How Do Robot Vacuums Clean Corners? (7 Tips From Getting Stuck)

Most robot vacuums are designed to penetrate tight areas and corners of your rooms.

They also power their batteries using lithium-ion batteries, and you will get some delivering up to 120 minutes of run time to offer efficient cleaning.

These special appliances also use one or two spinning brushes and a rolling brush to gather every dirt towards the center of your rooms.

In short, robot vacuum cleaners are a great way to keep your home’s corners clean and neat without necessarily having to lift a finger.

Today, we want to explore how robot vacuums clean corners if they can get stuck in a corner and how round robot vacuums get into corners, among other topics. Let’s go!

Here’s How Robot Vacuums Clean Corners

First, most robot vacuums function using cliff and obstacle sensors. For outstanding cleaning, you will also find some advanced models using wheel and wall sensors. These sensors make cleaning easier by detecting walls and locating straight lines your robot vacuum cleaner can follow.

Circular robotic vacuum cleaner about to clean the corner.

The sensors also allow the machine to clean the corners and along the edges, specifically where the wall collides with the floor.

You can find the sensors on the sides of your equipment helping the vacuum pick any dirt evenly from tight corners without scuffing or bumping the wall.

The sensors also come with mapping abilities to help your device locate new areas for cleaning.

Wheel sensors majorly track the duration of the wheels so that your robot vacuum cleaner can determine the distances and any turns it has made.

So, whenever a robot vacuum reaches a corner, it usually utilizes side bristles that spin and transfer dust and debris collected into the vacuum suction, which you can find underneath the robot. The sweeping edge brushes placed on the vacuum cleaner usually extend beyond the exact circumference of the cleaning machine for specifically easy dirt collection from the tight corners.

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To ensure your robot vacuum cleans your corners effectively, you must do the following:

1. Clear Any Curtains and Cords

Sometimes as the robot vacuum is cleaning, its main brush can get stuck on the curtains and cords. In other scenarios, it can even sweep away your cords if you have left them hanging. To stop that from happening, ensure you clear your corners and the entire floor from phone charges, among other cords. You can tie your long curtains before letting the robot vacuum do its job.

Other than curtains and cords, also ensure you move any small object that can get into contact with the machine-like socks, toys, and other accessories.

In your home office, ensure you pick any paper clips and rubber bands if you find them on the floor.

All these are to make your vacuum cleaner have an easy task to reach your tight corners.

2. Keep Away Shag and Tuck in Tassels

Besides wires, tassels on your rug’s end usually challenge most robot vacuum cleaners. And yes, they may find their way out. However, the main brush usually leaves them mangled or looking bunched up.

The best thing you can do with your rugs is to tuck them underneath so that the vacuum cleaner can reach the corners freely.

If you have very thick shag rugs, you should remove them completely to navigate your home appliance easily.

If you leave them hanging, it may cause the main brush to grasp the shag rather than the dirt and debris.

3. Build Barriers

No matter how you are used to cleaning your home, you must keep some areas away from the vacuum cleaner. The machine can navigate through your rooms, but there are some areas or particular rooms that you should limit the machine from entering.

Other robot vacuum cleaners usually come with laser navigation sensors to help develop a map of your rooms and corners as they clean.

Using your smartphone, you can state the specific areas where you do not want the device to access.

You can use small virtual walls or boundary strips to physically place where you do not want the machine to clean.

4. Tidy Up Your Tables

To help your robot vacuum reach the tight corners of your rooms, try flipping your chairs upside down on the tables to create more space. Alternatively, you can pull the chairs from the table to provide the machine with ample space to access the corners.

5. Have a Schedule

Most current robot vacuum cleaners come with scheduling features whereby you can choose which days you need them to clean and at which time. You only have to set the vacuum when unavailable, like 7 am on weekdays or 9 am on weekends.

That way, your floors and corners will be clean when you get home, and you won’t have to inconvenience the machine while in the house.

6. Charge It in an Open Place

As it is common for robot vacuums to go back to their charging dock by themselves, it can take some time for some models considering the model you are using. Always ensure the vacuum cleaner is correctly plugged in and place it against the wall. Also, ensure its dock is standing even on the ground so it can always find its way back without your assistance.

You can also place it in a zone approximately two feet away from other items on either side.

This will help the vacuum be clear and free from obstructions when accessing the corners.

When you are not using it, let it stay on the charger and ensure you power it on so that you can use it whenever you need it.

Also, if you do not use it for longer, you can charge it fully, switch it off, and store it in a cool and dry place.

7. Clean the Robot Vacuum

For great results, ensure you regularly clean the machine by emptying the dustbin, wiping every dust and debris, and removing every hair clogged in the brushes.

You can also wipe your anti-drop sensors and all the charging contacts underneath the robot.

Can Robot Vacuums Get Stuck in the Corner?

Yes, robot vacuums can get stuck in the corner for the following reasons:

1. The Thickness of the Robot Vacuum You are Using

Different types and models of robot vacuums vary in size. The smaller your robot is, the lower chance it’s likely going to get stuck in a corner. Many ultra-thin robot vacuum cleaners are less likely to get stuck in a corner.

