Easily Fix Those Robot Vacuum Bristles With A Simple TikTok Hack That Saves You Money

Robot vacuum cleaners are great household tools for keeping your floors tidy without requiring you to do much work. The right robot vacuum for your floor type can greatly reduce the workload for households that require regular vacuuming, especially if you have pets. While it's nice to get a clean home with just the press of a button, it can feel like a bit of a hassle whenever your vacuum needs some extra TLC, because it's normally so self-sufficient. Fortunately, there's a simple hack to cleaning your robot vacuum's bristles — just soak them in warm water to get rid of bacteria and other buildup so your vacuum is back to full function in no time.

Nearly every robot vacuum uses twirling and spinning bristles to pick debris up from surfaces, and they're bound to get gunked up from time to time. Most units come with a user manual that describes how to clean these bristles, and many also include cleaning kits — but you might find this hack to be the simplest cleaning method. You'll save time and money by avoiding the purchase of a cleaning kit or additional products because you'll be using things you already have around the house. You'll also save money by protecting your floors — dirty bristles can scratch hardwood, racking up repair costs over time. On top of that, you'll increase the efficiency of your robot vacuum, saving on your energy bill in the long run. 

Instead of meticulously cleaning your robot vacuum's bristles by hand, you can use boiling water to break up the accumulated gunk, as demonstrated in the above video by TikTok user Kubra.Lifehacks. To begin, remove the bristle wheel from the vacuum's housing. It should be fairly easy — it's usually as simple as removing a single screw to release the bristle wheel. Once you've removed the bristle wheel, simply fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Our TikTok user recommends boiling the bristles for three full minutes before shaking them out and reattaching them to your vacuum. 

This is only one of the ways to use boiling water to solve common household problems. Disinfect rubber and metal tools like scissors, garden implements, and razor blades by boiling them in water for 20 minutes (make sure to dry them thoroughly afterward to prevent rusting). You can even clean your cleaning supplies (an important, often-missed step) by boiling a pot of water, and then adding the hot water to a large bucket containing your scrub brushes and mop heads. (Add a bit of dishwasher liquid or other cleaning soap to further help these tools get completely clean.) The boiling water will sanitize your hardware, reducing your risk of spreading germs as you clean.