Maintenance
How to Clean Robot Vacuum Sensors
Sensors are how a robot sees its surroundings, and a thin film of dust can cause navigation glitches that look like bigger faults. Cleaning them takes a couple of minutes.
Quick answer
Power the robot off and wipe the cliff sensors, front sensor windows, bumper and any camera or LiDAR cover with a dry microfibre cloth. Do this monthly, or sooner if the robot behaves oddly near edges or walls.
Which sensors to look for
| Sensor | Where it is | Dirt can cause |
|---|---|---|
| Cliff sensors | Underside, near the front edge | Stopping at normal floor changes, or refusing to move |
| Wall or proximity sensor | Side of the body | Bumping walls, missing edges |
| Bumper | Front | Sticking or false collision reports |
| Camera or obstacle sensor | Front, top or underside | Poor avoidance, mapping errors |
| LiDAR window | Top turret, where fitted | Map drift or failed mapping |
| Dock contacts | Robot and dock | Charging faults (see won't charge) |
Steps
- Turn the robot off and lift it onto a soft surface.
- Wipe each sensor window with a dry microfibre cloth.
- Use a soft brush or dry cotton swab in small recesses.
- Wipe the bumper edge and check it moves freely.
- Turn it back on and test with a short run.
What to avoid
- Spraying liquid directly onto sensor housings.
- Abrasive cloths that can scratch a lens or window.
- Solvents, unless your manual explicitly allows them.
Symptoms that point to sensors
Stopping at thresholds, refusing to leave the dock, repeated loops or "cliff" warnings often trace back to a dirty sensor. See stuck in a loop and error codes explained. If a cleaned sensor still errors, contact the manufacturer.
Make it routine
Add sensors to your monthly checks in the maintenance schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a damp cloth?
Only if your manual says so. A dry microfibre cloth is the safe default.
How do I know a cliff sensor is dirty?
The robot may stop at floor changes or report a cliff error on flat ground.
Do dark floors trigger cliff sensors?
They can on some models. Check your manual for a setting or workaround.