To keep your floors clean while you’re out, first choose a robot that can get around your home. Floor types, rugs, thresholds, low furniture and objects on the floor all matter just as much as its features. Mopping is useful for regularly maintaining hard floors, while a docking station can mean fewer hands-on tasks. However, check how it handles rugs, how much space the dock needs and what maintenance you’ll still have to do.
If the robot will be working while you’re out or busy with something else, check that it can reach the rooms you want cleaned, return to its dock and fit around the maintenance tasks needed between cleaning cycles. Scheduling alone won’t help if obstacles regularly interrupt its route.
Compare its performance on your floor types and measure the thresholds between rooms. If you’re choosing a robot mop, check exactly what happens to the mop pads when it encounters a rug.
Measure the clearance beneath your furniture and the width of doorways, as well as the space available for the dock. A robot that fits into tight spaces still needs the clearances specified in the dock’s instructions.
Start with the areas the robot needs to reach, then decide whether mopping and a docking station will take care of the tasks you want to hand over.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Floors and rugs | Compare test results for your main floor types, including along edges and in corners. If you want mopping, check whether the model detects rugs and lifts or removes its mop pads on the version you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir tests vacuuming on rugs, tiles and wooden floors separately, as well as around the edges of rooms. | I have a mix of floor types, so I want to know where the robot will vacuum and how it will avoid getting the rugs wet. |
| Access between rooms | Measure each threshold, the clearance beneath furniture and the width of doorways, then compare these with the exact model’s specifications. Clear cables and small objects before leaving the robot to clean unattended: obstacle avoidance doesn’t guarantee it will get round everything. | The robot needs to move between rooms and reach the areas I want cleaned while I’m out. |
| Mopping | Check whether the model vacuums and mops, how it handles rugs and what you’ll still need to do to maintain the mop pads and tanks. The presence of a mopping function alone doesn’t tell you how well it will clean your floors. | I’d like to maintain my hard floors regularly without neglecting the rugs in the same rooms. |
| Docking station and maintenance | Check whether the station charges the robot, empties its dustbin or maintains its mop pads. Look at the instructions for the clearance needed around the dock, then check which dust bags and other consumables are compatible, along with any cleaning tasks you’ll still need to do. | I’d like to empty the dustbin less often, as long as the dock fits in my home and I’m happy with the maintenance it requires. |
This figure alone doesn’t tell you how well the robot picks up dirt from rugs, hard floors, edges or corners. UFC-Que Choisir tests these separately in its robot vacuum testing protocol.
Prioritise results for your floor types from tests carried out using the same method, then look at the model’s brush and navigation system.
Obstacles around the dock can make it harder for the robot to return to it. The clearance needed depends on the dock. For the model in question, Ecovacs support recommends leaving 0.5 m on each side and 1 m in front.
Choose an accessible spot with a nearby socket and follow the clearance requirements in the instructions for your own dock.
A mopping function doesn’t tell you whether the mop pads lift or are removed when the robot goes over a rug. This varies by model.
Before scheduling a clean that includes both hard floors and rugs, check the feature listed for the version on sale and read about its limitations in the manual.
A dock may empty the dustbin or handle some mop maintenance, but depending on the system, you’ll still need to check the brushes, filters, mop pads, sensors and tanks. Ecovacs support documentation, for example, outlines cleaning tasks for these components.
Read the instructions and check which parts are compatible before deciding how much automation you need.
Depending on the model, you may also need to replace consumables such as dust bags, filters, brushes or mop pads.
These ranges show some of the different configurations available. Check the features of the specific model rather than assuming they apply across the whole brand.
The French range includes robot vacuums with self-emptying docks and robot vacuums and mops with multifunction docks.
The DEEBOT range includes robot vacuums and mops, models with OMNI stations and a compact model designed for smaller spaces.
The French range includes robot vacuums and mops, including models with a docking station.
The models below combine vacuuming, mopping and a dock. If you only need regular vacuuming, first decide whether the mopping features and their maintenance will be useful to you. Then compare each model with your rugs, doorways and the space available for the dock.
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Worth considering if you want to combine mopping with rug care: the model information lists rug recognition and a lifting system. Check how these features will work with the rugs in your home.
The product name mentions an OZMO Roller, ZeroTangle 3.0, TruEdge 2.0, hot-water mop washing and hot-air drying. The station doesn’t remove the need to empty the dirty-water tank or clean the brushes and filters. Measure your thresholds and check the instructions to find out how much space to allow for the dock.
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If there are thresholds between your rooms, compare each one with the clearance specifications for this model. Don’t assume the maximum figure in the product title applies to every threshold.
The product name mentions OZMO Roller 2.0, ZeroTangle 3.0 and TruEdge 3.0. The model information gives a maximum of 2.2 cm in a single attempt and up to 4 cm cumulatively after several attempts. The station handles some tasks, but you’ll still need to check the dirty-water tank and its components. Also check the instructions for dock placement and how often the version on sale needs maintenance.
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This robot vacuum and mop with a dock is worth comparing with the clearance beneath your furniture: the robot is listed as 117 mm high.
The product name mentions anti-tangle technology, brush lifting and hot-water cleaning at 75 °C. These features aren’t test results for your floors. Check the instructions to see whether it can clear your thresholds and how much space is needed around the dock. The brushes and filters will still need maintenance.
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If you’ll be cleaning a mix of hard floors and rugs, check what happens to the mop pads on rugs. Rug detection alone doesn’t tell you whether the pads lift or are removed.
The product name lists 25,000 Pa, OZMO Turbo 2.0, ZeroTangle 3.0, TruEdge 2.0 and mop pad washing at 75 °C. Before scheduling an unattended clean, compare the robot’s dimensions and threshold clearance with your home. You’ll still need to manage clean and dirty water and periodically clean the station’s components.
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If you want to spend less time on mopping-related tasks, the model information describes a dock that empties the dustbin, washes the mop pads and dries them. Check the instructions for the limits of mop pad lifting on your rugs.
The specified clearances for the dock are 0.5 m on each side, 1.5 m in front and 0.8 m above, so measure the space you have in mind. Also check the robot’s dimensions and whether it can clear your thresholds. After a mopping cycle, avoid touching any residual water or the underside of the dock straight away, as these may be hot.
Yes. Move cables, small objects, fabrics that could get tangled and fragile items out of the robot’s planned route. Even if a model advertises obstacle avoidance, that doesn’t guarantee it will get round every object left on the floor.
Measure the clearance beneath furniture, the width of doorways and each threshold, then compare your measurements with the exact model’s dimensions and clearance specifications. A capability listed for another robot from the same brand doesn’t tell you whether the one you’re buying will manage it.
Follow the instructions for the dock you’ve chosen, as the space required varies by model. For one specific station, Ecovacs recommends leaving 0.5 m clear on each side and 1 m in front, with no obstacles or reflective objects. Don’t apply these clearances to a different dock.
No. Depending on the model, it may empty the dustbin automatically or take care of some mop pad maintenance. You’ll still need to check and clean the brushes, filters, sensors, mop pads, tanks and tray as instructed in the manual.