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From self-cleaning functions, AI capabilities and better performance, robot vacuums have come a long way from their early design. Between the questions we get asked when people are choosing the right model to how they can actually maintain their robot vacuum, we’ve heard it all. There’s a lot to learn about these handy household robots, so we’ve put together the ten most common robot vacuum FAQs to clear a few things up.
While you might expect robot vacuums to be a relatively new invention, the first fully automated robot vacuum cleaner went on sale in 1996. Invented by Electrolux, it was a pioneering invention that has evolved significantly in the following decades.
With so many corners in your home, you might expect that robot vacuums would have square edges. While it’s a basic design aspect, the round shape is actually one of the best robot vacuum features.
They need to be round in order to navigate around on their own more easily, making them less likely to snag or get caught on objects on the ground. It also gives them better precision when it comes to path efficiency, ensuring they’re getting every inch of your floor without having to go over the same area twice.
The round shape also helps keep your robot vacuum safer from getting stuck as it can rotate easily on its base to move out of tight spots and dead ends. No sharp edges also mean they’re less likely to cause any damage to walls or furniture while they’re vacuuming along the edges of rooms.
While more basic models don’t need WiFi, they’ll need to be manually switched on with the press of a button to start operating. They also won’t have many of the features you could get from more advanced models that do have WiFi.
The capabilities of WiFi-connected robot vacuums, in comparison to those without it, are huge. WiFi connectivity gives you a whole host of features, from smart mapping for individual rooms to multi-level homes. Many of the WiFi-connected robot vacuums also have app controls, meaning you can switch them on while you’re not at home and come back to a clean house.
Absolutely. While hand-held vacuums often need different heads to clean hard floors or carpets properly, robot vacuums can take care of that themselves. There are even 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaners that not only switch between carpet and hardwood floors but also handle the mopping, too.
The best robot vacuum features can include everything from voice activation, house-mapping and obstacle avoidance - and those are just the basics. Depending on the model you choose, many robot vacuums, including models from the likes of Roborock and Ecovacs, also feature self-cleaning docks. They’ll drive back to their dock and clean their own mop pads, empty their dirty bins and water tanks from vacuuming and mopping before plugging themselves in to recharge for the next cleaning session.
While each robot vacuum has its own unique features, they all have a few things in common. Robot vacuums are powered by rechargeable batteries, a chip that helps them navigate, and often also have a Lidar infrared camera to detect objects in their paths. You can find detailed robot vacuum information and specifications on each individual product page, enabling you to choose the best option for your needs.
Aside from the brush rolls and mop pads underneath, robot vacuums have specially designed side-mounted brushes that extend beyond their body to get into hard-to-reach areas.
Your robot vacuum should last anywhere between 4 and 12 years, depending on how you look after it. Regular at-home maintenance through cleaning, along with replacing their accessories like mop pads, can extend the lifespan of your robot vacuum cleaner. The battery is the part that will typically need to be replaced in order to get the most life possible out of your robot helper. With proper care, ensuring you’re charging fully between each use and not letting it run flat, will help your battery last for two to three years.
While some models of robot vacuum will empty their own bins and water tanks after they’re finished cleaning, you’ll still need to do some maintenance. Emptying the bins and water reservoirs after each use and replacing the dirty water with clean water is a basic, regular cleaning job that only takes a few minutes.
Weekly maintenance can include cleaning the brushes, rollers and mop pads. Long-term, you may need to replace certain parts and accessories when they wear out. If you have a HEPA vacuum that works hard to clean up allergens, you’ll want to change that every 6 to 12 months, too. Many robot vacuums will let you know when parts are almost ready to be changed, giving you time to order more.
The answer to this question isn’t going to be the same for everyone. It depends on what kind of floors you have, how big your home is and how much maintenance you’re happy to do.
Modern-day robot vacuums come with features that are specially designed for everything from picking up pet hair, cleaning up spills and keeping your home free of allergens with advanced HEPA filters. At Robot Specialist, we stock only the best robot vacuums and accessories that are designed to make your life easier.
If you’re stuck when it comes to choosing, you can contact us or visit in-store for a personal consultation. Whether you buy a robot vacuum home from us or not, we’re here to give you world-class advice and support on maintaining your robot vacuum.