Robot Vacuum Cleaners Frequently Asked Questions
The following sections will help answer your questions on the different benefits of robot vacuum cleaners.
- Efficiency
The robot vacuum greatly reduces how often you need to vacuum, sweep and mop your floors. And if you're not home, it can clean on a scheduled cleaning cycle. The technology improvements over the past few years have also made the vacuums much more reliable and dependable at affordable prices.
- Ease of Use
Robotic vacuum cleaners work unattended and without supervision, anytime, day or night which leaves you more time to do the things you love. You can have them start themselves on pre-programmed schedules or start them manually depending on your model. Most models come with a programmable display screen for its quick set up. Newer models offer remote control guidance and wireless app control from your phone.
- Time Saving
Because of the ease and simplicity of programming your robotic vacuum cleaner, you can simply set it to clean when and where you want. Now it doesn’t matter how busy your schedule is with professional or social commitments; your home will already be clean after a busy day of work and life.
- Compact Design
Most robotic vacuum cleaners are small and compact, taking up very little space in your home. A quiet corner with access to a power outlet and you won’t even notice them! The average size of a robot vacuum cleaner is about 1ft X 1ft. Most are round, some square, and others, like Neato, a combination of both. Because of their slim, compact design, they can easily clean beneath furniture, beds and tables.
- Intelligent Technology
Robot vacuums use smart programming and a variety of different sensors to ensure thorough cleaning by mapping and navigating your home. They can tell where objects are such as stairs, or you can program barriers or virtual walls yourself. Most units have a docking station where they will return automatically when they have a low battery to recharge before they begin cleaning again.
What Does a Robot Vacuum Cleaner Look Like?Your typical robot vacuum cleaner is round or oval, but some varieties are also square.
On the top part of the unit, you will normally find the unit’s control panel. This will have touch or press buttons which you can use to navigate your robot vacuums functions. Some models also have an LCD touch screen for easier operation.
The front end the robot vacuum cleaner is normally where the unit’s sensors are located. This helps the robot vacuum cleaner to identify and avoid obstacles; the unit gently bumps around your home working out the most efficient way for it to clean your home. More advanced units also feature a laser or camera which helps them map your home for future cleaning.
Robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with a wide variety of different brushes. Main brushes, side brushes, front brushes all help to clean your home. They all feature a built-in dust bag or bin which is easily located to empty and clean.
How Do Robot Vacuums Work?
Robot vacuums navigate around your home using their built in motherboards that help map and store your floor plans. Sensors prevent it from bumping into objects and determining the most efficient cleaning path.
Some robot vacuums also include an HEPA filter to help rid allergens from the air inside your home. After it's finished cleaning, or needs to be charged it will beep or flash and return to its docking station.
How do Robot Vacuums Travel and Technology Used?
Most robotic vacuum cleaners navigate through your home using integrated technology that gives them four or five different cleaning modes. They may seem as if they are random, but that perform a crisscross pattern then spiral and follow your walls. They use their sensors to navigate around objects and barriers and usually end up cleaning the same area more than once.
The more advanced models map your home with lasers or cameras and then plan the most efficient way to clean your home. They are very methodical and usually operate in straight lines much like a human cleans a room. They then move to the next room once that one is complete.
What Are the Benefits?
All robotic vacuum cleaners are equipped with smart technology that enables them to clean efficiently, makes them easy to use and safe. Below are some of the common features and not so common features.
Common:
- Docks and recharges: Most robot vacuums return to their docking station to recharge so that they are ready for their next session or to finish a current one.
- Plastic dustbins or bags which are designed for easy cleaning and emptying.
- A variety of different brushes located around the robot vacuum cleaner.
- Some different sensors to ensure the best cleaning of every room.
- They clean both hard floors such as tiles and also a variety of different carpets.
- Clean on schedule or manually when you want them to.
- Feature a remote control.
- Automatically stop and cease when any errors are detected.
Uncommon:
- Can have programmed virtual walls or barriers to set them to clean in specific locations only.
- Dirt detecting sensors which are used to detect dirtier areas or high traffic areas around your home.
- Automatic dirt bin is emptying to save you even more time and hassle.
- The ability to mop and dry hard floors in some advanced models.
What Does it Come With? Any Accessories?
All robotic vacuum cleaners will come with a variety of different accessories to help them clean your home better. These will depend on the model and price.
- Cleaning brushes (main or side brushes)
- Standard or HEPA (anti-allergenic) filters
- Cleaning cloths or wipes to fix under the robot vacuum cleaner
- Remote control
- Rechargeable battery
- Charging base and charger
- Virtual walls to keep robot vacuum out of certain areas or for better room to room cleaning
- Tool for cleaning brushes
Is There Maintenance and Cleaning?
You need to complete regular maintenance and cleaning of your robotic vacuum cleaner so it last a long time. All models come with a guide to help prolong its life and minimize wear and tear.
Almost all robotic vacuums are bagless and feature a plastic bin or tub which is used to store dirt, dust, and other debris. This is easy to remove, empty, clean and replace. Some models will automatically empty.
The filter on your robot vacuum cleaner must be cleaned and the bin emptied after every three or four cycles depending on the amount of dirt the robot picks up and the manufacturers specifications. This is recommended to maintain maximum suction power. The filter should be changed every 3 to 6 months depending on the frequency the robot is used and what the manufacturer recommends.
HEPA filters or High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters have the benefit of being washable and reusable. Their lifetime is, therefore, better than that of standard filters. HEPA filters are high-performance filters that capture debris that is smaller than 0.3 micron. These filters are especially recommended for people who may be sensitive to allergens.
The main brushes found under the robot, and the side brush should regularly be cleaned with a cleaning tool which is supplied with the robot vacuum cleaner. This will prevent debris from accumulating and causing a malfunction of the robot.
The right and left drive wheels as well as the castor wheels should also be checked for debris and maintained regularly.