To pick up pet hair regularly, start by considering your floor types and how the robot handles brushes and obstacles, rather than focusing solely on its stated suction power. A mopping model can also help you care for hard floors. A self-emptying station cuts down on some manual tasks, but you’ll still need to clear small objects out of the way and clean the appliance from time to time.
If you regularly vacuum pet hair and human hair from different floor types, look for tests carried out on a carpet similar to yours. Les Numériques found different results on fine carpet and deep-pile rugs when testing the Roborock Q Revo.
Depending on its features, a station can mean you need to empty the robot less often and take care of some mop maintenance for you. You’ll still need to make room to access the tanks and clean the brushes, filters, sensors and parts of the station.
If you have food bowls, toys, cables, low furniture or thresholds, check obstacle-avoidance test results and measure the available clearance. Mapping doesn’t guarantee that the robot will spot every small object.
To choose between vacuuming only, mopping and a station, start with the floors you need to clean, then decide which tasks you’d like to automate. A manual cleaner is still useful for stairs and small, localised messes that need attention straight away.
| Feature | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair and carpets | Compare test results on your types of flooring and check how easy it is to access the brush and remove tangled hair. | When pet hair and human hair build up on my rugs, I want to know how the robot performs on my type of flooring rather than relying on the stated Pa rating. Around 27% of shoppers put picking up hair at the top of their list. |
| Station maintenance | Check which functions the specific model offers for emptying, washing, drying and refilling, as well as which tasks you’ll still need to do by hand. | If I run the robot often, emptying its bin and dealing with the mops after every clean can become a chore. Around 27% of shoppers prioritise cutting down on these tasks. |
| Obstacles and clearance | Look for tests involving cables and small objects, and measure thresholds and the clearance under furniture. | In a room where toys are sometimes left out, I want to avoid a cleaning cycle stopping or missing areas. Navigation comes before other criteria for around 20% of shoppers. |
| Mopping and carpets | Check no-mop zones and compare the mop-lifting height with the pile of your rugs. | With muddy paw prints on hard floors and rugs nearby, I want to mop without getting the rugs wet. Around 13% of shoppers prioritise this approach to mopping. |
| Areas to clean by hand | Keep a suitable solution for stairs, furniture and messes that need immediate attention. | For a fresh spill or the stairs, I need to be able to clean up without waiting for the robot’s next run. Around 13% of shoppers prioritise this kind of extra cleaning. |
A Pa rating doesn’t tell you how well the robot picks up hair from your carpet or whether it gets tangled around the brush. In its test of the Roborock Q Revo, Les Numériques found good results on hard floors and fine carpet, but average suction on deep-pile rugs.
Look for a test of the exact model on flooring similar to yours, and check how to remove the main brush.
Automatic emptying and washing don’t eliminate the need to check the filters, sensors, brushes, tanks and wash tray. In its review of the Deebot T50 Pro Omni, Les Numériques also noted that the filter clogs quickly and automatic emptying can sometimes be less than perfect.
Before choosing, check the manual for the model’s regular maintenance tasks and consumables.
Depending on the appliance, you may also need replacement bags, filters, mop pads or brushes.
Mapping and detection don’t replace getting the floor ready: in Les Numériques’ test of the Roborock Q Revo, some cables and small objects went undetected.
Pick up cables and toys before starting a cycle. If the app allows it, mark areas to avoid.
The base needs to be accessible so the robot can return to it and you can handle its tanks. The required clearance varies by model.
Measure the space you have in mind and check it against the manual before ordering.
The range includes robot vacuum mops with stations, with maintenance features that vary by model.
Some robot mops in the range combine a maintenance station with brushes designed to reduce tangling.
The DEEBOT range includes robots with mopping and station functions, as well as stated anti-tangle features, depending on the model.
These robot vacuum mops with stations are designed for homes looking to pick up pet hair regularly and automate some of the emptying or washing. Check their stated features against your carpets, the obstacles around your home and the maintenance you’re happy to do.
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Worth a look if you want to combine regular pet hair pick-up with mopping hard floors.
The product name lists a stated suction power of 16 200 Pa, an anti-tangle function, brush lifting and hot-water cleaning at 75 °C. These claims don’t indicate how it will perform on your carpets; brushes, filters and mopping components will still need checking.
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Consider this model if you want to care for hard floors and carpets with a multifunction station.
The product name lists a stated 16 600 Pa, the OZMO Roller, ZeroTangle 3.0 and hot-water mop washing. Check how the model performs on your carpets and around small obstacles; the tanks, brushes and filters will still need maintenance.
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Worth a look for a home with a mix of carpets and hard floors, if regular mopping is also a priority.
The product name lists 25 000 Pa, OZMO Turbo 2.0, ZeroTangle 3.0 and mop washing at 75 °C. Compare tests of the model with your flooring; the station doesn’t remove the need to maintain the tanks, brushes and filters.
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Consider this model if managing pet hair and reducing the effort involved in emptying and mopping are your priorities.
The product name lists 25 000 Pa, the Triple-V main brush and ZeroTangle 3.0. Check how it performs on your carpets, as well as what station maintenance is required.
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Worth a look if you want to empty the robot less often while keeping a mopping function for hard floors.
The product name lists 8 000 Pa, an anti-tangle function and 3D obstacle avoidance. Before choosing, check the station’s dust container format and the consumables it takes. Also check how the robot performs on your carpets.
No. It only automates some tasks, which vary by model. You’ll still need to check the filters, brushes, sensors, tanks and mopping components. Les Numériques also found that automatic emptying could sometimes be less than perfect on the Deebot T50 Pro Omni.
Yes, it’s best to clear small objects out of the way before starting the robot, even if it has obstacle detection. Les Numériques found that the Roborock Q Revo didn’t spot some cables and small objects. You can also set no-go zones if the model allows it.
No. It’s better to compare test results on the flooring in your home and check how easy the brush is to maintain. In Les Numériques’ test of the Roborock Q Revo, its results on hard floors and fine carpet didn’t carry over to deep-pile rugs.
No. Keep a manual cleaning method for localised messes that need attention straight away. A robot cleans floors, but it won’t clean stairs or furniture.