A robot vacuum cleaner can take some of the effort out of regularly cleaning accessible areas, but it won’t necessarily replace manual cleaning. According to UFC-Que Choisir, results vary depending on the floor covering. Before choosing one, measure the thresholds in your home and weigh the time you could save against the maintenance required by the robot and, where applicable, its dock.
If accessible floors need frequent cleaning, a robot can take care of some of the routine while you get on with other things. You’ll still need to maintain it regularly, as Rowenta points out in its usage advice.
If your home has a mixture of hard floors and rugs, check how the robot performs on each surface and how easily it moves between rooms. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses robots on rugs, tiles and parquet flooring, among other surfaces.
A robot can clean the areas it can reach, while you keep an upright or cylinder vacuum cleaner to hand for the stairs, awkward spots and occasional deeper cleans.
Start with the areas the robot could realistically cover, then check how it performs on your floor coverings and what you’ll still need to do yourself. If a quick manual clean fits your routine, an upright vacuum could also do the job; for a more thorough manual clean, consider a cylinder vacuum instead.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Getting around your home | Measure thresholds and the clearance under furniture; check the documented capabilities of the specific model. | If a threshold blocks access to a room, scheduled cleaning won’t cover your home as expected. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise this compatibility. |
| Ongoing maintenance | Check how to empty the bin and maintain the brushes, filter and, if included, the dock. | If you’re already short on time to vacuum, having to carry out several tasks after every cycle could make a robot less appealing. Ongoing maintenance would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Performance on different floors | Compare separate tests on your floor coverings, and check how it cleans edges and corners. | If you have parquet flooring and rugs, results on just one type of floor aren’t enough to make a decision. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise performance on different floor coverings. |
| Manual cleaning as a backup | Identify stairs and hard-to-reach areas; decide whether you’ll keep an upright or cylinder vacuum. | If some areas still need to be cleaned by hand, a robot for accessible floors alongside a manual vacuum could be a better fit. For around 19% of consumers, sharing the cleaning this way would be the main requirement. |
A threshold that’s too high or furniture that’s too low could leave some areas out of reach. The information published by iRobot varies between its general Roomba documentation and the Roomba Plus 575 Combo product page: the figures for one model don’t apply to every other model.
Measure your thresholds and the clearance under furniture, then check the capabilities and any conditions in the documentation for the model you’re considering.
Automatic emptying or mop washing doesn’t mean you can stop checking the brushes, wheels, sensors and filters. Rowenta and iRobot’s maintenance instructions explain what needs attention.
Before you buy, read the model’s manual to identify the tasks you’ll still need to do and which consumables are compatible.
One feature on its own won’t tell you how a robot performs on every type of floor. UFC-Que Choisir’s robot vacuum testing protocol assesses different surfaces and types of dirt separately.
Look for tests on your floor coverings and assess vacuuming, any mopping function and edge cleaning separately.
Being able to maintain a robot over the long term also depends on the availability of parts and repairs for the model you choose. The repairability index presented by the ministry responsible for ecological transition covers vacuum cleaners, among other products.
Compare the index and check which parts are available for the specific model, as well as how long they’re expected to remain available.
The brand makes robot vacuum and mop cleaners; some models feature a dock and functions for managing rugs.
The Roomba range includes robot vacuum cleaners and Combo models with a dock, depending on the model.
Rowenta makes robot vacuum cleaners, including models with mopping functions, and publishes advice on maintaining them.
The brand makes robot vacuum and mop cleaners, with a dock on some models.
Miele is worth considering if you want to keep a manual cleaning option, particularly among its cylinder and upright vacuum cleaners.
These Joybuy models are robot vacuum cleaners to consider if you want to automate some of your floor cleaning. Compare their stated features with your thresholds, floor coverings and the maintenance you’re happy to do. Keep a manual cleaning option for areas the robot can’t reach.
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Worth a look if you want to hand over everyday floor care and are also considering mopping hard floors. The product title states 19 500 Pa suction and an OZMO Roller 2.0; this stated power doesn’t predict how well it will perform on your floor coverings. For thresholds, check the conditions that apply to the stated maximum height of 4 cm.
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Consider it for everyday cleaning in accessible rooms if you’re interested in this compact model. Measure the clearance under your furniture and your thresholds, then check the dimensions and threshold-crossing capability of this specific model before relying on it to get around.
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Worth considering for regular cleaning if having a dock is important to you. The product title states 8 000 Pa suction and a 180-minute runtime; check the conditions for these figures and how it performs on your floors.
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Consider it if you want to combine vacuuming and mopping in your routine. The product title states 25 000 Pa suction, the OZMO Turbo 2.0 system and mop washing at 75 °C. Compare its performance on your floors separately and check how it gets between rooms.
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Worth a look if mopping is part of the everyday cleaning you’d like to hand over. The product title states 16 200 Pa suction and hot water cleaning at 75 °C. Check the conditions for these figures, how it handles your rugs and how much clearance it needs under furniture.
No. Its ability to get over a threshold depends on the model and the conditions at the doorway. iRobot gives a figure of 1,6 cm on a general Roomba support page, while the Roomba Plus 575 Combo product page states up to 35 mm. Measure your thresholds and check the documentation for the model you’re considering.
No. A dock automates some tasks, but the brushes, filters, wheels and sensors still need attention, as do the tanks, depending on the set-up. Check the model’s maintenance instructions to find out what you’ll need to do between cycles.
Compare tests that show results separately for each of your floor coverings, rather than relying on a single stated suction figure. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol distinguishes between rugs, tiles and parquet flooring, as well as different types of dirt. Check how the robot handles edges and corners too.
Check that your phone and network are compatible with the model’s app. If you plan to schedule cleaning or set up no-go zones, also check which features are available and what conditions apply to software updates.
If you buy from a professional seller in France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to both new and second-hand goods, with a two-year period according to the Ministry of the Economy. It covers faults with the goods, not simply a change of mind. When choosing your vacuum cleaner, also check its repairability index and information about parts availability, without mistaking the index for a repair guarantee.