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 that include innovative features like remote control of apps and remote access. Apps can be used to schedule cleaning sessions and monitor progress. Some even allow you to stop, recharge and then resume where they left off.
1. Battery Life
With self-driving cars drones that fly through the skies and robot vacuums that swiftly move around furniture, it's safe to claim that the future of home cleaning is here. As with all technology there is a need for some maintenance to ensure it's running smoothly.
The most important factor in the life of your robot is the cycle of discharge and charge. Maintaining the dust bin full and empty, examining for hairs that have become tangled frequently and keeping the brushes from getting blocked will make your robot run more efficiently.
The location that your robot is stored can also affect battery performance. Extreme heat and cold may impact the battery's performance. You can help preserve the life of your battery by ensuring it's fully charged prior to storage, keeping it in a cool place, and taking it off of sources of power when not in use. Most smart devices also have periodic firmware updates that help optimize performance and battery optimization. Check the app to check if there are any updates.
A robot vacuum is an excellent option for those who have lots of hard flooring. It's able to swiftly and efficiently take away dirt and other debris and leave your floors sparkling clean. However, if you're looking to do more than just a quick clean-up, you'll want choose a model that has superior navigation and obstacles-avoiding capabilities.
The Ecovacs T20 robot is our top-rated robot. It combines advanced navigation, powerful suction, and a range of mopping features to provide a deep, thorough clean of your hard flooring. It makes use of LiDAR cameras and sensors to create detailed maps of the home. This allows it to stay on course and avoid getting stuck in furniture legs or power cables. It can also detect things like clutter and shoes to automatically clean them. It's also self-emptying, so you don't need to return it to its base to empty the trash after every cleaning session.
2. Dust Bin
Robots are ideal 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 robot vacuums can be caught up in cords and toys and miss piles of dirt near the baseboards, or struggle with crumbs under furniture. Their dust bins onboard fill up so fast that they have to go back to their charging stations to empty themselves. This can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for certain models.
It is essential to select a robot vacuum with a large trash bin that can be empty into the dock without needing to return to complete the task. It is also important to think about whether you'd like a bagged or bagless model If you decide to opt for a bagless version what amount of dust will be able to hold before needing to be emptied.
In our tests we apply 100 grams of sand onto the carpet in a medium pile and use a robot vacuum to vacuum it over the surface. The amount of sand that is weighed in the vacuum's dust bin onboard allows us to measure the amount of dirt that has been collected. A large amount of dirt suggests that the bin could get fuller faster and could cause your robot to pause the cleaning process or, even worse, stop working altogether.
The good news is that a lot of high-end robot vacuums have an enormous dust bin that is easily empty and you can even schedule the emptying of their bases at least once per day or more. It's also a good idea to keep a can of compressed air handy to blow out hairs that have become entangled in the rotating brush. Also, clean any filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
3. Wi-Fi Connectivity
The top robot vacuums have various options for connecting to your home's WiFi. This allows the robot to download and install updates to its software, and gives you the option to monitor your robot via an app or through voice-activated commands. This feature isn't essential, but it offers convenience and customization options that can enhance your robot's overall vacuuming experience.
To keep them running at their best they require some level of maintenance. For example emptying the dustbin or cleaning the brushroll. Keeping tabs on consumable parts and following a regular schedule of cleaning and detachment will extend their life span as well. Emily Rairdin, a vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says that a robot's lifespan is typically between three and five years. However, this can vary based on the frequency you use it and if you maintain it properly.
In order to operate a robot vacuum, it has to be able to map your floors and navigate around obstacles. Advanced navigation systems typically have sensors that detect cliffs and alert the robot to steep slopes as well as optical and laser sensors that help it "see" a room's layout. Some robots come with mopping functions that can be used to keep floors between deep cleanings using the use of a vacuum.
The best 2-in-1 vacuums can also mop. This means that you won't need to switch between an automatic vacuum and manual vacuum. A prime example is the iRobot Roomba 690, which is a powerful and efficient robot vacuum that can clean up surfaces using its water tank and wash the mop pad automatically. Its obstacle avoidance and mapping capabilities were so impressive that it won 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 pickup scores for hard floors and low-pile carpets, removing dirt, dust and pet hair. They also remove debris and crumbs from the baseboards and at the edges of rooms. However, they are unable to get rid of deep down dirt or tangles of soft shag carpets and also an upright or canister vacuum. They cannot pick up spilled liquids or food items, or use heavy metal screws. They may also miss certain areas (including under furniture).
Many models have smart features which make them more user-friendly. They usually include an app, that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions and manage the robot remotely. They can be integrated with your smart-home system so that you can make voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Certain models come with different modes that let you choose between mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. They can also return to their docks to recharge and resume cleaning where they left off.
Obstacle-avoidance technology has improved in recent years, however it is still necessary to clean out cords, toys, and pet messes prior running the robot. It is also recommended to cover any mirrors from floor to ceiling with cardboard before tracing the space for the first time, since the lasers used by certain models may bounce off reflective surfaces and cause the robot to crash into a wall or floor.
The most expensive models come with advanced mapping capabilities, some making use of lidar to create a 3D map of your surroundings. This allows the robot to remember obstacles and determine the most efficient route around them. Some models also let you define no-go zones, so the robot will not be able to enter certain areas like your pet's food bowls or a rug that is expensive.
5. App Control
Many robots let you set a timer to clean and operate them hands-free using an app, meaning you can clean your home when you're at work or away. Some robots will also empty their dust into a large bin at the base. This helps reduce dust release and is an excellent feature for allergy sufferers.
Some robots can spot objects on the ground and use cameras as a guide to avoid obstacles such as power cords, furniture leg or pet toys. This feature is available on even smaller models. It's important that you regularly empty the dustbin of your robot, and that you examine it for fur that has become tangled as it gets accumulated.
A high-end model can also store multiple floor plans, which are beneficial if you live in multiple levels and some models can even create 3D representations of your home. You can then select specific rooms and set up digital keep-out zones to ensure your robot focuses on what you want it to focus on, instead of wandering around areas you don't need cleaning.
Robots are great for regular midweek cleanups but they're not able to substitute for a large-sized vacuum, particularly for carpets. They are more adept at removing dirt from carpet than plain flooring, but can still miss piles near baseboards and thresholds, as well as knotted cords and socks. To get the most value from your robot, look for models that have spots and zone cleaning modes to target specific areas and reduce the need for cleaning. There are also models that charge and resume where they have left off. This is great for houses with large spaces.