Most robot vacuum owners, such as nurses, lawyers, and more, always have a hectic routine. Some people don't have the time to keep up with day-to-day cleaning. So, just like you, they opt for robotic cleaners like a Roomba.
With advanced navigation systems, the said robotic vacuum cleaner can have your house cleaned in a short time. Automated robot cleaning devices like Roomba have transformed home cleaning for many people.
On the contrary, even the high-tech devices with automation software can be annoying when they malfunction. iRobot Roomba can keep cleaning the same room over and over again while moving in circles.
Fortunately, there are a few methods to fix this problem. Here's what you must know about your iRobot Roomba not cleaning the whole house but rather moving in circular motions around the same area.
Why Does My Roomba Keep Cleaning The Same Area? - Check Reasons
There's no doubt that a robot cleaner like Roomba can make your life easier by cleaning the easiest parts of your house without needing your help. You don't even have to lift a finger when placing your charged Roomba cleaner inside the house.
But why does it keep moving in circles inside the same room without cleaning other areas of the house? Does it bother you to keep cleaning the house because the Roomba doesn't come out of the same area?
Did you place the robot upside down to check for any failures? Here are some reasons why your robot cleaner might not be fulfilling your wishes about cleaning the house.
Robot Vacuum Has Dirty Cliff Sensors
When the cliff and front bumper sensors are dirty, the device experiences navigational issues. That's a major reason why the device keeps circling around the same spot. Regular cleaning and maintenance might solve the issue.
Robot Vacuum Cleaner Has Stuck Bumper
When the bumper of the device dislodges, jams, or gets stuck due to accumulating dirt, the device can keep hovering over the same area. A dirty and stuck bumper are main reasons why the device has trouble navigating properly.
Robot Vacuums' Wheels Malfunctioned
When loose debris or dirt gets trapped in the wheels of the device, it can start moving around in circles. This is because the movement is jammed up and the debris restricts the wheels from functioning. Hence, the circle dance takes place which can be quite annoying.
You can remove the debris, place the device on a flat surface and press the "clean" button. That will restart the cleaning process.
Robotic Vacuum Cleaners' Dirt Detect Technology Malfunctions
When the device finds an extremely dirty spot, it activates the Dirt Detect Technology. Then, it keeps cleaning the spot over and over until it's perfectly free of all dirt and dust.
You Roomba's Stuck Under An Object
When stuck under objects like furniture, it can keep moving around the same space. While you can turn off the machine to check for the issue, you can also lift it gently and remove any obstacle.
Why Is My Roomba Not Cleaning the Whole House?
Does your Roomba keep cleaning the same spot over and over again? Here're a few reasons why it doesn't clean the entire house.
Obstacles
The cliff sensors and bumper sensors can malfunction upon hitting an obstacle hard. By confusing the device, the sensors can make it move back and forth constantly. You can clean the bumpers gently, and see if it fixes the issue.
Advanced Dust Sensors
Roomba models are equipped with ultra-powerful and sensitive features to detect tiny dirt particles. This can confuse the device and make it think that the same area needs cleaning over and over again.
Missing Spots
Sometimes the device misses spots. Missing spots means that the device will go back to them after completing a cleaning cycle. However, as an owner resting on your armchair, you may think that it's cleaning the same area frequently
Malfunctioning Dirt Detect Technology
Often, a dirty sensor or an extremely messy spot will activate the dirt detect technology. This technology causes the device to keep cleaning the same spot until the dust clears
VSLAM Camera
The VSLAM refers to Vision Simultaneous Localization and Mapping. This system utilizes a camera to map the machine's surroundings. Since the camera doesn't clean itself, the device can go hazy when the accumulated dirt over the camera interferes with navigation.
Other Device's Infrared Interference
This is usually one of the most popular reasons why the device might start moving around the same area for a long time. Infrared rays from different types of devices using the same technology such as a headphone can cause the device to go haywire.
The robot cleaner can forget the navigation pathway if another device's infrared radiations interfere with its movement.
Improper Lighting
Some models of Roomba require proper light and brightness to navigate effectively. Dim lights can mess with navigation and cause the device to leave the spots uncleaned. Hence, that's why it might be going around the same room over and over again.
