The Best Robot Vacuum Hacks, Tips and Tricks for New Owners

The key to getting the most out of a new robot vacuum is treating it well, making sure its needs are taken care of, and checking in with it every now and again. Do that, and your robot vacuum will not only last longer but also do a better job cleaning your home and be more of the invisible, low-impact presence you were probably imagining when you bought it in the first place. 

We’ll discuss several ways to keep your little friend working optimally and some best practices for maintaining it so it doesn’t die on you or stop working completely after a few months. Most of the best robot vacuums aren’t cheap, so if you’re a new robot vacuum owner, ensure you get your money’s worth with a little bit of TLC.

Tips for optimizing your robot vacuum setup

As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This is also true for our little robot companions, where how well the setup stage goes will inform a lot about how well your vacuum functions over the long run.

Optimal dock location

First, you’ll want to find an optimal place to install the base and charging dock. Ideally, this will be centrally located in the area you want to clean, without many nearby obstacles you’ll have to shift around every time you start a cleaning cycle. That said, you’ll also want to choose a place that’s out of the way of heavy foot traffic, like walls that are opposite doorways or corners where there isn’t already existing furniture.

Mapping

You’ll also want to start mapping as early as possible; the more mapping data your little buddy has, the better they’ll find their way around (and not get stuck or damaged). You can use boundary/magnetic tape to ensure your vacuum doesn’t enter dicey areas, usually available directly from the manufacturer, or set up no-go zones in the app. There are even “virtual wall” devices that allow you to block off entire areas or rooms using small pylons.

Most robot vacuums have a dedicated mapping mode or automatically begin mapping an area during a specific cleaning mode. In either case, make sure you closely monitor the vacuum during initial runs so it doesn’t tumble down the stairs or get lodged under an entertainment system. 

These days, most robot vacuums are pretty good about this on their own, but it doesn’t hurt to baby it a little if you have an unusual space or lots of clutter. Usually, after it gets a good sense of the space and assumes nothing changes, you can leave it to its own devices during later passes.

Essential maintenance steps for longevity

The best relationships take work, but luckily, most robot vacuums are low-maintenance. That said, there are a few things you’ll want to do regularly to ensure they keep running smoothly.

Empty the dustbin

First, empty the dustbin after every run. While it varies from unit to unit, this typically just involves unlatching the bin and emptying it into the garbage, though some have fully removable bins. In either case, brushing or wiping out the bin with a paper towel to ensure you’ve fully emptied it is a good idea.

Check the brushes

You’ll also want to regularly check to ensure the brushes aren’t clogged with hair and other detritus, or your little friend will start grumbling (or give up the ghost entirely). If things get particularly hairy, you can use a small knife or scissors to cut through the tangled hair, making it much easier to pull out. The better idea is a quick regular cleaning to ensure it doesn’t get to that stage in the first place.

Change dust filters

Make sure to knock the dust out of your little guy’s filters and regularly replace them. Depending on how frequently your robot vacuum is running, this may be as often as once a month, though they can last significantly longer with frequent cleaning.

Keep the sensors clean

Finally, you’ll want to keep the electronic bits clean. Occasionally wipe down the glass sensor pods with a little glass cleaner and a soft microfiber cloth and ensure that the charging contacts on both the vacuum and the base are clean and dust-free.  

Hacks for deeper cleaning

Everybody needs a hand occasionally, and your robot vacuum is no exception. It’ll likely do a lovely job straight out of the box, but to truly elevate its game, there are a few things you can do to take the cleaning experience to the next level.

Add essential oil 

Consider adding a few drops of essential oil to the filter, for instance, to eradicate dirt and dust and contribute a little aromatherapy to your living space. You can also apply cleaning powder or baking soda to your carpets to help eliminate odors.

Get some accessories

Another fun way to amplify your vacuum’s functionality is through accessories. Some manufacturers sell add-ons to help reach otherwise inaccessible areas or extras like upgraded batteries or larger water tanks for robot mop units. If you want to take your accessory to the next level, there’s also a growing community of DIYers 3D-printing things like additional filter compartments to add air fresheners to a unit or cliff sensor covers that prevent a vacuum from reading a dark patch of carpet as an impassable edge.

Maximizing battery life

It’s worth paying attention to your robot vacuum’s charging habits and environment. As we mentioned above, keeping the charging contacts on both the unit and the charging base clean is key, but you can do a few other things to ensure the battery lasts as long as possible.

Like many of your actual friends, your robot vacuum won’t appreciate exposure to extreme temperatures. Avoid installing the charging base near heating registers or vents, in front of an AC unit or in a place where it’ll be consistently hit with direct sunlight. Overcharging usually isn’t a problem anymore, when the battery’s full, the robot vacuum should stop charging on its own accord, but you can always monitor the battery health in the app.

Lithium-ion batteries are pretty long-lasting, but they’re not eternal. If you notice that your vacuum no longer has the get-up-and-go to fully clean your space, replace the battery, likely every one to three years depending on usage.

Robot vacuums and pet owners

While they’re immune to human foibles like allergies, most robot vacuums don’t play nicely with pets. Your cat might like tooling around on it while it deep cleans your living room, but you’ll probably want to schedule cleanings for times when larger animals won’t block its path (or outright decimate it by knocking it around or landing directly on top of it). 

If pet hair is a significant issue, or you have a lot of furry friends you’ll be integrating your new vacuum companion with, consider our pick for the best robot vacuum for pet hair, the iRobot Roomba j9 Plus. However, we’re also partial to the J7 Plus. It’s got the suction power and mobility to handle pet hairs all over your home, and while we strongly recommend you clean up any pet accidents before deploying your robovac, the j9 has the sensors and smarts to avoid larger messes entirely, sparing you a very uncomfortable cleaning process. This is also a feature we’re seeing refined on newer models, with the Eureka J15 Max Ultra using AI to detect spills and untangle itself. 

Conclusion

While they don’t demand much, a little forethought, occasional maintenance and some intelligent use will make your robot vacuum experience much more rewarding (and much less annoying).