7 top tips for getting the most from your robotic vacuum
These versatile and clever little machines have liberated us from the mundane household chore that everyone dislikes. Here are seven ways to make them clean even more efficiently.
Clean routine
Set up a regular automated cleaning schedule depending on the level and frequency of cleaning, using the robotic vacuum's companion app.
How often you schedule a cleaning routine depends entirely on your lifestyle, and of course the cleanliness of your floors. Twice a week is generally sufficient, although you may want to increase that if you have pets and children.
Schedule the vac to roam the home while you're out, and come back to spotless floors!
Set no-go zones
Robotic vacuums are exceptionally good at deploying sensor technology, navigation systems and object detection to avoid things like cords, stool legs and kids' shoes.
However, if you want a comprehensive cleaning compatriot, opt for a higher-end model with laser tracking that will map your home for more systematic cleaning. This allows you to create floor plans and set virtual barriers and off-limits zones to avoid obstacles you know will cause snagging issues.
Do a quick clean first
As you would with a conventional vacuum cleaner, doing a sweep of the house to pick up any loose items on the floor can ensure a trouble-free clean – robotic vacs do love munching on errant charging cables.
Alternatively, set up a virtual boundary to keep the robotic vac away from problematic areas like a messy kids' playroom full of stray LEGO bricks.
Dump the dirt
Emptying a bag vacuum cleaner once it's done its work is another task that's approached with trepidation. But you can avoid any potential dust clouds with a robotic vac, which can self-empty into a dock when it's full.
Once it returns to the dock, a series of vacuums will extract the collected dust, dirt and debris and store it in a bin for easy disposal. Emptying the bin generally only needs to be done once a month.
This is an extremely handy feature if you’re going out for the day and want your vac to clean your whole place in your absence, and then return to the dock ready for the next cleaning cycle.
Keep it clean
Stay on top of maintenance. Regular cleaning of your robotic vac will extend its life and performance, and maintain consistent suction.
A soft toothbrush and dry cloth is generally all that's needed to remove dirt and debris from the side brushes. Give the unit's surface, sensors and wheels a gentle wipe with a dry microfibre cloth.
Keeping the dustbin and filters clean is also important, and requires little more than rinsing in cold water. However, this only applies to some filters, so alway check your model's cleaning recommendations before sticking them under the tap.
Where to put the dock
Once a robotic vac runs low on power, it will automatically return to its docking station. The charging dock should always be placed within easy access for the vac to navigate back to base.
Choose somewhere unobtrusive, like between the arm of a couch and the wall, under a tall side table, or simply sit it in an out-of-the-way corner.
What lies beneath
If you don’t have a dog, ensure that the robotic vac can clear food crumbs from beneath the kitchen table by moving chairs out of the way, or popping them upside down on the table during the cleaning cycle.
Conversely, to prevent your robotic vac from venturing under furniture and getting stuck, block off problem areas before cleaning, or set virtual boundaries.
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