6 things to know about robot vacuums before you buy one

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When I received a Narwal Freo vacuum/mopping robot, I was skeptical. Given my wife and I are serious about cleaning, we were both certain a small robot couldn't do a better job than us. It took one day to realize just how wrong we were. Since then we haven't had to sweep or mop the bottom floor of the house. 

The top floor? That's a different story.

Also: The best robot vacuum mops right now

And so, after using the Narwal Freo for a few weeks, I have some advice to share that could help improve your experience.

Are you ready? Let's clean.

1. For smart devices, they can be kind of dumb

Most robot vacuums or vacuum/mop combos are smart devices that use AI and machine learning to map your home so they know where to sweep and mop. And no matter how far those technologies come, it doesn't mean those devices are going to be perfect.

After the first two goes at sweeping and mopping, I realized I had to define a few "no go" zones because "Margo Robot" (our name for the Freo) continually found itself stuck under a couple of end tables. But even after defining those zones, the robot continued its attempt to clean them and would eventually get stuck. 

Also: Skip the Dyson: This $150 stick vacuum is just as powerful (and can mop, too)

Because of this, I've set the scheduled vacuuming/mopping for times when one (or both) of us will be home to give the robot a helping hand over those obstacles. 

To that end, it's best to go into purchasing a cleaning robot not thinking it's going to be able to perfectly navigate the maze of things that come together to make up your home.

• It's going to get stuck. 
• It's going to keep going places you don't want it to.
• It's going to get blocked and may (or may not) be able to figure its way out.

Just because something is "smart" doesn't mean it's perfect. If you assume a cleaning robot will know the layout of your home as well as you, think again. You will have to rescue the device.

Speaking of rescuing&#;

2. Pick up the cords

I've already lost one laptop cord to the Narwal. Unlike humans, a cleaning robot cannot spot a cable on the floor, stop, move it, and continue on. Robots are going to keep on going until that cord is wrapped around a cleaning brush and they can't keep going. That's when you have to intervene, shift any cables from the reach of the robot, and then (and only then) let it do its thing.

Also: This robot vacuuming mop combo has a brilliant self-cleaning feature I didn't know I needed

This can be challenging, especially after you've set a schedule for the robot and grown accustomed to the robot's daily routine. You'll forget that, in ten minutes, the robot will leave its station and start the daily task. When you forget, those cables are vulnerable. 

Remember them. Save them.

3. Maintain your robot

We often forget that maintenance is an important piece of the puzzle. If you don't spend a bit of time caring for that technology, it will eventually fail. Given how much these robots can cost, it's important that you heed this advice. Here are my tips:

• Always check the brushes for entanglements before they start the task.
• Keep the robot clean.
• If it doubles as a mop, keep the dirty water container emptied and the clean water container filled.
• Keep the wheels (and their axles) clean (so they can maintain traction and don't wind up with unwanted tension).
• Replace brushes and filters as recommended.

Also: The best iRobot vacuums

The documentation for your robot should offer plenty of suggestions for maintaining the device. Read and follow them to the letter. This is an expensive piece of equipment and you want it running smoothly for a long time.

4. Remap if necessary

If you make changes to the layout of any room in the house (moving major or minor furnishings), make sure to remap. If you don't, the robot will assume everything is exactly as it was during its previous run and will wind up getting stuck or confused. 

Although I wouldn't worry about remapping if you moved an ottoman two feet to the right. However, if you move multiple pieces in a room, remap. If your robot has the ability to remap only specific rooms, I would recommend using that option (instead of remapping the entire floor).

5. Clean the sensors

Your robot has sensors that keep it from falling or slamming into (some obstacles). It's important that you keep those sensors clean. Otherwise, the device might not spot that drop and fall to its demise.

For more best machine to clean laminate floorsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Also: The best Roborock robot vacuums 

If this device is also a mop, the sensors can get covered in splashback of dirty water over time. Use a cloth that is safe for screens (such as a microfiber cloth) and wipe those sensors down weekly.

6. Read the documentation

Finally, it's imperative that you carefully read the enclosed documentation. Many businesses really go out of their way to simplify the onboarding process for technology. To that end, they'll include simplified documentation that could be little more than a collection of images showing you what to do.

Given you might have spent over a thousand dollars on the robot, locate the proper documentation (which might be a downloadable PDF) and read it. Don't assume those pictures tell the whole story and don't be afraid of over 240 characters.

Also: The best robot mops

RTFM (Read The *Fine* Manual) can go a long way to ensuring your robot lives a long and healthy life.

