To keep your floors clean between manual cleans, start by considering the surfaces and obstacles your robot will need to handle, then think about how much time you’re willing to spend on the dustbin, mop and dock. Mopping and a more automated dock can reduce some of the work, but performance and maintenance requirements vary between models. Check the app, compatible parts and available space too.
If you want to schedule cleans around furniture and objects on the floor, look at obstacle avoidance tests and plan to move small items the model may struggle with. Navigation tests published by UFC-Que Choisir and Les Numériques show why it’s worth checking this model by model.
If your home has both hard floors and rugs, or you need to pick up pet hair, compare test results for your surfaces and check which brushes are compatible rather than relying on a single advertised feature. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, reports results for different floor types.
If you want to empty the dustbin less often or add occasional mopping, compare compactors, bagless docks and multifunction docks, bearing in mind the cleaning you’ll still need to do. Tests by Les Numériques and manufacturers’ information describe different setups and maintenance tasks.
For regular upkeep between manual cleans, first check whether the robot can move around your home and clean your floors. Then consider how much work its mopping features, dock and app will leave you with.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation and obstacles | Look for a test of the model’s ability to handle small obstacles, and measure gaps and the space under your furniture. | If you leave objects on the floor and want to schedule cleans, you’ll want to minimise the risk of the robot getting stuck. Around 26% of consumers prioritise navigation. |
| Vacuuming on your floors | Look for test results on your surfaces and the types of dirt you need to deal with; check the exact model numbers of compatible brushes and filters. | If your home has both rugs and hard floors, or you need to pick up pet hair, you’ll want to compare results on these surfaces. This is a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Occasional mopping | Check test results for stains, how the robot handles rugs and the manufacturer’s guidance for your flooring. | If you want to keep your floors fresh between manual washes, look for a model suited to your hard floors. Around 21% of consumers prioritise occasional mopping. |
| Maintenance and consumables | Find out what maintenance the dock requires and check the exact model numbers of compatible bags, filters, brushes and mop pads. | If you want to reduce regular maintenance, compare the time required and the consumables needed for each model. This is a priority for around 16% of consumers. |
| App and scheduling | Check which app is required, whether it’s compatible with your phone and network, the update requirements and which spare parts are listed as available. | If you plan to schedule cleans, check the connected features and their compatibility before choosing a model. Around 16% of consumers prioritise these features. |
A mopping function doesn’t guarantee that stains will be removed: results vary depending on the model and surface.
Check the model’s mopping test results and the guidance for your flooring. Continue to clean manually where the robot can’t do the job.
The mop pad and water need regular attention too, as may the dock, depending on the model.
A dock may empty the dust or maintain a mop, but features vary and the dock itself can get dirty.
Check which tasks are automated and which you’ll still need to do, including cleaning the dustbin and mopping components.
Depending on the model, bags, filters or brushes may add to your regular chores. Check which consumables are compatible.
Tests assess different surfaces, corners and types of debris. A single advertised specification isn’t enough to predict how the robot will perform in your home. Les Numériques also noted difficulties with obstacles during its test of the Deebot N20 Plus.
Look for tests that reflect your surfaces and how cluttered your home is.
The Deebot N20 Plus is an example of a bagless dust-emptying dock paired with a fixed mop pad.
The X40 Ultra Complete is an example of a multifunction dock that automates more of the mopping and maintenance.
The Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo has a compactor built into the robot rather than a self-emptying dock.
The Qrevo range includes models with multifunction docks; check consumables against the exact model number.
The Flow tested in France combines vacuuming and roller mopping with a dock that handles dust and water.
The products featured are robot vacuum cleaners with a wiping or mopping function, designed for everyday floor care.
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For scheduled cleans, its description mentions app control and the option to set no-go zones.
The product listing states a suction power of 8 000 Pa, LiDAR navigation, a dual anti-tangle system and automatic dust emptying.
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For scheduled cleans, the description says you can set a schedule using the Xiaomi Home app.
The description mentions obstacle detection, lifting the mop pad on rugs, automatic emptying and adjustable schedules in the app.
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For mixed flooring, its description mentions rug detection and a lifting mop pad.
The product listing states 8 000 Pa, a bagless dock, 3D obstacle avoidance and a stated battery life of 180 minutes.
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If you want to automate some mop maintenance, the description says the dock washes and dries the mop pads.
The product listing mentions 16 200 Pa, anti-tangle technology, liquid detection and hot-water washing at 75 °C.
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For scheduled cleaning cycles, the description mentions an app and a dock designed to maintain the roller.
The product listing states 16 600 Pa, a mopping roller and a multifunction dock with hot-water washing and hot-air drying. It states that the robot connects to ECOVACS Home via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
Start by moving small objects the model may struggle with, and check for areas that are hard to reach. In its test of the Deebot N20 Plus, Les Numériques found that it could knock over or suck up obstacles and navigate less effectively after furniture had been moved. This result doesn’t apply to all robot vacuum cleaners.
No. The features and remaining tasks depend on the model. The Deebot N20 Plus dock empties dust without a bag, while the X40 Ultra Complete dock also washes the mop pads; however, Les Numériques’ test noted that the dock gets dirty. For the Roomba 205 Combo, iRobot says you should empty any remaining water and clean and dry the mop pad after mopping.
Look for parts that are compatible with the robot’s exact model number and check what each kit includes. Ecovacs says its N20 family kit includes brushes and filters for several variants; iRobot also lists a filter and brush kit for the 205 Combo and Vac versions.
No. Check the manufacturer’s guidance for your flooring and look for test results on how the model deals with stains. UFC-Que Choisir reports that mopping results vary and advises against mopping wooden floors, particularly solid wood. Continue to clean manually where the robot can’t do the job.
No. Start by checking which features are useful to you and whether the model’s app is compatible with your phone and network. The CNIL advises finding out what connected devices can do and checking whether unused features can be switched off; this doesn’t mean that a particular vacuum cleaner has a camera or microphone.