If you have elected for a robot vacuum with mapping capabilities, it usually gives you the option of a quick mapping run without cleaning. It might seem like a waste, but it does save time in the long run. Use the mapping run to take a quick walk around your house and look for dangling shoelaces, wired headphones, or any long strings or fringes that will trip up the smartest robot vacuum.

And turn on your lights. Your robot might have optical sensors, which require ambient light to operate. If you find that your vacuum is getting stuck a lot, don’t schedule your cleanings at night. (Try 9 am, which is when my vacuum is usually scheduled.) If you have a dog, cleaning right after you leave will also give your pup less time to have an accident on the floor.

Nowadays, your robot vacuum will also ping you if it has navigation issues. In my house, dust often gets on top of the optical sensors, which can be removed by wiping with a soft cloth.

Empty the Bin

Yes, unfortunately, a robot that routinely digs into the yuckiest corners of your house will need a little routine maintenance. More than a few people have complained to me that their robot vacuum doesn’t work and just drags dirt around. If yours is doing this, then the bin is probably full. A robot vacuum’s dust bin is pretty small. Most robot vacuums have a bin size of around 0.6 liters. The dust bin on my Dyson ball vacuum is twice that, and I still need to empty it from room to room.

Dealing With Clogs and Clots

Many robot vacuums now come with tiny tools embedded inside the body of the vacuum that make routine maintenance slightly easier. I also keep scissors and, er, poking tools (a chopstick) on hand for cutting through hair or yarn that has snarled a roller brush or to push an obstinate Lego through the vacuum chute on a self-emptying bin.

I do have to say here that robot vacuums are not unique in this regard; these are all problems that have befallen my handheld push vacuum. I have yet to come across a robot vacuum problem that could not be solved with a few minutes of routine maintenance (well, and the occasional factory reset).

Divide and Conquer

Photograph: Carol Yepes/Getty Images

Ideally, you’d automate your robot vacuum’s cleaning cycles, not give it another thought, and come home to a clean house every day thereafter. But as helpful as robot vacuums are, they cannot pick up your kid’s 1,000-piece puzzle set for you or put away the dirty laundry that you’ve left in a pile on the floor.

If you have a pet at home, you know what it’s like to look down and see a layer of hair instead of your actual floors. In summer especially, our furry friends may start shedding even more to get rid of their winter coat and stay cool. So, with extra hair in the air, on the ground, and all over your furniture, how can you keep your home fresh throughout the hotter months?

We tapped two cleaning professionals for their top tips on how to maintain a pet hair-free home that you and your fur babies can enjoy.

Groom First, Always

The key to minimizing pet hair in the home to prevent it in the first place rather than cleaning it up later.

“I always say, brush the dog before the dog brushes you,” says cleaning expert Patricia Duarte. “Summer heat ramps up shedding—especially in double-coated breeds—so investing five to 10 minutes a day with a regular brush for surface hair and once a week with a [deshedding] tool for the undercoat is well worth it.”

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Clean as You Go

Having tools handy throughout your home for everyday cleanups can stop hair from building up.

“[I] recommend keeping a lint roller or pet hair remover brush by the couch or bed for quick daily touch-ups,” says cleaning expert Jessica Gonzalez. “Little habits like these go a long way when you’re trying to keep up with summer shedding.”

Cordless vacuums are also great for high-traffic areas your pet regularly walks through.

“It’s light, self-standing, and easy enough to use daily without dreading,” Duarte explains. “[It] is also a lifesaver for zapping fur from the bathtub—pups’ hair is truly everywhere. A quick once-over before running the bath keeps the drain happy and saves a plumber’s bill.”

Mitigate Mess at the Door

Before your pet can even make their way to the living room, an absorbent mat can keep pet hair contained.

“They trap paw prints, water, and fur before they get cozy in the carpet or slide into hidden areas under appliances and beds,” Duarte says. “They trap so many furball floaties—I can’t imagine what my home would look like without them.”

Treat Hard Surfaces and Carpet Differently

For hardwood or tile floors, a dry microfiber mop or an electrostatic dust mop works wonders.

“They’re great for picking up pet hair fast without having to haul out a vacuum every time,” Gonzalez says. “Try to avoid sweeping with a bristle broom since it tends to scatter the hair around instead of picking it up.”

The key to mopping hardwood or tile floors is to go slow, boxing out an area and moving in an M-pattern. Carpet, on the other hand, traps more hair and requires a different kind of diligence.

“Vacuum daily with a quick cordless [and] deep clean weekly,” Duarte suggests. “Wash throw rugs weekly. Fur loves to embed itself in fibers, so staying ahead is key.”

Vacuum the Furniture

It’s not just the floors you have to worry about—furniture fabrics can be hotspots for fur, too.

“I suggest a handheld vacuum with a pet brush attachment or even a damp rubber glove to grab hair off cushions,” Gonzalez says. “It sounds odd, but the glove trick works well.”

Pet-proof covers or a designated blanket are also an easy solution to prevent hair from accumulating all over.

“They protect your furniture and wash well, which matters because ‘that’s the dog’s spot now’ shouldn’t be a life sentence for your stylish chaise lounge,” Duarte says.

Wash What Your Pet Lays On

Whatever your pet lies on—whether it be throw blankets or pet beds—should go through the wash weekly.

“I toss in silicone laundry discs to trap extra hair in the washer and dryer, and one-fourth cup of Borax to soften hard water,” Duarte says.