Dad’s short answer: More than a robot vacuum, and it's not optional. After every run: empty and rinse the dirty tank, empty the debris tray, run the self-clean, and let the roller dry. Skip that routine and the machine will start to smell within a week.

The after-every-run routine

Empty the dirty water tank and rinse it. This one is non-negotiable. That tank holds dirty water with food debris and hair in it, and leaving it sitting is exactly how these machines get a reputation for smelling.

Empty the debris tray in the roller housing. That's where the hair and solids collect after the comb strips them off.

Run the self-clean cycle so the dock washes the roller, ideally with hot water.

Let the drying cycle finish. Don't cut it short and don't skip it.

That's about two minutes of actual attention, and it's the difference between a machine that lasts and one you end up hating.

Every few weeks and every few months

Every couple of weeks, rinse the filter and let it dry completely before putting it back. A damp filter is its own smell source.

Every few months, check the roller. In my testing, rollers on these machines want replacing somewhere around the four to five month mark with regular use — sooner if it's been fighting hair. A worn roller is a common cause of a machine that suddenly seems to clean worse.

And keep the suction tube clear with the long brush that came in the box.

If you want the fuller version of this, I've got a dedicated maintenance guide on the site.

Dad’s Take: Rinse the dirty tank after every single run. That one habit prevents ninety percent of the complaints I hear about these machines.