Dirty Sensors
Several sensors like bumper sensors or cliff sensors can get dirty and make the device hazy. The bumper sensors are located at the bumper directly. Similarly, the cliff sensors are present under the front bumper which is why they get dirty so easily.
Front Caster Wheel Issues (Malfunctioning Wheels)
Front caster wheel issues occur due to several reasons. The most common issue is trapped debris inside the wheel. The device's mobility gets compromised when the wheel has tangled debris like dog hair, cords, and pet fur.
Other than the bumper sensor issue, this malfunctioning-wheels issue can be why your Roomba doesn't move at the same speed as before.
Can I Pick Up My Roomba and Move It to Another Room?
What do you do when your Roomba model keeps cleaning the same spot for a few hours without stopping? There are a few answers that may fix the issue. But the majority of the Roomba owners pick the Roomba up and place it in another room manually. However, you must know that placing it in a different room manually might make it difficult for the Roomba cleaner to navigate its surroundings.
This is mainly because the location won't be recognized by the device in its navigational log. It will experience some difficulty in finding Home Base. Hence, there will be interruptions in the cleaning cycle. So, it's best if you let the Roomba complete its cleaning cycle and then see to the issue.
Another answer to why the Roomba isn't moving from its place (i.e. out of the Home Base) is because its bin is full. You must first clean the bin to let the device complete its cleaning cycle.
You should check the manual for further instructions on how to fix different issues with your Roomba cleaner.
How Do I Reset My Roomba Cleaning Pattern?
Here's a step-by-step guide for you to learn how to reset your Roomba's cleaning pattern, take a look.
- Press and hold the "Dock and Spot Clean" button till the device sounds a beep tone
- Release the button upon the beep and open its lid
- Find the recessed "Reset" button inside (i.e. on the left, around the on/off switch)
- Keep that "Reset" button pressed for 10 seconds before
While the abovementioned steps allow you to effectively reset the device, here's how you can reboot the device. Before you softly tap the device to solve an issue, reboot it to see if the issue resolves.
- Find the Spot Clean and Dock button
- Press it for only 10 seconds
- Upon hearing the beep tone, release the button
- The status light will show a swirling white light ring moving clockwise once the device reboots (for specific models)
How Long Does It Take for Roomba to Map a House?
How long does it take for a Roomba to map a house? In simple words, it takes nearly 2 to 3 days before the navigational log fills the memory of the device with the complete house layout. Since the device is automated, it starts learning from the beginning once you place it on the floor of your house.
It starts generating a detailed map of the house without needing much of your help. But, this can take more than 2-3 days depending on how many complete cleaning cycles the device goes through.
Check out the next tip below to speed up the mapping process:
- Send the bot on a cleaning cycle multiple times a day
- Send it out every morning until it generates a detailed map layout of your house
- Produce a special mapping cycle with areas that the cleaner hasn't been to
Try the iRobot Mapping Run
If you don't know already, the iRobot mapping run is a form of ruling survey that can be extremely helpful if you wish for your cleaner to learn the layout without spending too much time. Once you activate it, the robot cleaner will move run around the entire house without the vacuum turned on.
Within 2-3 mapping runs, the device will have the complete home map. On the other hand, it can take up to five complete cleaning cycles around the house before the device has got the entire map.
Don't forget that your house's size and complex layout will also play a massive role in the device's map-learning routine.
Conclusion
A single Roomba model comprises dozens of electrical components ranging from a charging dock and a new battery to a soft brush and rubber materials. An automated cleaning device like iRobot Roomba can play a massive role in the hectic routine of certain individuals.
If you love cleaning your house weekly, you can leave the day-to-day light home cleaning up to Roomba. Cleaning isn't one simple action but rather a time-consuming task. Having something like a Roomba cleaner backing you up by doing a small portion of the job for you can make cleaning easier.
The conventional circular motions are a relic of the past now. Today, the device functions in parallel lines moving from one spot to the next. So, ignoring minor inconveniences like the one we discussed earlier isn't a big deal.