In a single-storey home, choose a straightforward robot vacuum if you plan to keep mopping the floors yourself. A mopping model is better suited to regular wet cleaning of hard floors. A docking station can reduce the number of tasks between cleaning cycles, but it takes up space and still needs maintenance. If rooms are still cluttered, check the navigation features of the specific model and make sure you clear cables and small objects out of the way.
Mapping and obstacle avoidance are worth considering if furniture and belongings get in the robot’s way. These features, advertised on some Roborock and ECOVACS models, don’t mean you can leave cables and small objects on the floor before a cleaning cycle.
A mopping robot can take care of regular wet cleaning. If you also have rugs, check the cleaning modes and how the model you’re considering handles its mop pads. Features vary between devices, as the ranges from iRobot and ECOVACS show.
Depending on the model, a docking station can handle some tasks, such as emptying the dustbin or maintaining the mop pads. However, you’ll still need to find an accessible spot for it and check the tanks, brushes and other parts that need attention.
First decide whether vacuuming alone will do, or whether you’d also like to clean hard floors regularly. Then consider how the robot will navigate your rooms and which tasks an optional docking station actually takes care of.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation and obstacles | Compare the mapping and obstacle-avoidance features advertised for the specific model. Measure the clearance beneath your furniture and the height of any thresholds it needs to cross. | If my rooms aren’t always perfectly tidy, I mainly want to reduce the risk of the robot getting stuck or missing areas. Around 27% of consumers put this need first. |
| Mopping and rugs | Check the vacuuming and mopping modes, as well as whether the model can lift or remove its mop pads and avoid designated areas if you have rugs. | When my hard floors need regular wet cleaning, I want to automate it without getting my rugs wet. Around 33% of consumers put this need first. |
| Docking station maintenance | Find out which tasks are genuinely automated: emptying, washing or drying the mop pads, and refilling. Make sure you can access the tanks wherever you plan to put the station. | For frequent cleaning cycles, I’d rather do less between runs, while still being happy to maintain the base. Around 20% of consumers prioritise reducing the number of tasks involved. |
| Repairability and long-term maintenance | If you’re buying a new appliance in France that is covered by the rules, check its repairability index and look up compatible spare parts and consumables. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition lists vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by the index. | Before choosing, I want to be able to check how repairable the appliance is and plan for replacing maintenance parts. Around 20% of consumers put this concern first. |
LiDAR and obstacle detection features advertised by manufacturers apply to specific models. They don’t guarantee that the robot will avoid every cable, piece of fabric or small object left on the floor.
Measure thresholds and the clearance beneath your furniture, and plan to move delicate items before cleaning cycles.
A station can reduce some of the hands-on work, but the robot, its brushes and sensors, and the station still need regular maintenance, as iRobot notes for its devices.
Compare the automated features of the version you’re considering, and make sure you can easily access the tanks and parts that need cleaning.
Wet cleaning designed for hard floors can be a problem if the mop pads stay in contact with a rug during the cycle.
Check whether the specific model can lift or remove its mop pads, which modes it offers, and whether you can set no-mop zones.
In France, the repairability index applies to certain new vacuum cleaners covered by the relevant requirement. It provides information about repair-related criteria; it doesn’t measure how well the robot can navigate a cluttered room.
Check the index and, where the details are available, look at the criteria that matter for maintaining the model and sourcing its parts.
The range includes robot vacuums and mopping robots, including Saros models paired with multifunction docking stations.
The DEEBOT range brings together several series of robots, with navigation, mopping and maintenance features that vary by model.
Depending on the version, Roomba Combo robots offer different vacuuming and mopping modes, sometimes paired with an AutoWash base.
No. Obstacle detection doesn’t mean you can leave small objects lying around. Features advertised by Roborock, ECOVACS and iRobot vary by model and don’t guarantee that every cable or piece of fabric will be avoided. Remove fragile items and set no-go zones if needed.
Check how the mopping robot handles rugs during a wet-cleaning cycle. Depending on the model, look for mop pads that lift or can be removed, a vacuum-only mode and no-mop zones. Otherwise, protect your rugs or exclude them from the cycle.
No. It only automates the tasks provided for the model you choose. Even if it empties the dustbin or washes the mop pads, you’ll still need to maintain the brushes, sensors, tanks and parts of the station regularly.
No. Check the installation requirements before choosing this version. Roborock says its model with automatic water supply and drainage requires some checks beforehand. Confirm the available connections, space and access to the station.
Yes. The French decree of 22 April 2022, published by Légifrance, applies to the robot vacuums covered by the rules. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition says the index must be displayed on online sales pages where shoppers can buy a product or add it to their basket. This requirement applies to the new products concerned, not products given away, lent, sold second-hand, reused, refurbished or rented.