And there you have it. With a bit of care, your new cleaning robot will not only last a long time but won't frustrate you or have you thinking it cannot live up to the hype. As someone who was certain those devices were nothing but hype, I can tell you they are not only capable of living up to it but far exceeding it.

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Vacuum cleaners are slowly becoming a thing of the past, and robot vacuum cleaners, the future. There are new models showing up every other week and at a time like this, how do you choose the best one for your home? Here are our recommendations of all the things that make up a good robot vacuum cleaner. There are several reasons to own one, the biggest of which is the sheer convenience of not having to move furniture around and move around to clean surfaces. You simply leave the robot vacuum cleaner for charging and it can be setup to clean your home without you ever knowing it. 

Ability to clean all kinds of surfaces

Unlike regular vacuum cleaners, where we move the vacuum nozzle around, robot vacuum cleaners navigate clean everything by themselves. Certain surfaces require more force and care while others do not. A good robot vacuum cleaner must have the capability to do this. This means, having the capability to climb up small surfaces such as carpets, mats and then clean them on the way. The robot vacuum cleaners use rollers that let them navigate around the home. Being able to climb up thicker rugs and carpets can be done by models that use larger wheels. Another feature that is essential is being able to boost suction performance when the vacuum cleaner detects a carpet or mat. These surfaces tend to hold more dirt and are more stubborn, than tiled surfaces and so they need additional performance on demand.

Ability to scan your room

The key advantage of root vacuum cleaners is being able to navigate through our homes, map them and ensure every nook and corner is cleaned, and under all kinds of obstacles. This is done using a range of sensors. Some models can also store these layouts and avoid hitting into walls or furniture. The sensors also help the vacuum cleaners determine which areas of the house have not been cleaned yet. The sensors are also important so that the vacuum cleaner does not fall off a ledge if you live in a two-storey house with a staircase.

Choosing capacities and performance

Like regular vacuum cleaners, robot vacuum cleaners too have capacities. This includes the capacity of the dust bin as well as the suction performance. Look for the specification of the model to gauge the suction performance of the model you are interested in. The waste bin capacity on most models is denoted in litres. A larger closer to a litre is recommended for most homes. It reduces the number of times you might need to empty it.

Battery life is important

Robot vacuum cleaners operate on batteries and they eventually lose charge after use. Some of the smarter models can automatically dock back at the charging station when they detect low battery charge. When fully charged, they can continue with the task at hand. Keep in mind the battery capacity so that the vacuum cleaner can operate for at least 30 minutes, which is the time it might take to clean most moderate-sized homes. It can take a couple of hours to recharge the battery, so also look at the recharging time.

Automate cleaning using scheduling features

Robot vacuum cleaners are entirely automated although you can tweak some things about them. Robot vacuum cleaners can be set up to automatically clean at specific times. This time could be early in the morning before anyone wakes up, or during work hours when no one&#;s moving around. This feature has the advantage of setting up a daily or weekly schedule where the vacuum cleaner does its job. It&#;s a good idea to include this in your checklist of features.

Smart apps and voice assistant features

Another feature of automation comes in the form of voice commands. We already use voice assistants on our phones and smart speakers. The same devices can now be used to control specific robot vacuum cleaners to order a cleaning task. Most decent robot vacuum cleaners support Amazon&#;s Alexa and Google Assistant. Others come with an app that you can install on your smartphone or tablet. A lot of fine controls are available in them. They keep a record of when the home was cleaned last and how much charge is left in the batteries.

Emptying the dust bin

One of the annoyances of any vacuum cleaner is having to clean the dust bin. There is a lot of fine dust in the bags, and they need be carefully emptied to avoid making a mess. This still needs to be done with robot vacuum cleaners. Fortunately, some robot vacuum cleaners are designed with smart ways of emptying the container. This happens automatically, just like how some models recharge themselves. Some models can even empty the dust bin automatically, but this is rarely seen. 

Low noise levels are always a good idea

No one likes using a noisy vacuum cleaner that makes a ruckus while it cleans. Fortunately, most robot vacuum cleaners are compact and designed to be quiet. Brands typically state the noise levels of their products, so take a close look before you buy one. The noise level is denoted in decibel. The lower, the decibel, the better.

Robot vacuum cleaners are the future, but the future is already here at Reliance Digital. You can find a wide range of robot vacuum cleaners available at all kinds of prices and feature. There are several brands to choose from, ranging from iRobot, ILIFE, Eureka Forbes, Eufy and more. Simply ask one of our executives at your nearest Reliance Digital store for help, or head over to our catalogue at reliancedigital.in. You can now order products online from us and have them home-delievered in no time.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of sweeper robots. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.