To pick up pet hair and small bits of debris regularly, choose between a vacuum-only robot and a vacuum-and-mop robot based on your flooring and whether a light mop is useful. Compare test results on your floors and fibres rather than relying on suction figures alone. Keep a manual vacuum for stairs, furniture and areas the robot can’t reach.
If pet hair and small bits of debris keep reappearing on both rugs and hard floors, compare results for each flooring type and on different fibres. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses rugs, tiles and parquet separately, for example, so a quoted suction figure doesn’t tell you the whole story.
A vacuum-and-mop robot can be useful for light cleaning on compatible flooring, provided you’re also happy to manage the water, mopping parts and space for any dock. However, UFC-Que Choisir reports mixed mopping results and advises against using these robots on solid wood flooring.
A robot can handle some everyday cleaning, while a stick or cylinder vacuum remains useful for stairs, furniture, skirting boards and spot cleaning. Les Numériques points out that these areas are beyond a robot’s reach.
First decide whether your main priority is picking up pet hair or whether you’d also like light mopping. Then look at test results for your flooring and consider which maintenance tasks you’ll still need to do yourself.
Worth considering: if you mainly need frequent pick-ups of pet hair, fibres and small bits of debris, with no need for automated mopping.
Bear in mind: the dustbin needs regular emptying if there’s no self-emptying dock, and you’ll still need to clean areas the robot can’t reach yourself.
Worth considering: for light, recurring dirt on compatible hard floors, if you have space for the dock.
Bear in mind: the dock needs you to keep an eye on the water and consumables. According to UFC-Que Choisir’s tests, mopping results can be mixed, and it won’t replace manual cleaning for stubborn stains.
Keep one for: stairs, furniture, skirting boards and occasional cleaning jobs the robot can’t handle.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to tackle these areas yourself, unlike the robot’s scheduled cleaning cycles.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair and flooring | Compare test results for fibres, crumbs and dust on the rugs and hard floors in your home. Check how well the robot cleans along edges too; a quoted Pa figure doesn’t measure how much it picks up. | Pet hair keeps appearing on my rug and tiled floor, so I want to know how much the robot picks up on each, not just read its quoted suction power. |
| Rugs and obstacles | Check how well the robot navigates and handles thresholds in your home. For a mopping model, check how it handles rugs and its mopping parts in the exact model you’re considering. | My rugs are next to hard floors, or there are things left on the floor, so I need to know how the robot will behave in this setup. |
| Dock and maintenance | Check whether the model empties dust, manages water and maintains its mop pads: features vary by model. Make sure you have room for the dock, and check which bags, filters and wear parts it needs. | I’d like to cut down on frequent emptying, while knowing which tasks I’ll still need to do and which consumables the dock uses. |
| Mopping | Check that the floor is compatible and look for mopping test results for the types of dirt you need to clean. UFC-Que Choisir has assessed mopping on tiled floors and advises against using it on wood, particularly solid wood. | A light clean could be useful on my hard floors; I’ll use a manual method for dried-on stains. |
Pick-up performance varies depending on the floor and the type of debris. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses rugs, tiles, parquet, fibres and crumbs separately, among other things; a figure quoted by a brand is no substitute for these tests.
Look for results on the flooring and fibres you have at home, then check the rugs and obstacles the robot will need to handle.
UFC-Que Choisir reports mixed mopping results on tiled floors and advises against using it on wood, particularly solid wood.
Use this feature for compatible surfaces and light cleaning, and plan to tackle dried-on stains by hand.
Depending on its features, a dock can reduce some hands-on tasks, but it still needs a place to go, its tanks need checking and its consumables need replacing.
Decide where it will go before you buy, and check the maintenance tasks as well as the part numbers for bags, filters and mopping parts for your chosen model.
This describes a feature of a particular model; it doesn’t guarantee that pet hair and human hair will never need to be removed from the brushes.
Check how the brushes are designed, and plan to inspect them and make sure replacement parts are easy to access.
The features below apply to the models mentioned, not every robot made by each brand.
Dreame France lists an anti-tangle brush and 19 000 Pa suction for the L40s Pro Ultra. Les Numériques includes this model in its value-for-money selection.
Roborock France describes the Qrevo Curv 2 Pro as having a dual anti-tangle system, carpet management and a multifunction dock.
iRobot France describes the Roomba Max 705 Combo with AutoWash dock as a model for homes with children and pets.
These models vacuum and offer a mopping function for everyday floor care. If your only priority is picking up pet hair, check whether the mopping and dock maintenance tasks also suit the way you’ll use the robot.
Image unavailable
For regular cleaning that combines vacuuming and mopping, this model lists a ZeroTangle 3.0 brush and an OMNI station. Its title specifies 25 000 Pa, mop washing at 75 °C, and the OZMO Turbo 2.0 and TruEdge 2.0 systems. Compare test results on your floors, and allow space for the station and its maintenance.
Image unavailable
For a home where pet hair and hard-floor mopping are part of the regular cleaning routine, this model’s title lists ZeroTangle 3.0, the OZMO Roller and an Omni station. It specifies 16 600 Pa, hot-water washing and hot-air drying. Check test results for your flooring and find out what maintenance the station needs.
Image unavailable
If you’d like a mopping function alongside automatic dust emptying, this model also lists a two-part anti-tangle system. Its title mentions 8 000 Pa, LiDAR navigation and app control. If you have rugs, check pick-up test results separately and find out how the robot handles them while mopping.
Image unavailable
For combined vacuuming and mopping, this model lists anti-tangle technology and a self-cleaning station. Its title specifies 16 200 Pa, liquid detection, brush lifting and hot-water cleaning at 75 °C. Check test results for pet hair and rugs, as well as the station’s maintenance requirements.
Image unavailable
For regular vacuuming and mopping, this model lists an anti-tangle side brush, obstacle recognition and laser navigation. Its title specifies 8 150 Pa, hot-air drying and an all-in-one station. If you have rugs, check how they’re protected during mopping and look for pet-hair pick-up test results.
No, it’s a useful extra for everyday cleaning. Les Numériques points out that a robot can’t clean stairs, furniture or skirting boards, so keep a manual vacuum for these areas and for spot cleaning.
Look for tests on fibres and on a floor covering similar to yours. UFC-Que Choisir tests rugs, tiles and parquet separately with several types of debris; neither a quoted suction figure nor a brush described as anti-tangle is enough to show how well it will clean your rug.
No. UFC-Que Choisir reports mixed mopping results on tiled floors and advises against using it on wood, particularly solid wood. Check that your flooring is compatible and, if you have rugs, find out how the model protects them while mopping.
No. Depending on the model, it may empty dust and maintain the mopping parts, but you’ll still need to check the tanks, brushes, filters and other consumables. Before choosing, check exactly what the dock does and which parts you’ll need.