The Roomba is a clever domestic companion that streamlines the cleaning process. Designed to sweep and even mop your floors routinely, the Roomba efficiently cleans up dirt, spills, and dust with its intuitive cleaning program.
But just because it’s described as a smart vacuum doesn’t mean that a Roomba won’t run into an error now and again.
For example, one of the most common problems people have with their Roomba is that it might keep cleaning the same area while missing many others throughout the space.
Why does this happen, and how can you fix it? Keep reading to find out.
- Sometimes, a Roomba may keep cleaning the same area repeatedly.
- Most of the time, the issue can be traced back to a dirty vacuum, poor lighting conditions, dated firmware, battery issues, or problems with the settings.
- If your Roomba’s error isn’t resolved, you may have to contact customer support for prompt service and resolution.
The entire purpose of buying a Roomba is not to have to clean your floors manually. But, unfortunately, when it keeps cleaning the same area and missing others, you’ll have to do it yourself.
Fortunately, this simple guide can troubleshoot the issue and get your Roomba to clean every spot.
Why Does My Roomba Keep Cleaning the Same Area?
The Roomba is programmed to map out your space, so it knows where to clean when it runs a vacuum cycle. This keeps the robot vacuum from falling off of ledges and bumping into furniture and also ensures that it cleans every part of your home.
Occasionally, however, it’s possible to find your Roomba repeatedly going over the same place. This error may point to minor issues you can easily resolve without fuss.
How To Fix a Roomba Cleaning the Same Area
1. Make Sure the Firmware Is Up to Date
The manufacturer will routinely release firmware updates to enhance the performance of your robot vacuum. However, sometimes, outdated firmware can cause issues in performance, especially if it has previous bugs.
Updating the latest firmware may help resolve these bugs and get your Roomba working efficiently.
2. Clean the Sensors
Underneath your Roomba are a set of sensors that detect the presence of dirt and dust. If they’re dirty themselves, the vacuum might think the dirt is on the floor, not the sensors.
So it repeatedly cleans the same spot because the filthy sensors prompt it.
Inspect the sensors and remove any debris, dirt, and dust that could interfere with the vacuum’s program.
3. Light Up Your Space
The sensors on your Roomba detect more than just dirt. They also pick up on light to help them navigate the space. For example, when your home is too dark, your Roomba may struggle to map out where it is in your home.
So instead of wheeling around your entire space, it ends up confused and going back and forth over the same area. Turning on some lights might help it find its way.
4. Give It a Thorough Cleaning
Dirt and dust bunnies lodged in the bumpers, wheels, and other parts of the Roomba can interfere with its movement.
When the dirt becomes too overwhelming, the vacuum may struggle to move around, forcing it to turn and clean only where its wheels will allow it to go. Cleaning the unit and getting rid of lodged dirt can help improve its mobility and prevent limitations in movement.
5. Inspect Your Keep-Out Zones
Roombas have a feature that let you identify which places the smart vacuum shouldn’t go. Make sure you didn’t set any keep-out zones that prevent your Roomba from going into certain areas. View the map and choose the ‘Keep-Out Zone’ icon.
Change the settings from there if you want to let your Roomba roam freely without any restricted areas in your home.
6. Check the Batteries
According to the manufacturer, a Roomba can operate for about 75 to 90 minutes before returning to its base to charge. But just like any other battery, the ones that your Roomba uses can lose juice over time.
This means the battery will lose its capacity to hold a charge as long as it used to.
If the battery is significantly depleted, it may only be able to operate for 15 to 20 minutes before going back to its base to charge. So it cleans the same space repeatedly because of the constant back and forth to the base.
Replacing the batteries may give your Roomba the charge to clean your whole space.
7. Reset the Roomba
Maybe there was an error when you first mapped out your space, and now your Roomba only goes over the areas it was able to record. If none of the previous suggestions work, you might have to reset your Roomba.
After you do, see that you install any necessary updates before using it again.
If the problem persists after trying all these steps, you might want to have your Roomba serviced. All Roombas come with a 1-year service warranty that may cover the problem you’re experiencing.
Summary
There’s nothing quite as annoying as repeatedly watching your Roomba clean the same little patch of the floor.
If your Roomba isn’t cleaning your whole space, you might want to try these solutions. But if all else fails, it might be time to have it serviced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does a Roomba Know Where To Go?
Your Roomba will map out your home in three to five days, depending on your floor area. It does this by way of Mapping Runs that let the Roomba identify obstacles in your home and the general layout of your space.
You can access and use the map through the dedicated Roomba app.
Does a Roomba Need Light?
Yes, Roombas need light to operate. As of writing, no Roomba model can operate in pitch-dark conditions. Make sure to leave some lights on if you want your Roomba to run during the evening.
