How to Use a Robot Vacuum To Clean A Home With Multiple Floors

The bigger, the better? When it comes to building your own home, multi-story designs are very common in the US, just like Springfield in The Simpson. Yet, the elegance of multiple floors brings a hefty downside: cleaning. Multi-level homes mean more stairs, rooms and ground to cover, turning a simple chore into a time-consuming, physically draining task. We all know a clean home is key to a healthy environment, making this challenge more pronounced. 

Luckily, now we have robotic vacuum cleaners to lighten the load considerably. That said, no model yet fully conquers multiple levels on its own, leaving homeowners to get creative with their cleaning strategies.

Can You Use a Robot Vacuum on Multiple Floors?

Yes, you can use a robot vacuum cleaner on multiple floors and surfaces because advanced models support multi-floor mapping, allowing them to recognize different levels of your home. While they can’t climb stairs on their own, you can manually move them between floors, and setting up separate charging docks on each level ensures seamless operation. They also adjust suction power for carpets, hardwood, and tiles floors.

Time and effort? Saved. Instead of lugging a heavy vacuum around the house every other day (hello, back pain!), these smart helpers automate the chore, freeing you up for what you truly enjoy. The latest auto vacuums clean various flooring materials properly, and you can trust them to store maps for each floor. This lets you program custom routines per level – say, vacuuming the living room carpet in the morning and mopping the kitchen in the evening, all easily controlled from your phone. For larger homes, opting for separate robot vacuums per floor might be the ultimate solution.

Best DEEBOT Robot Vacuums For Multiple Floors

DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI

For multi-floor homes, DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI delivers impeccable cleaning performance. The OZMO ROLLER Instant Self-Washing Mopping Technology removes tough stains with 200 RPM and refreshes the mop in real time using 16 water nozzles, preventing cross-floor contamination. With 18,000 Pa suction¹ and ZeroTangle 2.0 Anti-Tangle Technology, it powers through dirt and hair without clogs, from carpets in the basement to hardwood in your bedroom. Another upgraded feature is the YIKO-GPT voice assistant, which simplifies control by responding your natural language commands, even to direct specific spots on any floor.

DEEBOT T50 PRO OMNI

Thanks to its AIVI 3D 3.0 OMNI-Approach Technology, DEEBOT T50 PRO OMNI is ideal for homes with multiple levels. Powered by a Vision-Language Model, this system continuously identifies obstacles, not restricted by the number of objects, and cleans tightly along edges for complete coverage. If you live with a big family, you can rely on it to quickly handling changing surroundings on any floor like running kids. TrueMapping 2.0 maps up to 100 square meters per level with dynamic updates, while TruEdge 2.0 ensures no missed corner across a variety of surfaces.

DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI

As a self-emptying robot vacuum, the DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI brings agile intelligence to multi-floor homes. With excellent mobility, its rapid mapping covers 100 square meters in just six minutes², navigating each level precisely while conquering thresholds up to 20mm across surfaces. Powered by a robust battery, it cleans every floor for up to 320 minutes³ on a single charge. You can further set no-go zones for cluttered areas on any floor via the ECOVACS HOME App. Between sessions, it returns to the compact OMNI Station to recharge and prepare for the next round, featuring 140°F hot water mop washing and emptying debris into a 2.6L dust bag, keeping the experience entirely hands-free for you.

How to Use Robot Vacuum on Multiple Floors

To use a robot vacuum on multiple floors, map each level and rooms, so it knows where to clean. Having Wi-Fi and docking stations on different floors and rooms is ideal. Virtual walls, no-go zones, and edge detection help control movement and prevent damage. Lastly, a lightweight model is easier to move while multiple robots add convenience.

Use Robot Vacuums with Edge Detection

A major concern in multi-floor homes is whether a robot vacuum might fall down stairs. Modern models like DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI feature sophisticated cliff sensors on the bottom to prevent such incidents from occurring. When these sensors detect sudden height changes, they signal the navigation system to send the device away. Remember to keep the sensors clean, as dirt buildup could block their “vision” and a drop in accuracy.

