I thought I’d wasted my money on a robot vacuum until I realised I’d been skipping this vital step – experts say it’s necessary for a reliable and consistent clean every time

White robot vacuum cleaner with a stone vase sitting on top of the docking station in a kitchen.

I may be Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, but I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve only recently come to love and appreciate robot vacuums. For many years, I thought they were overpriced and over-hyped, and the models I tested just weren’t giving me the results I expected for such a high-ticket appliance.

But after trying more of the best robot vacuum cleaners and talking to engineers and brands over the past year, I have realised that - for the most part - the problem wasn’t the robot vacuums themselves. Instead, it was the way I was using them, and the state of my house, that resulted in subpar cleaning capabilities.