A plain guide to how robot vacuums and mops work, what to look for when buying one, how to prepare your home, and how to keep the machine running well for years.
A mapping robot cleans in tidy rows, then returns to its dock.
A robot cleaner is a low, round (or slightly flattened) machine that drives itself around the floor, sweeping dust and crumbs into a small bin with a rotating brush and a suction fan. Many newer models also carry a water tank and a damp pad so they can mop hard floors in the same run.
They are best at the daily upkeep that nobody enjoys: dust, hair, pet fur and crumbs. They will not replace a full vacuum for deep carpet cleaning, stairs, upholstery or the corners of a room, but they keep a home visibly cleaner between those bigger jobs.
Navigation is the biggest difference between a cheap robot and a good one. It decides whether the machine cleans in neat rows or bumps about at random.
| Method | How it works | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Random bump | Drives until it hits something, then turns. | Cheapest. Simple to maintain. | Misses patches. Slow. No map, so no room selection. |
| Gyroscope | Tracks its own turns and distance to drive in lines. | Tidy rows at a modest price. | Can drift off course. Maps are basic. |
| Camera (vSLAM) | Looks at the ceiling or room to build a map. | Good maps. Often has object recognition. | Struggles in the dark. Raises privacy questions. |
| LiDAR | Spins a laser to measure distances around it. | Fast and accurate. Works in the dark. | The turret adds height, so check clearance under furniture. |
Sweeps and sucks. A sensible choice for homes that are mostly carpet or rugs.
Around £120 to £350Adds a water tank and pad. Suits kitchens, hallways and bathrooms with tile, laminate or vinyl.
Around £250 to £700Empties the bin into a sealed bag, so you only deal with dust every few weeks.
Around £400 to £900Also washes and dries the mop pads and refills the tank. The least hands-on option.
Around £700 to £1,500+Prices are rough guides for the UK market and change often.
Ten minutes of preparation before the first run saves most of the usual problems.
A robot that is cleaned regularly cleans better and lasts longer. Treat this as a rough timetable and follow your maker's own instructions where they differ.
| Part | Task | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Dust bin | Empty it, and tap out the filter. | After every run or two |
| Main brush | Cut away tangled hair with scissors or a cleaning tool. | Weekly |
| Sensors and charging contacts | Wipe with a dry, soft cloth. | Weekly |
| Wheels and castor | Remove hair wrapped around the axle. | Fortnightly |
| Mop pads | Wash after each use and let them dry fully. | Every mopping run |
| Water tank | Empty and air dry to avoid odours. | After each use |
| Filter | Replace. | Every 2 to 3 months |
| Side brush | Replace when the bristles bend or splay. | Every 3 to 6 months |
| Main brush | Replace when worn flat. | Every 6 to 12 months |
| Dock bag | Replace when full or when the app prompts. | Roughly every 4 to 8 weeks |
Charging a robot cleaner costs only a few pence per run, so electricity is rarely the concern. Consumables are the real cost: filters, brushes, pads and dock bags typically come to somewhere between £30 and £100 a year, depending on the model and how often it runs.
To keep waste down, wash and reuse mop pads where the design allows, and take an old robot to a household electrical recycling point at the end of its life. Lithium batteries should never go in general waste.
Most robot cleaners connect to your wi-fi and store a map of your home. Use a strong, unique password for the account, switch on two-step verification where it is offered, and keep the firmware up to date. If your model has a camera, check where its images are stored and whether you can turn it off or cover it.