In a home with pets and carpets, start by choosing according to the task that matters most to you: removing pet hair from carpets, avoiding objects on the floor, emptying the bin less often or mopping hard floors. A dock cuts down on some hands-on tasks, but you’ll still need to maintain the brushes and filters, and, depending on the model, the bags or tanks. If occasional deep cleaning matters more to you than automated cleaning, a standard vacuum cleaner is another option worth considering.
If pet hair gets caught in the fibres, look for test results on carpets rather than relying solely on the advertised suction power. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol, for example, assesses fibre removal from carpets separately from cleaning other surfaces.
If toys, cables or pet bowls are left around the house, obstacle avoidance becomes an important factor. Check which objects the model you’re considering can recognise: a feature advertised for one robot won’t necessarily apply to the whole range.
A dock can reduce how often you need to empty the robot’s bin by hand. However, iRobot France’s maintenance schedules show that brushes, filters and parts of the dock still need regular attention.
First, choose the type of appliance based on the cleaning tasks you want to automate. Then check how it handles carpets and obstacles, and what maintenance the specific model requires.
Worth considering: if you don’t have room for a dock and are happy to empty the robot’s bin regularly.
Bear in mind: it cleans automatically, but you’ll still need to empty the bin yourself.
Worth considering: if frequent cleaning makes manual emptying a chore and you have space for the dock.
Bear in mind: the dock also needs maintenance and may use bags.
Worth considering: if keeping hard floors clean matters as much as regular vacuuming.
Bear in mind: wet components need maintenance. If you have carpets, check how the model behaves while mopping.
Worth considering: if you prefer to clean carpets, corners or small patches of dirt by hand as and when needed.
Bear in mind: it won’t replace a robot’s automated cleaning runs.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair on carpets | Test results on carpets and fibres; maintenance requirements for the exact model’s brush. | If pet hair gets embedded in my carpets, I want to know how well it removes it rather than rely on an advertised power figure: around 34% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Objects on the floor | Which objects the model can recognise and whether you can set cleaning boundaries. | When toys, cables or pet bowls are left on the floor, I want to reduce the risk of mishaps during cleaning; around 26% of consumers prioritise this aspect of navigation. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Space needed for the dock, any bags required and the tasks listed in the maintenance schedule. | With frequent cleaning, I’d like to empty the bin less often without neglecting other tasks; reducing hands-on maintenance is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Hard floors and carpets | How the robot handles carpets while mopping and how to maintain the tanks or mop pads. | If I also want to mop hard floors, I need to know what happens when the robot reaches a carpet; around 20% of consumers prioritise this combination of uses. |
A power figure doesn’t tell you how many carpet fibres the robot will pick up. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses different floor types and kinds of dirt separately.
Look for a test of the specific model on carpets and fibres, then check how it handles your carpets and how easy it is to access the brush for cleaning.
iRobot France’s maintenance schedules still include tasks for the brushes and filters and, depending on the dock, its ducts or pre-filters.
Check the schedule for the model you’re considering and find out which compatible consumables you’ll need before choosing a dock.
Depending on the system, you may also need to replace bags or empty and clean a dirty-water tank.
iRobot France says the Roomba j7 and j7+ can detect pet waste as part of its dedicated offer; this claim does not describe the capabilities of every robot.
Check which objects the model you choose can recognise and what limitations are listed. Remove cables and small objects that could get in its way.
The DGCCRF states that domestic robot vacuum cleaners sold in France are covered by the repairability index. This score out of 10 does not measure how well a robot picks up pet hair or avoids obstacles.
Check the score and its criteria for each model you’re comparing, separately from its cleaning results.
The Roomba range includes robot vacuums, Combo models and a variety of docks.
Dreame offers robot vacuums and mops, including some models supplied with a washing dock.
The DEEBOT range includes robot vacuums and mops, as well as models with an OMNI station.
These models combine vacuuming with mopping or wiping, and each comes with a dock. If you have pets and carpets, compare their maintenance requirements and check how the wet-cleaning function handles your carpets before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to vacuum and mop mixed floors with an OMNI station. The model name indicates an advertised suction power of 16,600 Pa, along with OZMO Roller and ZeroTangle 3.0 systems. Check its results on carpet fibres and how to maintain the brush and station separately.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a robot with a wiping function and a self-cleaning dock. The model name advertises 16,200 Pa, anti-tangle technology and hot-water cleaning at 75 °C. Check how it handles carpets in mopping mode and what maintenance tasks remain.
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Worth considering for regular cleaning of hard floors and carpets with an OMNI station. The model name advertises 25,000 Pa, OZMO Turbo 2.0 and ZeroTangle 3.0, as well as mop-pad washing at 75 °C. These features don’t replace test results for removing embedded pet hair.
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Worth considering if you want to empty the bin less often while still having a wiping function. The model name advertises 8,000 Pa, LiDAR navigation and a dual anti-tangle system. Check its results on carpets and the wiping settings when carpets are present.
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Worth considering if you want vacuuming, mopping and a dock in one appliance. The model name advertises 8,150 Pa, laser navigation and an anti-tangle side brush. Check its results on carpet fibres and the mopping settings when carpets are present.
Look for a test of the specific model that measures how well it removes fibres from carpets, rather than relying only on the pascal rating or a ‘pet’ claim. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol includes fibres spread over a carpet; also check how to clean the brush.
No. It can mean emptying the bin by hand less often, but you’ll still need to maintain the robot and its dock. iRobot France’s maintenance schedules include checking the brushes and filters and, for some docks, cleaning the duct and pre-filter.
It depends on the model and its dock. Check whether it needs bags, and find out which filters and brushes are compatible. For a robot mop, also check the guidance on mop pads and tanks so you know what regular maintenance involves.
It tells you about repairability, not cleaning performance. The DGCCRF states that domestic robot vacuum cleaners sold in France are covered by this index. Check the score out of 10 and the details of its criteria for the model you’re considering, then assess its carpet-cleaning results and obstacle avoidance separately.