To keep your floors clean while you get on with other things, start by choosing a robot whose navigation and cleaning performance suit your rooms and floor types. An auto-empty station can reduce how often you need to empty the dustbin; mopping, however, brings extra tasks involving water and mop pads. According to UFC-Que Choisir, results vary depending on the flooring and areas being cleaned, so keep a manual cleaning option for places or dirt that the robot does not handle as well.
A robot can take care of some everyday cleaning while you work or get on with other activities. However, you’ll still need to empty the dustbin and do some cleaning by hand, depending on your floors and the areas to be cleaned, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If your floors are cluttered, look at the navigation rather than relying on claims about battery life alone. UFC-Que Choisir also assesses how robots move around furniture and obstacles.
This feature is worth considering if your flooring is suitable for damp cleaning and you’re happy to look after the mop pads. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests are a reminder not to expect it to replace a mop every time.
Start with your floors and room layout, then consider what you’ll still need to do yourself when you have a robot and its station.
Worth considering: if you want to schedule regular cleaning in rooms the robot can move around.
Bear in mind: results can vary across floor types, edges and corners, and you’ll still need to empty the dustbin.
Worth considering: for light damp cleaning on compatible hard floors, if you’re happy to manage the water and mop pads.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir reports disappointing mopping results for most of the models included in its tests.
Keep one handy: for corners, narrow spaces or dirt that needs targeted attention.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to be there to use it, unlike a scheduled robot cycle.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Results on different floors | Look for tests on your main floor types, as well as along edges and in corners. UFC-Que Choisir tests robots on carpets, tiles and wooden floors in these different areas. | I have a mix of hard floors and carpets, and want to know where I’ll still need to clean by hand. |
| Navigation | See how the robot moves around furniture and deals with obstacles. Also check whether its settings let you exclude areas you don’t want it to clean. | Furniture or objects may get in the way, so I’d like to know what I need to move before starting a cycle. |
| Mopping | Check which floor types are suitable, the test results on hard floors and how to care for the mop pads. UFC-Que Choisir advises against damp cleaning on wooden floors, particularly solid wood, in its tests. | I’m considering damp cleaning for my tiled floors, but don’t expect the robot to remove every stain. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Check how easy it is to access the dustbin, brushes and filters. According to UFC-Que Choisir, an auto-empty station transfers dust from the robot into a larger container; check how much space it needs and what maintenance it requires. | Having to empty a small dustbin often could put me off scheduling regular cycles. |
| Connected features | Check that the app works with your phone and that your Wi-Fi reaches the base station. Look up the update requirements for the specific model. | If scheduling requires an app, I want to be able to set it up with my phone and network. |
| Parts and repair | For a vacuum cleaner covered by the scheme and sold in France, compare its repairability index, shown out of 10, then look for brushes, filters and parts for the exact model. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition explains that the index takes into account factors including how easy the product is to dismantle, the documentation available and the availability of parts. | I want to be able to maintain and repair my appliance without assuming accessories from another model will fit. |
A single figure tells you neither how well a robot cleans different floor types nor how it handles edges and corners. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these situations separately.
Compare test results for the floors in your home, and look at how well the robot navigates around obstacles too.
UFC-Que Choisir reports disappointing mopping results for most models and advises against damp cleaning on wooden floors, particularly solid wood, in its tests.
Use this feature only on compatible flooring, after checking the guidance for both your floor and the robot. Keep a separate option for stains and thorough cleaning.
The station transfers dust from the robot’s dustbin into a larger container, but both the container and the robot still need looking after. The station does not, by itself, improve cleaning results.
Choose this feature if having to empty the dustbin frequently is a real barrier, and check where you can put the station first.
Setting up a connected robot and installing updates may depend on your phone and network. Accessories are not necessarily interchangeable between generations, as Roborock’s support information for the S7 explains.
Check which devices are compatible, whether Wi-Fi reaches the base station and which parts are available for the model you’re considering.
Features and maintenance requirements vary from model to model. Information about one product range doesn’t necessarily apply to every robot from the same brand.
Worth a look if parts availability and the type of navigation are important to you.
A brand to look into if you plan to use the connected features on a Roomba.
A brand to consider, but check the settings, updates and accessories for each model.
These models are designed to automate everyday floor cleaning; several combine vacuuming, mopping and a station. Compare their advertised features with your flooring and the maintenance you’re prepared to do, and don’t mistake product specifications for test results.
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Worth considering if you want to run regular cleaning cycles while emptying the dustbin less often. The product listing specifies an auto-empty station, DuoDetect AI 3D obstacle detection and 8000 Pa suction power. Check how it performs on your floors, as well as app compatibility and the availability of parts for this model.
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Its LiDAR navigation and advertised five maps may be useful if the robot needs to cover several areas. The product listing specifies a bagless auto-empty station, 10000 Pa suction power and up to 180 minutes of runtime. Check the cleaning results, filter maintenance and noise level of the mode you’re interested in, as the listing gives conflicting noise figures.
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This model combines advertised features including roller washing at 75 °C, drying and automatic emptying. If you’re relying on it to clean edges or remove stains, look for test results specific to the X8 OMNI and check the maintenance involved, as well as the space needed for its station.
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The product listing specifies a FlexiArm mop, obstacle avoidance, hot-air drying and 12000 Pa suction power. If you have a home with tricky edges, compare cleaning results for this model before assuming the extending mop will make a difference. Also check app compatibility and the availability of consumables.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a station that also helps care for the mop pads. The product listing specifies washing them with water at 75 °C, an anti-tangle feature and 16200 Pa suction power. Check how it performs on your floors and in corners, as well as what maintenance you’ll still need to do.
No. Its performance for everyday cleaning depends on your floors and the areas it needs to reach. UFC-Que Choisir tests edges and corners, among other things, so plan to clean by hand wherever the robot is less effective or dirt needs targeted attention.
Choose one if having to empty the robot’s dustbin very frequently could put you off using it. According to UFC-Que Choisir, the station transfers dust into a larger container. This still needs maintenance, and the station doesn’t guarantee better cleaning.
No. UFC-Que Choisir describes tests on tiled floors and advises against damp cleaning on wooden floors, particularly solid wood, in this context. Before starting a damp-cleaning cycle, check the guidance for both your flooring and the robot.
Check that your phone and its operating system are compatible, then make sure your Wi-Fi reaches the base station and look up the update requirements for your model. For the ranges covered by its Roomba Home guide, iRobot specifies iOS 15 or later, or Android 9.0 or later, and does not support setup on iPad.
Look up the repairability index for the model, then check that the relevant parts and consumables are available. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition says that, for vacuum cleaners covered by the scheme, the index is shown out of 10 and takes into account factors including how easy the product is to dismantle, the documentation available and the availability of parts.