Short answer
Empty the dust bin after every run, clear hair from the main and side brushes weekly, tap out the filter every two weeks and wipe the sensors monthly. The filter, side brush and mop pad are wear parts with replacement intervals of their own.
The intervals at a glance
| Task | Interval | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Empty the dust bin | after every run | A full bin cuts suction immediately |
| Clear hair from the brushes | weekly | Wound-up hair seizes the bearings |
| Tap out the filter | every 2 weeks | A clogged filter costs suction and battery life |
| Wipe sensors and charging contacts | monthly | Dust on cliff sensors causes erratic navigation |
| Replace the filter | every 2–3 months | It cannot be cleaned indefinitely; the media fatigues |
| Replace the side brush | every 3–6 months | Bent bristles stop sweeping into the path |
| Replace the main brush | every 6–12 months | Worn blades lose contact with the floor |
Why maintenance matters most on this appliance
A robot vacuum is the appliance in your home that runs most often and gets looked at least. That is exactly the problem: it works unsupervised, so the gradual loss of performance goes unnoticed. The difference between a maintained and a neglected robot of the same model is enormous — without anything being obviously broken.
The design helps: every wear part is small, cheap and tool-free to swap. Replace them on time and the machine lasts six or eight years. Skip it and you buy a new robot after three, assuming that is just how long they last.
Brushes: the weekly job
Hair wraps around the main brush and works its way toward the bearings at both ends. There it creates friction the motor has to overcome — costing battery and, over time, damaging the bearing bushes. With long hair or pets in the house, weekly is the minimum; every few days is better.
Most robots ship with a small combination tool that includes a blade. Unclip the brush, cut the hair, pull it off, then take off the end caps and clear the bearings separately — the end caps are the part people forget, even though that is where most of it collects.
The side brush has a different failure mode: its bristles take a permanent set. A bent side brush flings debris out of the path instead of into it. Hot water straightens the bristles temporarily; after three to six months only replacement helps.
Filters: clean, then replace
The filter sits in the dust bin and holds back the fine dust that would otherwise be blown straight back into the room. Tap it out every two weeks — dry, ideally over a bin. Most filters must not be washed: the pleated media swells, sticks together as it dries and filters worse afterwards than it did before.
After two or three months even a well-maintained filter is spent. The fine pores clog with particles that will not shake loose. A new filter costs a few euros and visibly restores suction — the cheapest intervention with the largest effect.
Sensors, wheels and the mopping function
On the underside sit the cliff sensors, small infrared windows that detect stair edges. Dust on them produces behaviour that looks like a software fault: the robot suddenly avoids areas or turns away for no reason. Wipe them monthly with a dry microfibre cloth, along with the charging contacts on both robot and dock.
The drive wheels collect hair in their axles, which gradually makes the robot track crooked. The loose front caster is especially prone to it — on most models it pulls straight out for cleaning.
On models with a mopping function: wash the pad after every use, and empty the water tank and store it dry. A damp pad left hanging on the robot for days will smell within a week, and it spreads that smell across the whole floor on the next run.
Common questions
Can I wash the filter with water?
On most models no. The pleated media swells and sticks together as it dries, permanently reducing filtration. Washable filters exist, but only where the manufacturer explicitly says so. When in doubt, tap it out dry.
The robot suddenly navigates strangely — is it broken?
Usually not. Erratic movement, unexplained error messages and avoided areas almost always trace back to dirty cliff sensors or a blocked camera. Wiping the sensors takes a minute and resolves the large majority of these cases.
How often does the auto-empty dock need emptying?
The dust bag in the dock lasts four to eight weeks depending on the size of your home. The dock still needs attention: the suction channel clogs with hair and should be checked monthly.
Is original equipment worth it?
For filters yes — third-party filters often use coarser media and let fine dust through. For brushes and mop pads, good third-party parts are unproblematic and considerably cheaper.