To schedule cleaning for specific rooms or areas, start by choosing a robot vacuum whose mapping and app suit the way you organise your home. Only opt for mopping or a docking station if you’re prepared to maintain the mop pads, tanks and consumables. Check how well it performs on your flooring too, as Que Choisir assesses performance separately for different floor types.
You want to clean certain rooms at different times or keep the robot out of specific areas. In that case, an in-app map is more useful than a simple delayed-start function. Roborock, for example, describes room-by-room scheduling in its app; check that the model you’re considering offers the controls you need.
You want to maintain your hard floors without getting your carpets wet, and need to account for transitions between floor types. Que Choisir tests vacuuming on carpets, tiles and wooden floors separately, so look for results that reflect the surfaces in your home.
You’re happy to carry out occasional maintenance, but having to empty a small dustbin after every clean would make scheduling less convenient. An auto-empty dock could help if you have room to install it and are happy to maintain its components.
Start with the instructions your robot will need to follow in your home, then compare its features with your flooring and the maintenance tasks you’re willing to take on.
| Feature | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation and mapping | Check whether you can schedule cleaning by room and set no-go zones. If you have multiple floors, check how the model manages maps. | I want to clean the kitchen without cleaning every room, and keep the robot out of certain areas. Around 29% of consumers would put this level of control over their home at the top of their list. |
| Floors, carpets and obstacles | Compare test results for your flooring, measure your thresholds and check how the mop performs on carpets. | My home has wooden floors, tiles and carpets, and I don’t want one setting to compromise how the robot handles them. Around 24% of consumers would prioritise compatibility with these surfaces. |
| Ongoing maintenance | Find out what you’ll need to do by hand to maintain the dustbin, brushes and, depending on the model, the dock and tanks. | If I have to step in after every cycle, scheduling becomes less worthwhile. For around 29% of consumers, reducing the frequency of these tasks would be the main priority. |
| App and long-term use | Check the Wi-Fi and phone requirements, how updates work and whether you can get the right replacement parts for the model. | I rely on the app to keep my routine on track and want to be able to replace worn parts. Around 18% of consumers would prioritise this long-term usability. |
A suction figure alone doesn’t tell you how well a robot will clean carpets, wooden floors or edges. Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately.
Prioritise tests carried out on the types of flooring in your home, and be prepared to clean areas the robot can’t reach yourself.
A dock can mean you need to empty the robot’s dustbin less often, but you’ll still need to look after the brushes and, on a mopping model, the mop pads and water.
Before choosing, find out what maintenance is still required and which consumables are compatible with the exact model.
You’ll also need to set aside a permanent spot for the dock and allow time to maintain its components.
Requirements vary by model. Roborock states, for example, that the QV 35A supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, but not 5 GHz.
Check the required frequency, whether your phone is compatible and how updates work for the model you’re considering.
A scheduled cleaning routine also depends on being able to maintain your robot over time.
Compare the repairability information provided and look for brushes, filters and other parts that are an exact match for your chosen model.
Worth considering if you want to schedule cleaning in the app and compare mapping features across models.
Compare the range if you’re looking for a connected robot with mopping, checking the features included with each model.
Worth considering if you want to compare app-controlled DEEBOT models, as dock and mopping features vary by model.
Consider this brand if access to accessories and repairability information is important to your choice.
These models combine a mopping function or dock with floor care. Compare their advertised features with the rooms you want to schedule, your flooring and the maintenance you’re prepared to do.
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Worth considering if you want to combine floor mopping with a dock, and are happy to maintain the mop pads and tanks.
The product title lists 16 600 Pa suction, an OZMO Roller, hot-water mop washing and hot-air drying.
Before setting a routine, check that it has the scheduling controls you need, that the app is compatible and how it performs on your carpets and thresholds.
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Consider this for a routine that combines vacuuming, mopping and a dock, if you’re able to maintain the dock.
The product title lists 25 000 Pa suction, an OZMO Turbo 2.0 system and mop washing at 75 °C.
Before choosing this model, check the scheduling settings you need at home, the connection requirements and how it performs on your flooring.
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Worth considering if app control and fewer trips to empty the bin matter to your routine. Check what other maintenance you’ll still need to do.
The product title lists 8 000 Pa suction and a brush designed to reduce tangles from hair and pet fur. It states that the dust collection bag lasts for 45 days, but this doesn’t establish how often you’ll need to empty it in your home.
If you have carpets or thresholds, check separately how the model handles them.
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Worth considering if you want to combine app settings with an auto-empty dock, while still allowing time to maintain the dustbin and brushes.
The product title lists LiDAR navigation, 8 000 Pa suction and a claimed battery life of 200 minutes. This doesn’t guarantee how long a cleaning cycle will take in your home.
The listing for this model specifies a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection. Check that it’s compatible with your network before buying.
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Consider this if a dock and roller mop system suit your routine, as long as you’re prepared to manage the water and consumables.
The product title lists 19 500 Pa suction and an OZMO Roller 2.0 system.
For thresholds, measure those in your home and check this model’s clearance specifications. The maximum height stated in the product title doesn’t guarantee it will get over thresholds in your home.
No, you’ll still need to do some cleaning yourself. Que Choisir assesses performance on different floor types separately, while Les Numériques points out that a robot can’t go up or down stairs, or clean furniture and skirting boards.
No. It can mean you need to empty the robot’s dustbin less often, but you’ll still need to maintain the brushes and dock. A mopping model also means looking after the mop pads and water.
Check the Wi-Fi, phone and update requirements for the exact model. Roborock states, for example, that the QV 35A supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi but not 5 GHz. To update the relevant DEEBOT models, ECOVACS requires a connection to ECOVACS HOME and a good Wi-Fi signal, among other things.
Check which parts are listed as available and look for accessories that fit the exact model. Compare the repairability information too: a parts section for one model, such as the Rowenta X-Plorer Série 130 AI, doesn’t tell you about the other models in the range.