Some side-brush bristles change shape with use or storage, but bending can also indicate the wrong part or persistent contact with an obstacle. Inspect the route as well as the brush.

Recliners change their floor footprint when opened, and moving mechanisms can trap a robot or cable. Keep the furniture position predictable during scheduled cleaning.

A stationary side brush may be tangled, incorrectly fitted or inactive in that cleaning state. Check it during an actual clean rather than while the robot is parked.

A pedestal can create a sloped or overhanging obstacle unlike four ordinary legs. Watch the robot’s approach and escape path rather than judging the table from above.

Hot water used inside a dock to wash mops is different from applying steam to the floor. Do not buy a robot expecting one feature because it advertises the other.