Robotic vacuum cleaners have transformed the way we clean our houses into an efficient and hands-free experience. However, people raised concerns about their ability of cleaning different types of surfaces, especially delicate rugs. Carpet and rugs tends to trap dirt and dust, but some materials are so fine and vulnerable to damage from vacuuming. The following will discuss how robot vacuums handle various carpet materials, and how to properly set up your smart vacuum cleaners when cleaning rugs.
 

How Robot Vacuum Map The Environment

Robot floor cleaners are equipped with sensors to map and navigate the environment. These sensors, including infrared sensors, laser sensors and cameras, allow the robot to avoid obstacle and identify debris to clean. Moreover, with advanced technology like ECOVAS’s TrueMapping system, smart vacuums can create accurate maps and plan the most efficient routes, leaving no missing spot to clean.
 

Challenges of Cleaning Rugs and Carpets

Auto vacuums are designed to handle different floor surfaces, including carpets and rugs. Yet, a common concern is their ability to identify dark rugs. Models with optical cameras can mistake dark rugs for cliff and not go over them. Another concern is the brushes may tangle with fringe or stuck on high-pile rugs. While these usually happen with older models, thanks to improved sensors and algorithms, modern robotic vacuum cleaners can better recognize and adapt to different rug types.
 

Can Robot Vacuums Go Over Rugs?

The answer is simply yes! Let’s talk about how automatic vacuums work with different rug materials.

Wool Rug

Wool rugs, such as kilim, Persian and Oriental rugs, are known for their durability and intricate designs, making them strong enough for self-cleaning vacuums. Choose a model with strong suction power and rotating brushes, ideally with advanced sensors and ability to climb high piles.

Silk Rug

Silk rugs require careful cleaning due to their delicate fibres. Change the attachments of your robotic vacuum cleaners to soft bristle brushes and adjust to lower suction when cleaning silk rugs. Setting virtual barriers to add an extra layer of protection against any accidental damage from strong suction.

Cotton Rug

Commonly found in kitchens and entryways, cotton rugs can be easily cleaned by smart vacuums with strong suction and rotating brushes. They are considered as low-pile rugs, therefore robot floor cleaners are ideal for cleaning cotton rugs.

Hair-On-Hide Rug

Hair-on-hide rugs include cowhide and sheepskin rugs, are known for their unique texture that require special care. To avoid damage, adjust the setting to gentle suction and no-brush modes, or simply set virtual barriers and clean them separately.

Natural Fibre Rug

Sisal, jute and seagrass are some common examples of natural fibre rugs. Since they are eco-friendly and durable, even though their surfaces may be slightly uneven, most automatic vacuums have no issue in handling them.

Synthetic Fibre

Synthetic fibre rugs, commonly found in wall-to-wall carpeting, require powerful suction and rotating brushes to effectively remove dirt and debris. Robot vacuums with these features can efficiently clean synthetic fibre rugs.
 

Choosing the Right Robot Vacuum for Rugs and Carpets

When choosing an automatic vacuum cleaner for rugs and carpets, consider the following factors to ensure optimal performance.

Strong suction

Strong suction power allows robot floor cleaners to pick up dust and debris stuck between carpet piles effectively for a thorough clean. For reference, suction power is typically expressed in Pa (pascals), and our DEEBOT series are equipped with 3,000Pa and above.

Rotating brushes

Rotating brushes can agitate and lift dirt from the rug fibres for a deep clean. Main brushes are usually made of rubber-like material. Those with bristles or nylon fibres may easily get tangled with hair or carpet fibres.

Set virtual barriers

To prevent any accidental damage, it is recommended to set virtual barriers on your smart vacuum cleaners to restrict them from going on rugs.

Work in low-light conditions and identify dark rug

Most automatic vacuum cleaners with laser sensors do not require full light when cleaning, however, those with advanced sensors can accurately detect dark surfaces, including dark-coloured rugs, even in low-light conditions.

Auto Lift-mopping

Premier models such as DEEBOT T20 OMNI offer auto lift-mopping features which they automatically lift the mop to while vacuuming carpets and rugs to keep them dry, then return to mopping hard floors.
 

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