Why Does My Roborock Smell? Here’s the Solution
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The Roborock is one of the most popular robot vacuums around because it is a vacuum and mop combo. However, because it uses a wet mop to clean surfaces, it has the potential to smell bad.
So, why does your Roborock smell bad?
A Roborock will produce a musty odor if you leave the wet mop after use. Mold and mildew thrive on moisture, so leaving the wet mop in the robot during storage allows them to grow and thrive. To prevent your Roborock from smelling bad, clean and dry the mop after use every time.
Alternatively, a Roborock can also produce a smell of burnt rubber. In this post, we will dive deeper into the problem and solve the issue of a Roborock smelling unpleasant. Let’s get started.
Why does Roborock smell musty and bad?
There are two reasons why a Roborock can smell musty and bad. The first reason is a buildup of debris inside the dustbin and second, mold and mildew form from a constantly wet mop. Here are both reasons explained:
1. Build up debris in the dustbin
The most common reason why a Roborock can smell bad is built up debris within the device.
If you do not empty the dust bin regularly and let the dirt gather in the dust bin for a long time, any new air that flows through will risk ejecting these particles and smells back into the room.
A Roborock can also pick up pet hair and damp items. The combination of dust and moisture is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. If you do not clean the wet filter and dry it out on a regular basis, there is a high chance that mold will grow within the machine, causing the funky odor.
2. Mold and mildew build up in the wet mop
Roborock robot vacuums are some of the unique robot vacuums around because they have a wet mopping feature. The caveat, however, is that you need to clean and dry the mop after each use.
According to ClairiTech, Molds reproduce by making spores. It is during this growth and reproduction stage that mold produces gasses called microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC).
While many of these gasses are odorless, some, called mycotoxins, give off that musty odor that you would associate with a damp and wet dog, which is a sign that you need to take action soon.
If you want to prevent bad odor and keep your Roborock working for a very long time, please learn how to clean your Roborock the right way. We have a comprehensive guide for you right here.
Why does Roborock smell like burnt rubber?
In addition to smelling musty, a Roborock can also smell like burnt rubber.
Two of the most common reasons why a Roborock smells like burnt rubber is a worn down fan motor or friction caused by the rotor of the fan and the plastic cover of the robot.
Interestingly, the rotor of the fan has a tendency to pop off slightly. This causes plastic to plastic friction and a burning smell. If you disassemble the fan, you will see round black marks the rotor has left on the cover.
This usually happens when Roborock hits a wall or some sort of obstacle. The impact caused by the collision causes the rotor to come loose, fall down, and touch the cover creating friction.
A temporary solution is to turn the Roborock upside down and tap the body several times so the rotor inside the fan can pop back into place. For a permanent solution, however, you need to order a new fan motor.
You can buy a Roborock replacement fan motor module right here. Once you have the replacement fan motor module, you can learn how to replace it by watching this video:
You can always take the time to disassemble the robot, take out the fan, and clean it to prevent the issue. Sadly, it just might be a design flaw but not that big of an issue if you clean the fan annually.
Bottom Line
And there you have it, the quick yet thorough answer to: why does a Roborock smell bad? Whether your Roborock smells musty or burnt, you now know how to deal with the problem.
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