(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
In theory, robot vacuums are the perfect solution for maintaining a spotless home without having to lift a finger. Many new models (including affordable ones) feature everything from laser navigation sensors to map your floor plan, to phone and voice control for the ultimate in kick-back cleaning.
But in practice, most robot vacuums require a little more human intervention than you might expect. They can get tripped up on wires, rugs, and everyday household clutter, or lose their way on the path back to the charging dock. Luckily, after testing scores of robotic vacuums over the past decade-plus, we’ve figured out our way around many of these easily avoidable problems. We test robot vacuums in our actual homes, and put them through a series of rigorous and consistent tests to determine which models are worth your money.
Higher-end robot helpers are getting better and better at avoiding pitfalls on their own thanks to features like AI-powered obstacle recognition and the ability to lift themselves over thresholds. Regardless of which model you choose, our tips below will help ensure a worry-free cleaning experience every time. Oh, and many of these tips apply to robot mops as well.
1. Optimal Base Station Placement
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)The most important consideration when setting up your robot vacuum is where to put the base station. Ideally, the dock should be placed up against a wall and on even ground to help the vacuum easily situate itself without your assistance. If possible, make sure to place it in an area that's about two feet away from objects on either side, and four feet across from furniture (including tables and chairs) and stairs. That way, the robot has a clear path that's free of obstructions. If you have a robot vacuum and mop hybrid, you'll want to place your dock on a hard surface as opposed to carpet.
While almost all robot vacuums can find their way back to the charging dock on their own, the process can take a while, depending on how advanced the model is. Unless the robot gets stuck on its way back to the base, it's best to leave it alone and let it find its own way there.
When it’s not in use, your robot vacuum can stay on its charger powered on, so it’s ready whenever you need it. If you don’t plan on using it for an extended period of time, you can fully charge it, then power it off and store it in a cool, dry space.
2. Take It for a Test Run
Since the layout of every home is different, carve out some time to observe your robot vacuum on its first few runs. This lets you see how well it steers around (and underneath) your furniture, and where it gets stuck. You'll then have an easier time configuring your space so it can operate without any problems.
3. Open Doors and Turn on the Lights
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)During the setup process, models with advanced navigation will prompt you to send them on a mapping-only run so they can learn your place before they start cleaning. Even after this run, higher-end models will continue to learn your place and its nooks and crannies as they work. During both the mapping and initial cleaning runs, help out your robot by making sure it can access every room you want it to clean. Open those doors and keep thresholds clear. Robot vacuums that use cameras for navigation will have an easier time finding their way if they can see clearly, so turn on lights for the mapping process and the first cleaning run in particular.
4. Clear Cords and Curtains
It's common for the main brush on a robot vacuum to get stuck on cords and long curtains, stopping it dead in its tracks. Sometimes, it even takes cords along for the ride. To prevent these scenarios from happening, make sure to clear your floors of phone chargers and other cords, and tie up any long curtains before sending your robot off to clean.
This same rule applies for any small objects that can easily get sucked up into the vacuum, like socks. If you have children and/or pets, make sure to put away toys and other items on the floor that shouldn't be there. If you have a home office, be sure to pick up any loose supplies like paper clips or rubber bands. And if you have a mess of cords under your TV stand or desk, you might want to consider purchasing a cable management box to tidy them up.
Some premium models make it less necessary to tidy up your floors before sending your robot vacuum out to clean. Recent Roombas we have tested offer class-leading obstacle avoidance, and the Roborock Qrevo Curv can even lift itself over problem areas like a nest of cords. Still, the tidier your place, the more room your vacuum has to roam and clean.
5. Tuck in Tassels and Stow Away Shag
In addition to wires, tassels on the ends of rugs are a challenge for many robot vacuums. While most of the time they are capable of wiggling their way free, the main brush tends to leave tassels looking bunched up or mangled. To prevent the vacuum from getting caught in tassels or ruining your rug completely, tuck them underneath before starting your cleaning session.
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As for thick shag rugs, you're better off removing them from the floor completely if possible. More often than not, robot vacuums can't make it over these rugs, and if they do, the main brush might just pull at the shag rather than suck up any dirt.
6. Build Barriers
Regardless of how well a robot vacuum maneuvers around your home, there are still areas that you probably want to keep it away from. Depending on how advanced your model is, there are different ways to wall off particular rooms or parts of rooms.
Models with app control and smart mapping often let you outline specific areas on your floor plan where you want to create barriers. Some premium robot vacuums, including models from Roomba and Roborock, will help with this process by snapping pictures of obstacle areas as they work, so you can create virtual Keep-Out Zones or clear a path for them on your own time.
Other robot vacuums come with accessories like virtual walls or boundary strips you physically place anywhere you don’t want it to clean. If you have a less expensive vacuum that doesn’t support these methods, you can consider cordoning off areas with physical barriers like a baby gate.
7. Tidy Up Tables
Most high-end and even midrange robot vacuums are adept at maneuvering around furniture, but chair legs can block them from being able to clean under tables. To make it easier for it to collect the crumbs under your dining room and/or kitchen table, consider flipping your chairs upside down on your table like they do at restaurants. If that's too much work or not feasible, you can always just pull the chairs away from the table a bit to give the robot more space to move around.
8. Set a Schedule
Most modern robot vacuums feature scheduling capabilities, so you can select which days of the week you want them to clean and at what time. That way, you can set your vacuum for a time you know you’ll be out of the house, like 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, or at 9 a.m. on the weekends, so your floors are always clean when you get home, and the robot doesn't disturb you when you're there. You can also go even further with some robots and set Do Not Disturb times where the machine will dim any indicator lights and delay noisy processes like emptying its dustbin or washing its mopping pads until you're awake.
9. Clean Your Vacuum
Be sure to regularly clean your robot vacuum. That includes emptying the dustbin, cleaning dust and debris off the filters, and cutting away any hair that's tangled on the brushes. You'll also want to periodically wipe off the anti-drop sensors and charging contacts on the bottom of the robot. It's important to keep up with these maintenance tasks if you want your vacuum to stay in tip-top shape and effectively do its job.
About every six months to a year, swap out the filter for a fresh one. Some robot vacuums come with an extra filter in the box, or you can usually purchase replacements online.
Meanwhile, to cut down on maintenance duties, you might want to consider a model that can empty its own dustbin. Since these models limit your exposure to dust, they can be especially good if you suffer from allergies. And make sure to get a vacuum that's good for pet hair if you're allergic to dander. For robot vacuum and mop hybrids, look for a model that can wash and dry its own mop pad, like the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni.
10. Stick With First-Party Replacement Parts
At some point in your robot vacuum's life, you'll need to replace some parts to keep it running well, including filters and brushes. Self-emptying robot vacuums typically have a bag in the base station where the robot deposits its dirt. Depending on your model and usage, you'll need to toss the full dust bag and install a new one every 60 days.
You're much better off purchasing any replacement parts directly from the manufacturer of your robot vacuum instead of shopping around for deals on third-party knockoffs. We've tried using third-party dust bags, and they can be flimsy and don't always seal properly. Third-party filters and brush rolls might not fit. Save yourself the experiment and resulting headache and just go straight to the source.