment will increase their life span 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, it can differ based on how often you use it and whether you take care of it.
In order to operate a robot vacuum, it has to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems include cliff sensors that alert the robot to steep drops. They also have optical and laser sensors that help "see" the layout of the room. Certain robots also have mopping capabilities that are specialized which is useful for keeping floors clean between deep cleanings with an upright vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 robots can vacuum and mop, allowing you to skip the step of having to switch between two types of vacuum. The iRobot Roomba 690 is a powerful, highly efficient vacuum cleaner that can wash its mop pad, and clean up surfaces with its water tank. Its high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance abilities earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The top robot vacuums in our tests have outstanding pickup scores for carpets with a 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. However, they are unable to get rid of deep down dirt or tangles in plush shag carpet fibers as well as an upright or canister vacuum. They can't pick-up spilled liquids or food items, or the weight of metal screws. They might also miss certain areas (including under furniture).
Many models have clever 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 integrate with your smart home system, which means you can control them via voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with multiple modes, which allow users to choose between mopping and sweeping, or vacuuming. They can also return to their docks for a recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.
Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, however you still need to clear out cords, toys, and pet messes prior running the robot. Before you map out the room, you'll want to cover all floor-to ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The laser used by certain models could bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to hit walls or floors.
Some premium models use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This helps the robot to identify obstacles and create an efficient path around them. Some models also let you create no-go zones so that the robot can avoid specific areas, such as your pet's food bowls, or a rug that is expensive.
5. App Control
Many robots let you create a schedule to clean and operate their movements hands-free with an app, so you can clean your home when you're at work or away. Some robots also have the capability to self-empty into a larger container at their base which can reduce dust release and is an excellent option for those suffering from allergies.
Certain robots, like the pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, can even spot objects on the floor and employ a camera to instruct them to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture legs or pet toys. This impressive feature is available on smaller models. It's important that you regularly empty the robot's dustbin and also examine it for fur that has become tangled as it builds up.
A high-end model can also store multiple floor maps, which can be useful if you live on more than one level, and some can create 3D models of your house. You can pick specific rooms, and set digital "keep-out" zones to ensure that your robot only cleans the areas you'd like.
Robots are ideal for midweek cleaning, but they aren't able to substitute a vacuum cleaner with a plug-in, especially when it comes to rugs. They're better at removing dirt that's embedded in carpet than bare floors, but they can still miss piles of debris that are close to thresholds and baseboards as well as cords and socks that are tangled. To get the most value from your robot, choose models that have spots and zone cleaning options to focus on specific areas and reduce the need for cleaning. You can also find models that charge and then resume the same place they have left off. This is great for large houses.