A robot vacuum can keep accessible floors clean between manual cleans, provided its navigation, performance on your flooring and ability to cross thresholds suit your home. A mopping function can help maintain compatible hard floors, but it doesn’t guarantee a deep clean. You’ll also need to empty the robot, maintain its brushes and clean areas it can’t reach by hand.
If you want to keep accessible areas clean regularly while you’re busy or out, a programmable robot can complement manual cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results vary, particularly depending on the type of flooring.
Your choice mainly depends on how well it vacuums your floors and how easily it can move around obstacles and over thresholds. Compare tests that reflect how you’ll use it, and check the specifications of the exact model rather than assuming all robot vacuums perform in the same way.
A model that vacuums and mops can help with day-to-day upkeep of compatible floors, as long as you’re happy to manage the water and maintain the mopping components. It won’t necessarily replace a thorough manual clean.
Choose this if: you want to schedule vacuuming in accessible areas. Check how it performs on your floors, navigates around furniture and crosses thresholds.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to empty the robot and maintain its brushes and filters. Performance varies by floor type, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Choose this if: you have suitable hard floors and want to tackle everyday dirt between manual cleans. Look at the model’s results and how it handles rugs.
Bear in mind: a mop attachment doesn’t guarantee that stains will be removed, and a docking station adds components to maintain. Don’t assume that wooden floors, especially solid wood, are suitable for wet mopping.
Choose this if: stairs, furniture, skirting boards or hard-to-reach areas make up a significant part of your cleaning, or you’re looking for something to complement your robot.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to operate it yourself, but it can clean areas the robot can’t reach.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling and navigation | Check how it handles obstacles and rooms, then compare the height of the thresholds in your home with the model’s stated capabilities. | I want to start a cleaning cycle while I’m out without the robot getting stuck at the first tricky threshold. Around 36% of consumers prioritise scheduled cleaning that suits their home. |
| Vacuuming performance on different floors | Look for tests on floor types and debris similar to those in your home; don’t rely on the stated power alone. | With rugs, mixed flooring or pet hair, I want to know whether it can handle my surfaces and whether the brushes are easy to access for maintenance. Around 29% of consumers prioritise suction on their floors and the types of debris they need to clean up. |
| How useful is the mopping function? | Check that your floors are compatible, look at the model’s mopping results, and see how it handles rugs and its mopping components. | If I mainly have compatible hard floors, mopping can help between manual cleans, but I don’t expect it to tackle every stain. Around 21% of consumers put mopping hard floors first. |
| Maintenance and app | Check what’s involved in maintaining the dust container, brushes, filter and docking station. If an app is required, check its compatibility and update requirements. | I want to plan when to clean each room and account for any tasks related to the docking station. I’ll also check the app if I need it to schedule the device. Around 14% of consumers prioritise keeping maintenance and controls manageable. |
Mopping results vary by model and stain. UFC-Que Choisir advises consumers not to assume that a mopping function guarantees results on every type of dirt.
Look for a test of the model on a hard floor that’s suitable for your home, and keep a manual cleaning option for stubborn stains.
Remember to allow time to manage the water, mop pads and, depending on the model, the docking station.
A docking station can take care of some tasks, but the dust container, brushes or filter may still need attention, depending on the model.
Check the manual to see what maintenance is required, and check the cost and availability of consumables for the model you’re considering.
Filters, brushes and other parts may need replacing, depending on the model.
A power rating alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will pick up dirt from your rugs, in corners or on hard floors. UFC-Que Choisir reports different results for different floor types.
Look for tests carried out on surfaces and debris similar to those in your home.
The Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo L121040 takes a different approach, compressing dust inside the robot rather than using a large self-emptying base.
The X-PLORER Serie 75 S+ RR8595WH combines laser navigation, room-by-room scheduling, mopping and an auto-emptying station.
The X40 Ultra Complete is an example of a robot vacuum that also mops, with a docking station that handles several maintenance tasks.
The French range includes the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow, which combines vacuuming, a roller mop and a docking station.
The DEEBOT N, T and X ranges cover different price points and features; the N20 Plus is included in an editorial selection by Les Numériques.
These models combine vacuuming and mopping for regular floor care, with scheduling options and, depending on the model, a maintenance station. Check that a model is suitable for your home, and remember to clean areas it can’t reach by hand.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a programmable robot with auto-emptying and a mopping function for everyday cleaning.
Stated suction power: 8 000 Pa. The product page lists app control, obstacle-avoidance navigation, an anti-tangle brush and a 10 mm mop lift. The title states that the dust bag lasts for 45 days; actual duration depends on how you use it.
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Worth considering if you want to combine vacuuming and mopping with a station that handles several maintenance tasks.
Stated suction power: 16 200 Pa. The title lists anti-tangle technology, liquid detection and a brush lift. Hot-water cleaning is stated as 75 °C; the description says the station empties the dust container, then washes and dries the mop pads.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a station that empties the dust container and maintains the mop pads.
Stated suction power: 12 000 Pa. The description mentions dual mechanical arms and liftable mop pads; the station washes the pads with hot water and dries them. The app requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection, and you’ll need to leave clear space around the station.
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Worth considering if you want to combine vacuuming and mopping with a station that maintains the mop pads.
Stated suction power: 12 000 Pa. The title lists FlexiArm mop pads, a dual anti-tangle system, hot-air drying, obstacle avoidance and smart navigation. The description says the station empties the dust container, cleans the mop pads and dries them.
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Worth considering if you want to schedule cleaning and have a station that takes care of some mopping-related tasks.
Stated suction power: 16 600 Pa. The title lists an OZMO Roller mopping system and a station that washes with hot water and dries with hot air. The description mentions mapping, scheduled cleaning cycles and app pairing with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
Measure the threshold and the clearance beneath the furniture, then compare those measurements with the specifications for the exact model. Rowenta says the X-PLORER Serie 75 S+ RR8595WH can cross thresholds up to 18 mm high; this doesn’t guarantee it will cross every threshold of that height.
A docking station doesn’t eliminate all maintenance. Check the manual to see what needs doing to the station and what still needs attention on the dust container, filter and brushes. For a robot mop, also check how to manage the water and mopping components.
Before buying, check that the app is compatible with your phone and read its update requirements. Once it’s installed, follow the instructions for your model and apply any available security updates.
Subject to its terms, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a consumer. The DGCCRF states that you make a claim through the seller; an optional commercial warranty doesn’t replace it.
Yes. The decree of 22 April 2022 covers household robot vacuum cleaners for the calculation and display of this index. When comparing models, also look at the breakdown of the score and information about spare parts.