If you want to keep clear floors clean while you’re busy, a robot vacuum is better suited to scheduled cleaning. For stairs, cluttered areas and the odd spill, a cordless stick vacuum is more convenient. An auto-empty station or mopping function can cut down on some of the hands-on work, but you’ll still need to prepare the floor and maintain the appliance.
If you want cleaning to happen while you get on with other things, check the scheduling options and how the robot moves between rooms. Depending on the model, you’ll still need to empty or maintain certain parts.
If you have rugs, thresholds, low furniture or objects on the floor, how easily the robot gets around matters just as much as its advertised features. Measure tricky spaces and plan to move small objects out of the way.
For stairs, corners a robot can’t reach or a spill that needs cleaning straight away, keep a manual vacuum on hand, either alongside a robot or as your main option.
First decide whether you want to schedule regular cleaning or clean yourself as and when needed. If you choose a robot, check that its navigation suits your home before adding a station or mopping function.
| Consideration | What to check | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled cleaning | Whether the schedule suits your routine and which tasks still need to be done by hand, particularly emptying the dustbin. | I want my floors cleaned between full house cleans without having to get an appliance out every time; around 33% of consumers make this kind of automation their priority. |
| Getting around your home | Clearance under furniture, thresholds and how it handles your rugs; whether you can set no-go zones, depending on the model. | With several floor types and narrow spaces, I want to avoid the robot getting stuck or missing rooms. Around 27% of consumers say getting around their home is their top consideration. |
| Wet cleaning | Whether your floors are suitable for damp cleaning, how rugs are handled and how to maintain the mop pads or washing system. | For hard floors, I’m mainly looking for a light, frequent damp clean, rather than a deep clean; around 20% of consumers put this need first. |
| Manual touch-ups | How often you’ll need to clean stairs, corners and localised spills by hand. | When an area needs cleaning straight away or is out of the robot’s reach, I’d rather tackle it myself; this flexibility matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
A power rating on its own doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from your floors. UFC-Que Choisir tests robot vacuums’ suction on different types of flooring.
Identify the main floor types in your home, then look for tests carried out on those surfaces. Check the results around edges and in corners separately.
iRobot says that cables, laces and clothing can get in the way of a robot or become tangled in its rollers. Mapping doesn’t remove the need to prepare the floor.
Move these items before scheduled cleaning and check whether the model lets you set no-go zones where they’re usually left.
Auto-emptying and accessory washing take care of some tasks, but brushes, filters and parts of the washing system still need attention.
Choose a station if the tasks it takes off your hands really matter to you and you have a suitable place for it.
Depending on the model, you may also need to replace station bags and mop pads, and clean the tanks regularly.
Having replacement brushes, filters and other wear parts available is important if you want to keep using your appliance. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition says vacuum cleaners are among the products covered by France’s repairability index.
Check the rating shown for the model you’re considering and look up its consumables and spare parts before you buy.
The brand offers robot vacuum cleaners and mops, including models with a station.
Depending on the model, Roomba ranges include mapping and app-based scheduling features.
Roborock is among the robot vacuum brands covered by UFC-Que Choisir.
Dreame is one of the brands featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s robot vacuum guide.
These robot vacuums with mopping functions are designed for regular cleaning. Depending on the model, a station can reduce how often you need to empty the dustbin or take care of washing accessories; consider its size and the tasks you’ll still need to do in your home.
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Worth considering if you want regular cleaning with a station and a mopping function.
The model name lists an OZMO roller, an Omni station, hot-water mop washing and hot-air drying; advertised suction power: 16 600 Pa.
Allow space for the station and remember to maintain the tanks, brushes and filters. Compare test results on your types of flooring before judging its cleaning performance.
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Worth a look if you want regular floor cleaning with an auto-emptying and washing station.
The model features an Omni station, an OZMO Turbo 2.0 washing system and mop pad washing at 75 °C; advertised suction power: 25 000 Pa.
The dirty water tank, brushes and filters still need maintenance. Also check the app’s connection requirements for your set-up.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule cleaning across several rooms and don’t mind emptying the dustbin yourself.
The model name lists LiDAR navigation, app or Wi-Fi control and advertised suction power of 6 000 Pa.
Check how often you’d be happy to empty the dustbin, as well as test results on your flooring; the advertised power alone isn’t enough to predict performance.
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Worth a look if you want to cut down on how often you have to empty the dustbin after cleaning.
The model features automatic dust emptying, LiDAR navigation and a mopping function; advertised suction power: 8 000 Pa.
The station doesn’t remove the need to maintain the brushes and filters. Also check that the app is compatible with your set-up.
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Worth considering if you’d like a station to support regular cleaning, provided you have enough room for it.
The model name lists laser navigation, obstacle recognition, an all-in-one station and hot-air drying; advertised suction power: 8 150 Pa.
The product details specify 0,5 m of clear space on each side of the station and 1,5 m in front. The dirty water tank, dust bag and sensors still need checking.
No. It’s mainly for regularly cleaning the areas it can reach, and some models also offer damp cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir assesses suction on different floors and navigation separately, so keep a manual option for stairs, hard-to-reach spaces and occasional jobs.
Yes. Remove cables, laces and small objects that could get in the robot’s way. iRobot warns that cords or clothing can become tangled in the rollers or block the appliance, even if it has mapping features.
Because scheduling and some mapping or zone features may depend on the model’s software. For the relevant ClearView LiDAR maps, iRobot specifies that an account is required, along with up-to-date versions of the app and robot software. Check the requirements for the appliance you’re considering.
Look up the brushes, filters and mop accessories that fit the model, then check that they’re available. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition says vacuum cleaners are among the products covered by the repairability index. Check the rating shown for the appliance you’re comparing.