Frequently Asked Questions
What is edge cleaning on a robot vacuum?
Edge cleaning is when a robot vacuum uses a small side brush that spins and sweeps dirt from along baseboards and corners into the path of the main rollers.
Why do robot vacuums need a side brush for edge cleaning?
A robot vacuum’s round body leaves a gap of about an inch or two along walls, so a side brush is needed to push dust into the vacuum’s path; without it, a thin line of dust gets left behind.
Do I really need edge cleaning for my home?
If you have light-colored floors, white baseboards, pet hair, or want a truly hands-off experience, edge cleaning is worth having. For small tidy flats, it’s nice-to-have but not essential.
Are robot vacuums without a side brush just as good at edge cleaning?
No, models that skip the side brush may get closer to walls but still leave a small gap. A side brush is the standard solution, and omitting it is typically a cost-cutting measure.
The bottom line
Edge cleaning is your robot vacuum’s ability to sweep dust away from walls and corners with a small side brush. It’s a genuinely useful feature that cuts down on manual cleanup, especially in larger homes or those with visible baseboard dust. You don’t need it if you’re happy to do a quick weekly edge tidy with a handheld vacuum, but if you want your robot to do the heavy lifting on its own, look for a model with this feature—most decent robots have it these days, and it rarely costs significantly more.