Vacuum not working? Start here.
Most "broken" robot vacuums are a dirty sensor, a full bag or a moved dock. Pick the symptom; each guide opens with the direct fix, then the full procedure.
14 Guides
All fix guides
How to Fix a Robot Vacuum LiDAR Sensor Error
A LiDAR error almost always means the turret cannot spin freely or its lens is dirty. Power the robot off, clean the turret window with a dry microfibre cloth, spin the turret by hand to feel for hair or grit in the bearing, and restart.
Read the fix →Robot Vacuum Battery Care: Make the Battery Last
Keep the robot on its dock between runs, keep the dock out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, and prefer daily short cleans over weekly full-battery marathons. Lithium cells degrade fastest when hot and when repeatedly run to empty; keeping the pack cool and avoiding repeated deep discharges is what stretches its life — actual lifespan varies by cell chemistry and use.
Read the fix →How to Fix Robot Vacuum Mapping Problems
Most mapping problems come from the robot starting a run away from its dock, or from the dock being moved. Always start cleans from the dock, keep the dock against a wall with 50 cm of clear space each side, and after any furniture change run one "mapping only" pass before editing rooms.
Read the fix →Self-Emptying Dock Not Emptying: How to Fix It
When an auto-empty dock stops emptying, check in this order: the bag is full or unseated, the robot's bin flap is jammed open with hair, the rubber seal where the robot meets the dock is dirty, or the dock's own filter is clogged. The most common cause is a full or unseated bag the app has not flagged yet.
Read the fix →Robot Vacuum Won't Connect to Wi-Fi? Try This
Almost all robot vacuums only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, not 5GHz — the single most common cause of a failed setup. Temporarily disable band-steering (or create a separate 2.4GHz-only network name) on your router, move the robot within a few metres of the router during setup, fully close and reopen the app, and factory-reset the robot if it still won't pair.
Read the fix →Robot Vacuum Smells Bad: How to Fix It
A sour smell almost always comes from a damp mop pad that sat too long before being washed or dried — the single biggest reason we recommend a dock with hot-air drying. Wash and fully dry the mop pad, empty and wipe the dustbin, and clean the dock's own water tanks and hose if it has them.
Read the fix →Robot Vacuum Won't Dock? Try These 6 Fixes
A robot that can't find or seat on its dock almost always comes down to one of three things: dirty charging contacts (on the robot, the dock, or both), the dock's IR homing beacon blocked or reflecting off a nearby surface, or the dock placed somewhere the robot's return path can't reliably reach. Clean both sets of contacts first — it's the single most common cause — before checking dock placement.
Read the fix →Cordless Vacuum Losing Suction? Here's Why
A cordless stick losing suction is almost always one of four things, in order of likelihood: the dust bin is full or nearly full, the filter is clogged with fine dust, the brush roll or hose has a partial blockage, or the battery has degraded to the point it can't sustain full motor power. Start with the bin and filter — they cause the large majority of suction complaints and take under a minute to check.
Read the fix →Wet-Dry Vacuum Leaking? Here's What's Wrong
A wet-dry vacuum leaking water is most often one of four things: the clean-water tank is misseated or its seal is worn, the dirty-water tank is at or past its fill line, the squeegee blade is worn or clogged and no longer sealing against the floor, or a hose connection has come loose. Check both tanks first — a majority of leaks trace back to a tank that isn't seated correctly rather than a genuine crack.
Read the fix →Wet-Dry Vacuum Roller Not Spinning? Here's Why
A wet-dry vacuum roller that won't spin is almost always hair or long fibers wrapped tightly around the roller's axle, jamming it against the motor. Power off, remove the roller, and cut away any wrapped material before checking anything else — most units also have a safety sensor that stops the roller entirely if it detects the unit isn't upright or the roller assembly isn't seated correctly.
Read the fix →Wet-Dry Vacuum Smells After Use? Here's What to Do
A wet-dry vacuum that smells after use almost always comes down to the roller sitting damp for too long between uses. Empty and rinse the dirty-water tank immediately after every session, and if your model has a self-clean cycle, let it run to completion and check whether it includes hot-air drying — a self-clean without drying still leaves the roller wet enough to grow odor-causing bacteria.
Read the fix →How Often to Clean and Replace a Cordless Vacuum Filter
Most cordless stick vacuum filters should be rinsed every 1–2 weeks of regular use, then left to air-dry for a full 24 hours before refitting — never sooner. A filter that looks discolored, has a persistent odor even after washing, or is visibly torn or misshapen should be replaced outright rather than washed again.
Read the fix →Cordless Vacuum Won't Turn On? Try This
A cordless vacuum that won't turn on is most often a battery that's been left fully depleted for an extended period, which some lithium-ion batteries can't recover from without an extended slow charge. Confirm the charging connection is fully seated and the outlet works, then leave it charging undisturbed for several hours before assuming the battery has failed outright.
Read the fix →Robot Vacuum Won't Finish Cleaning a Room? Here's Why
A robot vacuum that won't complete a room is usually one of three things: it's returning to dock early because it's judged its remaining battery insufficient to finish and get home, its coverage or cleaning-mode setting is set to a quick or spot-clean mode rather than a full room clean, or repeated obstacle detection in one area is causing it to skip that zone rather than working around it properly. This is a coverage/behavior problem, distinct from a corrupted map — check your cleaning mode and battery level first before assuming the map itself is at fault.
Read the fix →Coverage today is robot vacuums, cordless sticks, and wet-dry vacs, with brand-specific steps where they differ.
08 Care guides
Maintenance and repair guides
How to Unclog a Vacuum Hose (and Find the Hidden Clog)
Lost suction? Find where your vacuum is clogged, then clear the hose, wand or floorhead safely with household tools. Step-by-step, for any vacuum.
Read the guide →Robot Vacuum Keeps Getting Stuck? Causes and Fixes
Why your robot vacuum gets stuck on cables, rugs, thresholds and furniture, and how to fix it with sensor cleaning, no-go zones and a few home changes.
Read the guide →Vacuum Brush Roll Not Spinning? 6 Causes and Fixes
Why your vacuum's brush roll stopped spinning, from hair jams and broken belts to floor switches, and how to fix each issue quickly step by step.
Read the guide →Vacuum Maintenance Checklist: What to Clean and When
A simple vacuum maintenance schedule for uprights, cordless sticks and robots: what to do after each use, weekly, monthly and yearly for strong suction.
Read the guide →Why Does My Vacuum Smell Bad? Causes & 5 Fixes (2026)
Why does your vacuum smell like pet hair, mildew or burning rubber? Match the odor to its cause, then follow five step-by-step fixes for fresh airflow.
Read the guide →Why Is My Vacuum Losing Suction? 6 Quick Step-by-Step Fixes
Vacuum lost its suction? Follow our 6-step diagnostic checklist to find clogs, clean filters, fix brushroll drag, and restore 100% cleaning power.
Read the guide →How to Clean & Wash Vacuum Filters (HEPA, Foam & Felt)
Step-by-step guide to washing pre-motor and post-motor HEPA vacuum filters: washing rules, drying times, when to replace, and avoiding motor damage.
Read the guide →Common Problems with Dyson Vacuums: Causes & Fixes (2026)
Why is your Dyson pulsing or not holding charge? We troubleshoot the 5 most common Dyson problems: battery wear, broken triggers, clogs, and motor pulse.
Read the guide →