How to Keep a Robot Vacuum Clean
Robot vacuums can help keep your floors clean. Based on the model, they may also sweep, mop, and even vacuum staircases.
Look for models with innovative features like remote control and app control. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and keep track of the progress. Some apps allow you to suspend and recharge, and then pick up where they were when they left.
1. Battery Life
With cars that drive themselves, drones that navigate the skies, and robot vacuums that nimbly maneuver around furniture, it's safe to say that the future of cleaning is here. However, like all technology it requires some upkeep to ensure it's running efficiently.
The most important aspect in the longevity of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Keeping the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that have become tangled frequently and keeping the brushes from getting jammed will all make your robot run more efficiently.
The location in which your robot is kept can impact the performance of your battery. Extreme cold and heat can affect the battery's performance. You can extend the life of your battery by ensuring it's charged to 50% before storage, storing it in an area that is cool, and disconnecting it from sources of power when it is not in use. In addition, the majority of smart devices are equipped with periodic firmware updates that improve performance, including battery optimization, so make sure to check the app for updates.
A robot vacuum is a great alternative for those with lots of hard flooring. It's able to swiftly and efficiently get rid of dirt and other debris, leaving your floors sparkling clean. If you're looking for more than just a quick clean-up, you should look for a model that offers superior navigation and obstacles avoidance.
Our top-rated robot, the Ecovacs Deebot T20, blends advanced navigation and a powerful suction and a range of mopping features to offer an extensive, thorough clean of your hard floors. It utilizes LiDAR sensors and cameras to create detailed maps of your home, which allows it to stay on the right the right path and avoid getting stuck on furniture legs or power cords. It can also detect objects like shoes and clutter to automatically clean around them. It also self-empties, meaning you won't have to return the vacuum to its base station to empty its bin after each cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are great for quick midweek cleaning, but lack the suction to replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner for more thorough cleaning. Even the best robotic vacuums can be prone to getting tangled in cords and toys. They also tend to overlook dirt piles near the baseboards, and struggle to eliminate crumbs from under furniture. And, their onboard dustbins are so full that they must return to their charging docks in order to empty themselves, which can take as long as half an hour for certain models.
Therefore, it's crucial to choose a vacuum that has a large dust bin that can be emptied into its dock without having to return to finish the task. You'll also want to consider whether you'd like a bagged or bagless model, and if you do choose a bagless model the amount of dust it hold before it needs to be empty.
In our experiments, we put 100 grams of sand to a medium-pile carpet surface and used a robot vacuum cleaner to clean the sand. We then weigh the amount of sand we find in the onboard dust bin to determine how much dirt it has collected. A large amount of dirt suggests that the bin onboard could fill up more quickly and could cause the robot to stop its cleaning process or even stop working altogether.
It's important to know that many robot vacuums come with an enormous dust bin that is easily emptyable. You can also set up the cleaning of their bases at least one or two times a day. It's important to keep a can of compressed air on hand to blow hairs out that have tangled in the rotating brush and clean any filters as suggested by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums provide a variety of connectivity options for connecting to your home's Wi-Fi network. This allows the robot to download and install updates to its software, and giving you the option to monitor your robot using an app or voice-activated commands. Although not necessary it is a useful feature and a variety of customization options that will improve the overall experience for robot vacuuming.
Most models require a certain amount of regular maintenance, like emptying the dust bin or cleaning the brush roll to keep them functioning at peak efficiency. Monitoring consumable components and a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment can extend their lifespan as well. Vacuum expert Emily Rairdin at University Vacuum & Sewing says that three to five years is the average lifespan of the robot vacuum, but it can differ significantly based on how often you use it and whether you maintain it in a proper manner.
A robot vacuum has to be able to navigate obstacles and map your floor to function. Advanced navigation systems typically have sensors that detect cliffs and alert the bot to a steep drop, as well as laser and optical sensors that allow it to "see" a room's layout. Certain robots have mopping functions that can be used to maintain floors between deep cleanings by using the use of a vacuum.
The most efficient 2-in-1 robots vacuum and mop, allowing you to skip the step of having to switch between a robot and a manual 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 high-quality mapping and obstacle-avoidance capabilities earned it CR's best robot vacuum award, and an AVTech Editors choice award.
4. Cleaning Patterns
The best robot vacuums in our tests have excellent pick-up scores for carpets with a low pile and hard floors cleaning dust, dirt, and pet hair. They also remove crumbs and debris from the edges of rooms and along baseboards. But they can't eliminate deep down dirt or tangles of the carpet's shag carpet as well as canister or upright vacuums. They also aren't able to remove spilled liquids and food particles, or heavy screws and may also leave a few spots in the home (including under furniture).
robotvacuummops come with clever features that make them more user-friendly. Many models come with an application that lets you schedule cleaning times and remotely control the robot. They can be connected to your smart home system, so that you can use voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Some have different modes that let you select between mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks to recharge and pick up where they left off.
The technology to avoid obstacles has improved over years, but it is still important to take away cords, toys and pet clutter before operating the robot. Before you map out the space, it is recommended to cover all floor-to-ceiling mirrors with cardboard. The lasers used by some models may bounce off reflective surfaces causing the robot to hit walls or floors.
Certain models that are top of the line use lidar to create 3D maps of your surroundings. This allows the robot to remember obstacles and design the most efficient route around them. Certain robots let you create no-go zones so that the robot is able to avoid certain areas, like your pet's bowls of food or a rug that is expensive.
5. App Control
Many robots let you set a schedule to clean and operate them hands-free using an app, meaning you can take care of your home when you're at work or away. Some robots can also self-empty their dust into a large bin at the base. This can reduce dust release and is an excellent feature for those suffering from allergies.
Certain robots can detect objects on the ground and utilize a camera as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This is an impressive feature, and it's even offered in less expensive models. It's crucial to clean your robot's dustbin and check for tangled hairs as they build up.
A top-quality model can also store multiple floor maps, which is helpful if you live on more than one floor Some models also create 3D models of your house. You can then choose specific rooms and set digital zones for keeping out to ensure that your robot stays focused on what you want it to focus on, instead of wandering around in areas that you don't need to clean.
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 picking up dirt embedded in carpet than floors that are unfinished, but they're not able to spot piles of debris that are close to thresholds and baseboards and tangled socks and cords. To make the most of your robot, choose models that have spots and zone cleaning modes to target specific areas and avoid wasteful cleaning. You'll also find a model that recharges and then resumes where it left off, which is a huge benefit in a large house.