A robot vacuum that "stopped picking up" is usually a robot vacuum with a full bin, a clogged filter or hair wrapped around the brush. Ten minutes a week fixes most of it.
This guide gives you a schedule by part. The intervals come from manufacturer care guides, linked below. Your own model's manual always wins if it says something different.
After every run, or every few runs
Empty the dustbin. Don't wait for it to look full. Narwal's care guide advises emptying it after every few runs, or daily with pets. Fine dust and sand pack down and block airflow well before the bin looks full.
Rinse the mop pads if your robot mops. The same guide says to clean them after each use. Damp pads left in a warm, humid room start to smell quickly.
Tracked-in beach sand is heavy and fills a bin fast. In a beach house or rental, emptying after every run is the safer habit.
Every week
Tap out the filter. Remove it, tap it over a trash can, and brush the pleats gently. Tapo's support page says to clean the filter once a week. If your filter is washable, Tapo warns not to use hot water or detergent, and to air-dry it thoroughly before putting it back. A damp filter in a humid home invites mildew.
Clear the main brush. Pop out the roller and cut away wrapped hair and string with scissors along the brush groove. Narwal recommends a weekly check. Hair pulls on the motor and reduces pickup.
Check the side brushes. Pull off hair caught at the base, where it tends to wind tight.
Every month
Wipe the sensors. Cliff sensors underneath and the obstacle sensors on the bumper get dusty and can cause odd navigation, such as stopping at dark rugs or bumping into walls. Narwal suggests monthly, or when navigation acts up, using a dry microfiber cloth.
Clean the wheels. Hair and grit build up around the axles. Wipe the treads and pull out anything wrapped around the hubs.
Wipe the charging contacts on the robot and the dock with a dry cloth. Dirty contacts cause charging errors.
Clean the dock. If yours self-empties or washes mops, clean it more often, as Narwal advises.
Deep-clean the filter. If it is washable, rinse it in cool water and dry it for a full day before reinstalling.
Every few months: replace the wear parts
Replacement intervals vary between manufacturers, which is why the manual matters:
- Filter: Tapo's filter FAQ says to replace it every 3–6 months for most of its models, and every 2–4 months for its RV50 Omni models. Narwal says every 2–3 months, sooner with pets.
- Side brushes: Narwal says to replace them every 3–6 months, or when the bristles stay bent or look frayed.
- Mop pads: every 1–3 months depending on floor type, per Narwal.
- Self-empty dock bag: every 1–4 months, or when the app alerts you, per Narwal.
- Main brush: replace when the bristles are worn short or the rubber fins are torn.
Write the replacement date on the filter frame with a marker. That ends the guesswork.
Sand, humidity and pet hair: adjust the schedule
- Sand: sand is abrasive and heavy. Empty the bin more often, and check the main brush and wheels weekly, because grit wears bearings.
- High humidity: dry anything you wash completely before reinstalling it. Leave a self-washing dock's mop tray to air out. Store spare filters sealed.
- Pets: brush wrap happens faster, and filters clog sooner. Use the short end of the replacement ranges above.
Troubleshooting: what the symptom usually means
| Symptom | Check first |
|---|---|
| Leaves dirt behind | Full bin, clogged filter, hair on the main brush |
| Louder than usual | Something stuck in the brush or wheel |
| Won't dock or charge | Dirty charging contacts, dock blocked by furniture |
| Bumps into walls, stops at rugs | Dusty cliff or obstacle sensors |
| Musty smell | Damp filter or mop pads not dried |
Caring for BoriBots robot vacuums
Parts vary by model, so match the routine to what your robot has. These details come from each product's spec table.
- RoboVac Breeze: LiDAR mapping, 2,500Pa suction and a 450ml dustbin. A smaller bin means emptying it more often in sandy homes.
- RoboVac Coral Pro: LIDAR plus AI obstacle avoidance, 3000Pa suction and a 600ml dustbin. Its obstacle avoidance relies on clean sensors, so keep the monthly wipe.
- RoboVac Hurricane: vacuums and mops at the same time with 5,000Pa suction, and has a self-wash, self-dry station. Add the dock's water tanks and mop tray to your monthly clean.
If you are still deciding which robot vacuum to buy, read budget vs premium robot vacuums, or browse every model on the home robots page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
Tap it out about once a week and deep-clean it monthly. Manufacturer guidance on replacement ranges from every 2–3 months (Narwal) to every 3–6 months (Tapo, for most of its models), so follow your own model's manual.
Only if your manual says the filter is washable. Use cool water with no detergent, then let it air-dry completely before reinstalling. A damp filter can grow mildew and damage the vacuum.
The usual causes are a full dustbin, a clogged filter or hair wrapped around the main brush. Empty the bin, tap out the filter and clear the brush before assuming anything is broken.
Wipe the cliff sensors underneath and the sensors on the bumper with a dry microfiber cloth about once a month, or whenever the robot starts navigating oddly.
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