They freely travel and clean your corners and can move under your beds and sofas.

2. Lower Furniture Chassis

Furniture like beds, chairs, sofas, and desks are commonly found in homes. Each of the pieces of furniture comes with its height.

Things like tables are pretty high, which is okay. However, if any of your furniture’s height is less than 8cm, your vacuum cleaner can be stuck.

3. Very High Wool Carpets in Corners

Robot vacuum cleaners usually move well in carpets with low wool. However, if you have a high wool carpet, it can be a barrier for the machine.

A robot vacuums cleaner measures approximately 1.2cm from the ground, meaning if your carpet is much higher than 1.5 cm, it can get the cleaner stuck.

4. Crowded Area

If the area around your corners is very crowded, it will be easy for the robot vacuum cleaner to get stuck. Also, if the space is too lower than the robot vacuum, it can cause a challenge. The device will lack space to move and clean and then get stuck.

5. Your House Is Messy

If you have thrown everything everywhere, be it the bag, clothes, or your kid’s toys that have accumulated on the corners, your vacuum cleaner will be unable to move and get stuck.

6. If its Brush Has Stuck

Some robot vacuum cleaners usually come equipped with a brush which is the main brush and side brush. If you do not often clean your brushes, they get entangled with hair, which is most common with pets and long hair. This can make the brush get stuck together with your machine.

7. Low-Quality Vacuum Cleaner

We understand that vacuum cleaners are still in the process of advancing as technology is growing. Some of these cleaning machines, like carpet detection technology, are still in research.

On the other hand, some robot vacuum cleaners can be of low quality; hence they are prone to get stuck even when cleaning your corners.

Every problem has a solution. In our case, you can still help your robot vacuum cleaner from getting stuck in your corners by;

8. Choosing the Appropriate Robot Vacuum Cleaner

You can opt for a super slim vacuum cleaner that will likely not get stuck in your corners or furniture. The thickness should be around 5.7cm.

You can also get a robot vacuum cleaner with LDS smart navigation. Since it contains zone cleaning, you can set the area you want it to clean yourself.

If your corners contain too much wool, you can prevent it from reaching there, saving your machine.

Alternatively, if you are operating under a low budget, purchase a vacuum cleaner with carpet detection technology. Even though it is still evolving, it can help you out.

9. Regularly Clean Your Vacuum Brush

Since the main job of a robot vacuum cleaner is to clean, long hair, pet hair, and dust can get stuck on the brush.

You can always remove any damp hair immediately after cleaning to prevent your brush from getting entangled with hair.

10. Create Space for the Vacuum Cleaner

Always put things like kids’ school bags, toys, shoes, and other daily necessities away while cleaning with the robot vacuum.

Tidy up your rooms, so you are not blocking the machine from accessing the corners.

11. Turn Lights On

If the room you are cleaning is dark, it is best to get light, so your robot cleaner does not get lost. If the vacuum senses no light, it will make wrong navigation and get stuck on obstacles. However, most old vacuum cleaners are the ones that get lost. But whatever new or old robot vacuum cleaner, please provide light.

12. Getting Numerous Charging Stations

A charging station is usually the reason your robot vacuum cleaner gets stuck. Do not place the dock against the wall or at the corner.

If you do that, the vacuum cleaner will get stuck.

Secure it in the appropriate position, creating enough space for fixing and charging the station.

Finally, whenever you are shopping for a new vacuum cleaner, you need to consider a few things before making a purchase. They include:

Obstacle detection – Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that can detect objects.
Cliff detection – Most robot vacuums have cliff sensors to prevent the machine from falling downstairs.
Home mapping – A good robot vacuum cleaner should be able to map your home effectively and not travel to unsafe areas.
Mopping – Choose a robot vacuum cleaner to do all the cleaning at once. It implies that it will vacuum and mop at once.
Amount of noise – Choose a robot vacuum cleaner that you are comfortable with its noise level. If you love peace, do not buy something that will disturb you. You can have the cleaner tested before buying.
App integration
Battery life
Maintenance
Maneuverability

How Do Round Robot Vacuums Get into Corners?

The round robot vacuums get into the corners with the help of little bristles that usually stick out or penetrate on one side and rotate circularly. That feature is the one that assists the machine in getting into the corners and any flat walls to clean dust and debris.

How Do You Remove Dust from Crevices?

To remove dust from the crevices, always use a long-handled stiff brush alongside a crevice tool of your vacuum cleaner to remove any debris and dust accumulated in that place. The brush will come in handy to help you access all the corners where all the dust bunnies are.

Conclusion

Robots vacuum clean corners using the side bristles, which trap dust and debris.

Whenever your vacuum cleaner gets stuck in a corner, the reason can be the corner is crowded, messy, or the vacuum cleaner is too big.

You can always de-congest your rooms before using the robot vacuum to avoid getting stuck.

Remember, maintenance is key to a long-lasting robot vacuum cleaner. Immediately you are done using the machine, clean it and return it to its charging spot.