Use Virtual Walls or No-Go Zones

To add an extra layer of security, take advantage of virtual barriers or no-go zones to prevent your auto vacuum from falling down stairs or entering cluttered areas. With a cutting-edge mapping system, DEEBOT users can view a 3D virtual map of each floor in their multi-level home on the ECOVACS HOME App and simply tap to set boundaries. It’s a good idea to block off cluttered or hazardous spots like broken glass, stairs or delicate rugs, without needing constant supervision.

Ensure Strong Wi-Fi Coverage on All Floors

Designed for indoor use, a robot vacuum relies on a Wi-Fi signal to locate itself on the map and track cleaning routes. Hence, a strong Wi-Fi signal across all floors is key for operation, no matter which level it’s on. Since weak spots or thick walls can disrupt navigation or commands, add routers or signal boosters to help extend coverage and keep your smart vacuum connected.

Map Each Floor and Its Rooms

In a home with multiple levels, each floor’s layout is most likely varies – living room and kitchen downstairs, bedrooms upstairs. For the best results, you’ll need a robot vacuum with mapping technology to store maps and instructions for every room. Take DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI as an example: it uses Fully-Embedded dToF LiDAR for fast, accurate mapping and RGBD cameras for object recognition and strategic cleaning, easily meeting the mapping needs of a multi-level home.

Install Docking Stations on Different Floors

Save on investment by moving your robot vacuum between floors; and install docking stations on each level is recommended so it can charge and auto-clean as needed. If the battery runs low in the middle of the session, it recharges and resumes rather than stopping abruptly. This setup also spares you from frequently carrying it up and down for recharging. Note that not all stations work this way. Some, like our OMNI Station, are designed for a single vacuum.

Choose a Lightweight Robot Vacuum

If you plan to use one robot vacuum across a number of floors, opt for a lightweight model to avoid back strain when carrying it up and down. As a reference, DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI weighs 11.7lbs. On top of that, a lighter vacuum also reduces floor strain. For example, smart vacuums for carpets can lift embedded particles from carpets and rugs with ease, yet heavier ones might leave tire marks after cleaning.

Use a Robot Vacuum Per Floor

For the ultimate hands-free convenience, assign a robot vacuum to each floor! Though pricier, this approach skips the manual task of moving the device between levels. With each unit handling its own floor, they share the workload and clean simultaneously – perfect for busy households with pets or people suffering allergies needing repeated daily cleans. Manage them all remotely via one app like ECOVACS HOMES, no hassle!

How to Use DEEBOT Robot Vacuum on Multiple Floors

To maximize your DEEBOT’s performance across different floors, you can set up properly before allowing it running in the house.

• Keep floors clear of clutter and obstacles: Before starting a cleaning session, walk around and pick up cords, pet toys or sharp objects from the floor. Check if there is enough space behind sofas and cabinets for the device to access. This helps prevent snags or damage to your furniture.
• Create maps for each floor: DEEBOT’s multi-floor mapping saves up to two permanent maps and one new environment map. Enable this under Map Management in the app, then move the vacuum to a mapped room—it automatically relocates, switches maps, and cleans without remapping each time.
• Set virtual boundaries: Review the virtual map and preset no-go zones in the house, like staircases or a play area full of LEGOs, to keep DEEBOT from entering.
• Schedule cleaning per floor: Since cleaning all levels can be demanding and time-consuming, it is better to set distinct schedules for each via the app; say, bedrooms in the morning after waking up, and the kitchen in the evening after dinner. Tailor the sessions to fit your lifestyle.

FAQ

Disclaimer(s):

1. 18,000Pa: This data comes from ECOVACS laboratory. The suction power of DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI can reach 18,000Pa.
2. 6 minutes: The result is based on internal laboratory test, and may not fully represent the exact performance of our products in all scenarios. It is essential to recognize that real-world performance can be influenced by various external factors, such as environmental conditions, usage patterns, etc. Consumers are encouraged to consider these variables and make informed decisions based on their specific needs.
3. 320 minutes: The DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI features an upgraded 5,200mAh battery, giving it a maximum runtime of 320 minutes on a single charge while vacuuming in quite model.