My robot vacuum has been zooming around my house since the early days of the pandemic, and I can say this: it's great, but it's not magic.

Robot vacuums are synonymous with convenience, but without regular maintenance, performance wanes. Based on conversations I've had with many other robot-vacuuming enthusiasts (friends, colleagues, family members), lack of maintenance quickly escalates to a state of disappointment.

Sure, you hit “start,” and it glides around while you get on with your life. That part’s true. But what most people underestimate—and what I underestimated at first—is how much work it takes to keep that little robot in shape.

If you want it to keep cleaning your floors, you’ll need to get comfortable cleaning it.

The Hidden Chore Behind the Automated Routine

When you first get a robot vacuum, it feels like you’ve solved one of life’s small annoyances. After a few weeks, though, problems can start to compile.

The motor might sound off. Debris on your floor might not be thoroughly vacuumed. It might begin sending extra cries for help (those pesky alerts are particularly frustrating if you're not home to help mediate the situation).

The failures you experience aren't usually a system failure; it’s because the parts that pick up dirt are starting to clog up. The rollers become wrapped with hair or fur. The brushes tangle. The filters fill with dust. And omg, one misplaced boondoggle from summer camp can send poor little Roomba into a tailspin.

Overlooked maintenance can escalate into a problem... fast. If you ignore it, the vacuum’s performance drops, and it starts to sound like it’s working harder but doing less.

“Cleaning the Cleaner” is Counterintuitive, But Important

Here’s the part many people skip: maintaining a robot vacuum is an ongoing chore.

• Every week or two (depending on how often it runs), I flip mine over, pull out the rollers, and clean every component. Hair gets wound around anything that spins.
• Every month, I dust off the filter. If it's really bad, I'll use the detail nozzle on my upright vacuum to deep clean it. Eventually, the filter will need to be replaced; I know when it's time because the vacuum will keep telling me "empty the bin," and when I look, there's barely anything filling the container. It senses buildup, mislead by a clogged filter.
• Once or twice a year, I take a small screwdriver and open other areas of the appliance. There’s always dust hiding where you can’t see it. Believe me.

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Roomba vs. Shark: What’s the Difference?

In our home, we have two models—a Roomba (purchased in early 2020, most similar to the current j7 model from iRobot) and a Shark® Detect Pro™ (sent by the brand so we could test performance). Both machines need hands-on care.

The big difference between the two is that the Shark empties itself into a base. The self-emptying feature on the Shark is great because it saves a step.

For the most part, we use them interchangeably. The Shark is better at cleaning the bedroom with a high-pile area rug. The Roomba is the go-to for our sunken living room (the vacuum picks up a lot of carpet fibers and needs more frequent emptying; Shark wouldn't be able to climb the stairs to its bin).

Why Maintenance Makes All the Difference

If you’ve had a robot vacuum for a while, you can tell when it’s starting to lose its edge. It leaves debris behind, or it skips areas entirely. That’s usually a sign the rollers are affected or the sensors are dirty.

Think of it like brushing your teeth... you don’t skip it because you’re busy. The machine itself needs to be clean to do its job well.

The payoff is beyond obvious. After cleaning, our robot vacuums are more consistent, send fewer error messages, and run well for *years.*

How many people do you know that felt like they needed to upgrade or debate whether their model is worth the cost? I'm willing to bet that any negative sentiment was related to their maintenance.

FAQ

How often should I replace robot vacuum parts?

It depends on how much you use it. In five years, I've replaced the rotating brushes twice, filter twice, and the rollers once. Many brands sell kits with everything you need (for example, this is the one we bought for our Roomba << most similar kits are less than $15). Swapping parts is simple, and it’s usually cheaper than calling for repairs.

What happens if I never clean my robot vacuum?

You’ll notice it first in the sound. It’ll get louder, strain more, and pick up less. It'll throw more error messages, like claim to be full with dust when it's not. Over time, motors overheat, sensors misfire, and wheels can jam. It might even stop docking correctly.