When & How to Clean Sensors on a Roborock Vacuum

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Plus, general maintenance tips for your robot vacuum

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA Reviewed by Claudia & Angelo Zimmermann

Last Updated: October 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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Cleaning the Sensors

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When to Clean

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General Maintenance

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Video

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Tips

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Warnings

Roborock robotic vacuum cleaners make cleaning your floors convenient and hassle-free. To keep your Roborock working properly, clean the sensors once a week. The sensors are your Roborock’s “eyes” that let it see where it’s going as it’s cleaning your floors. If they get dirty, your vacuum might start bumping into objects, missing spots, and not charging properly. Keep reading to learn how and when to clean your Roborock’s sensors, as well as general maintenance tips to keep it in working order.

How do you clean Roborock sensors?

Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the sensors on your Roborock vacuum. Avoid using water or any liquid cleaners, as this could damage the vacuum. Gently wipe down the sensors on the sides and bottom of the Roborock about once a week to keep them working properly.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Clean Roborock Sensors

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1
Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the sensors. A dry cloth is all you should need to remove dust or any other debris that may be blocking the sensors on your vacuum. A microfiber or cotton cloth will do the trick. Don’t use anything abrasive to clean the sensors, like paper towels or the rough side of a sponge, since these materials can scratch them.^{[1]
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- Before doing any maintenance on your Roborock, make sure it’s completely powered down to avoid accidental activation.
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Wipe down the 4 drop sensors located on the bottom of your vacuum. Flip your Roborock over and locate the 4 sensors running along the edge of the front half of the device. These are the drop sensors. Take your soft, dry cloth and gently wipe off each sensor.^{[2]
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- The drop sensors will be slightly sunk into the plastic that’s covering the bottom of the vacuum. They’re each about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, and they’re reflective.
- Different models of Roborock vacuums may have slightly different layouts. If you’re having a hard time locating any of the sensors, refer to the owner’s manual or look up a diagram of your specific model online.
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These are the sensors that help your vacuum determine how far it is from nearby walls. Look for a small oval-shaped sensor on each side of your vacuum. These are the distance sensors. Wipe them down with the dry cloth to remove any dust or debris.^{[3]
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The contact sensors are the small square sensors located on either side of the front wheel. They make contact with the terminals on the docking station when you’re charging your Roborock. Gently wipe off these sensors with the dry cloth.^{[4]
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Clean the dock-station return and collision sensors on the front bumper. These sensors help your Roborock enter the docking station and avoid objects while it’s running. The dock-station return sensor is a narrow, horizontal oval that’s centered on the front bumper. The collision sensor is a long, narrow sensor that runs along the bottom edge of the front bumper. Wipe both of these sensors down with the dry cloth.^{[5]
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- Wipe down any charging contacts with the dry cloth while you’re at it, too.

Section 2 of 3:

When to Clean Roborock Sensors

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Clean the sensors once a week to keep them working properly. When dirt and debris accumulate on the sensors, your vacuum will stop working properly. To prevent this, try to remember to clean the sensors at least once per week. Consider cleaning them after every use, so you don’t forget.^{[6]
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- Clean the other components of your Roborock on a regular basis, too, like the dustbin, filter, wheels, and main brush. We’ll provide more details in our “Roborock Cleaning & Maintenance Tips” section below.
- Some Roborock models may also send you a notification when it’s time to clean their sensors. The robot can’t feel when the sensors are dirty, though, so this is more of a general reminder. If you receive the notification after you’ve just cleaned the sensors, it’s okay to reset the care time.

Section 3 of 3:

Roborock Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

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Don’t use water or other cleaners on your Roborock. Roborock advises against using anything damp to wipe down any part of a Roborock vacuum, including the sensors. If liquid gets inside your vacuum, it could damage it.^{[7]
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- If the sensors are particularly dirty and a dry cloth isn’t helping, you could try using a slightly damp cloth to wipe down the sensors as a last resort. However, this could potentially damage the sensors and void any warranty you have on your vacuum, so proceed with caution.
- Clean up any liquid spills before running your vacuum. Otherwise, the Roborock will only spread the mess around and may become damaged by the liquid.
In general, emptying the dustbin and wiping it down with a clean, dry cloth will be enough. If you want to thoroughly clean the dustbin, rinse it with water after removing all filters. Just be sure it’s completely dry before reinstalling, so you don’t damage your vacuum.^{[8]
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Remove trapped hair from the brushes regularly. Hair and other debris can easily become trapped in your Roborock’s brushes, which could cause it to clean less efficiently. Simply pull the hair off the bristles of the main brush, and unscrew the side brush to remove any trapped debris.^{[9]
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Research source} For the best results, do this after every use.
- Remember, each Roborock model has a slightly different layout, so check your owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to clean yours.
- If necessary, use scissors to cut the hair before removing it.
Your Roborock’s omnidirectional wheel is what allows it to move around your floor, so it’s important to keep it in working order. Use a pair of tweezers to pry the wheel out, then push down on the tire until the metal disc pops out. Remove any trapped hair or debris, add a few drops of olive oil so the wheel moves smoothly, then reassemble.^{[10]
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Clean your filters regularly, and replace them every 2 months or so. To clean your Roborock’s filters, empty them over a trash can and give them a firm tap to dislodge debris.^{[11]
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Research source} Use a soft-bristle brush to remove any remaining particles. In general, replace your filters every 2 months, though this can be done more or less often depending on how often you use your vacuum.
- Some models use washable filters, but these must be completely dry before reinstallation to avoid damaging your vacuum.

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Tips

Try to clean your Roborock’s sensors once per week so they don’t accumulate too much dust and debris. The cleaner the sensors are, the better your vacuum will function.^{[12]
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