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How much maintenance is involved in a robot vacuum cleaner, how do you maintain its individual parts, which parts need regular replacement, and how often should they be replaced? We’ll cover some of these topics in this article.
Like all other household products, robot vacuum cleaners require regular maintenance. There’s a significant difference in how robot vacuum cleaners are built, how well their parts hold up, what maintenance procedures the manufacturer recommends, etc. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check your specific robot vacuum cleaner’s manual for proper maintenance.
Many robot vacuum cleaners track how often they run and remind you when it’s time to maintain or replace various parts.
Below, we’ll go through the parts of your robot vacuum cleaner that need maintenance.
Below, we’ve compiled an overview of the parts that need maintenance and how often it should be done.
Note that the frequency of maintenance varies greatly from home to home and depends on many factors, such as how often the robot vacuum cleaner runs, which brand you use, how large your home is, whether you have pets, what types of floors you have, and much more. Therefore, the overview should only be used as a rough rule of thumb.
| Part | Procedure | How often (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Dust container | Empty and clean the dust container | After 1 to 2 cleaning sessions |
| Side brushes | Remove hair and dirt | Once a month |
| Main brush | Remove hair and dirt | Every 14 days |
| Sensors | Remove dust and dirt | Once a month |
| Wheels | Remove hair and dirt | Once a month |
| Filter | Wash under water or gently tap, depending on the type of filter | Every 2 to 4 weeks |
| Mop cloth* | Thoroughly rinse and let air dry | Clean as needed |
| Water tank* | Refill with water | After 1 to 2 cleaning sessions |
| Software | Software update | As needed |
*Applies only if the robot vacuum cleaner has a mopping function.
The dust container should be emptied regularly unless the robot vacuum cleaner has a built-in emptying station. Avoid clogging the dust container, which unnecessarily strains the robot vacuum cleaner.
The brushes on your robot vacuum cleaner are responsible for collecting dirt from your floors. Over time, they can become tangled with hair, reducing cleaning performance. Check the brushes regularly and remove any hair or dirt wrapped around them. Some models have removable brush modules for easier cleaning.
There’s a significant difference in the type of filter robot vacuum cleaners have built-in. Some filters last throughout the robot’s lifespan, while others require periodic replacement. It’s important to clean the filter regularly to ensure that the robot vacuum cleaner can suck optimally. Depending on your model, you should clean the filter by gently tapping it to remove dirt or rinsing it with water. See your user manual for specific instructions.
Robot vacuum cleaners rely on sensors to navigate around your home and avoid obstacles. Dirty sensors can cause navigation errors and reduce cleaning efficiency. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently clean the sensors, ensuring no dust or dirt accumulates that could disrupt their function.
Regularly check the wheels for signs of dirt or hair wrapped around them. Remove the hair and clean the wheels with a soft brush or cloth to ensure that they can move freely without obstruction.
Some robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with a mopping function, allowing them to vacuum and mop the floor simultaneously. If your robot vacuum cleaner has a mop attachment, it’s important to maintain it. Regularly remove the mop from the robot vacuum cleaner and clean it thoroughly. Rinse the mop with water to remove dirt and grime. Then, let the mop air dry before putting it back on the vacuum cleaner. Some robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with cleaning stations that automatically clean and dry the mop after each cleaning session.
If the robot vacuum cleaner has a mopping function, the water tank needs to be refilled regularly. There’s a significant difference in the water tank size in different robot vacuum cleaners, which will affect how often it needs to be refilled.
Most robot vacuum cleaners come with a companion app that allows you to control and monitor them remotely. Manufacturers often release software updates to improve performance and add new features. Make sure to keep your robot vacuum cleaner software updated by installing all available updates through the app.
For your robot vacuum cleaner to function optimally, several parts need to be replaced regularly. These are the parts that need to be replaced and their expected lifespan (note that the expected lifespan may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer):
| Part | Lifespan (approx.) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Filter | 150 hours | |
| Main brush | 300 hours | |
| Side brush | 150 hours | |
| Mop cloth | 3 to 6 months | Lifespan varies greatly from household to household. Replace as needed. |
| Dust bag | 1 to 2 months | This applies only if the robot vacuum cleaner has an emptying station. |
Manufacturers are constantly developing new methods to make robot vacuum cleaners even more automated.
Some robot vacuum cleaners come with cleaning stations that remove some of the weekly maintenance. These robot vacuum cleaners come with a built-in station with a cleaning function, which, in addition to recharging the robot vacuum cleaner’s battery, also ensures:
This removes some of the frequent maintenance, so you only need to maintain a number of parts less frequently. With a cleaning station, you’ll instead need to:
