Robot vacuum picks up poorly, gets lost or won't return to its dock? What to check
Most robot vacuum “breakdowns” come down to missing maintenance: tangled hair, a clogged filter and dirty sensors. Before you take it to a repair shop, give it 20 minutes.
- Most common cause
- hair on the brushes, dirty sensors and contacts
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Repair shop, if it doesn't help
- 200–680 zł, depending on the fault
Switch the robot off and take it off its dock before cleaning. Don't wash the sensors or the contact plate with water and detergent, and never submerge the robot.
Step by step
Clean the brushes and their axles
Take out the main brush and the side brushes. Cut away the tangled hair with scissors or the tool from the kit. Also check the axles and bearings at the ends of the brush, because that's where hair blocks rotation most often.
Clean or replace the filter and dust bin
Empty the dust bin and tap out the filter. Replace the HEPA filter every 2–3 months. A clogged filter means weak suction and a shorter run time.
Wipe the sensors
Wipe the cliff sensors underneath, the bumper sensor at the front and the lidar or camera on top with a dry, soft cloth. Dirty sensors are the main reason a robot bumps into furniture and loses its route.
Clean the wheels
Remove hair and threads from the wheel axles. Check that the wheels spin freely and spring back after you press them in. A blocked wheel makes the robot spin in circles.
Check the charging dock
Wipe the charging contacts on the robot and on the dock. Place the dock against a wall on a flat floor, with about 0.5 m of free space on each side and 1–1.5 m in front. If your dock empties the bin automatically, check the bag and the suction channel.
Update the app and rebuild the map
Update the robot's software in the app. If the robot gets lost after you've moved furniture, delete the old map and let it map your home again from scratch.
- The robot won't charge even though the contacts are clean and the dock is positioned correctly.
- The battery lasts only a few minutes. It's time to replace it (on many models you can do it yourself).
- The robot won't switch on or shows a motor error that doesn't go away after cleaning.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Set of brushes and filters (third-party) | 70–200 zł |
| New battery (part) | 200–540 zł |
| Wheel repair / replacement | 160–410 zł |
| Sensor or lidar repair | 270–680 zł |
| Charging dock repair | 270–680 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
Brushes, filters and the battery are consumables, so replacing them almost always pays off. Repairing the mainboard or lidar on a cheap robot worth 600–1000 zł often doesn't. Check its value in the calculator.
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How often should I clean the robot's brushes?
Once a week if you have long hair or pets, and every 2 weeks otherwise. Replace the main brush every 6–12 months and the side brushes every 3–6 months.
Can I replace the robot's battery myself?
On many models (including Roborock, iRobot and Xiaomi) the battery sits under a cover held by a few screws. Buy batteries from reputable sellers, with the same specifications.
The robot drives around but leaves dirt in the middle of the room. Why?
Most often it's a blocked main brush, a full bin or a clogged filter. Also check that the app isn't set to the lowest suction power.