Households looking to hand over regular cleaning
A robot could suit you if you can prepare the floor, check how it handles your rugs and keep it maintained. Que Choisir compares results across different floor types and areas of a room.
Who is each option suited to?
Hard-floor owners interested in mopping
You want to add frequent wet cleaning and are happy to manage the water, mop pads and, depending on the model, the docking station. A mopping function won’t necessarily eliminate the need to mop by hand.
People who mainly clean up as and when needed
For tackling a small area, an edge or a cluttered space straight away, the manoeuvrability of a stick vacuum may matter more than a robot’s scheduling features. Que Choisir generally describes it as a handy appliance for quick clean-ups.
Which features should you prioritise?
First decide whether you want to hand over regular cleaning, add wet cleaning for hard floors or tackle a specific area straight away.
Robot vacuum
Worth considering: for regular cleaning when you can clear the floor.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to prepare some areas and maintain the appliance. Que Choisir assesses performance separately across different floors, edges and corners.
Robot mop
Worth considering: if frequent wet cleaning of hard floors is part of your goal.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the water and mopping components, and shouldn’t assume that all manual mopping will become a thing of the past.
Stick vacuum
Worth considering: for dealing with crumbs, edges or a small area straight away.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to do the cleaning yourself and consider battery life and suction power, which Que Choisir notes can have their limitations.
Robot and manual vacuum
Worth considering: if you want to hand over everyday cleaning while still being able to deal with urgent messes or hard-to-reach areas.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space to store and maintain two appliances rather than one.
| Priority | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Automated cleaning | Compare the robot’s height with the clearance under your furniture, then check the thresholds, rugs and obstacles listed in the model’s documentation. | I’d like to hand over cleaning in several rooms, but I can clear the floor before each cycle. For around 42 % of consumers, reducing manual cleaning would be the priority. |
| Mopping hard floors | Check that the version you’re considering has a mopping function, how it handles rugs, and what’s involved in managing the tanks and mop pads. | My hard floors need frequent wet cleaning, and I’m happy to manage the water and mop pads. This would be a priority for around 33 % of consumers. |
| Immediate clean-ups | For a cordless stick vacuum, check battery life in the mode you’ll use and whether the accessories are suitable for the areas you want to clean. | When a small area gets dirty, I’d rather clean it straight away than wait for a scheduled cycle. Around 25 % of consumers would put immediate clean-ups first. |
Mistakes to avoid before you buy
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Choosing a robot without checking your home
Mapping features alone don’t tell you how well the robot will move under your furniture or across your rugs. Que Choisir compares results across different floors, edges and corners.
Measure the clearance under your furniture and take note of thresholds, rugs and cluttered areas, then compare these with the manual for the model you’re considering.
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Assuming mopping means no more manual cleaning
In December 2024, Que Choisir reported disappointing mopping results for the appliances it tested. This finding doesn’t apply to every current model.
Check how the model handles your rugs and what’s involved in managing the water, mop pads and docking station.
Filling, emptying and cleaning the mopping components also take time.
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Forgetting to maintain the robot
iRobot’s guidance for some Roomba models includes maintenance of the dust bin, brushes, filter and sensors. The recommended frequency doesn’t automatically apply to other models.
Check the maintenance schedule and compatible part numbers for the specific robot you’re planning to buy.
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Relying on the robot for every urgent clean-up
A scheduled cycle can’t meet the need to clean a small area straight away in the same way. Que Choisir describes stick vacuums as generally suitable for quick clean-ups, while noting that battery life and suction power can have their limitations.
If you need to do this often, consider keeping a manual vacuum alongside your robot.
Robot vacuum brands to know
iRobot
Que Choisir names iRobot as one of the established brands in robot vacuums.
- iRobot France publishes maintenance guidance for some Roomba models, including advice on the dust bin, brushes and filter.
- Check the required maintenance tasks and their frequency for the exact model you’re considering.
Roborock
Que Choisir names Roborock as one of the newer players in the market. The brand offers French-language support for some models.
- A French-language manual is available for the Qrevo S.
- This manual doesn’t tell you how well all Roborock models handle thresholds or rugs.
Dreame
Also named by Que Choisir, Dreame offers robots and accessories designed for specific models.
- Accessory part numbers can help you find consumables for a particular robot.
- Check each part is compatible with the full model number. The availability of accessories doesn’t mean they’re interchangeable.
Robot vacuums and mops on Joybuy
These models are designed for regular automated cleaning, and several also offer a mopping function. To choose between them, first check whether they’ll fit your home and how much maintenance you’re happy to take on.
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Dreame X40 Ultra Complete, white
Worth considering if you want to combine automated cleaning with mopping and have space for a docking station.
Before choosing this model, check the space it needs, whether it can get under your furniture, how it handles thresholds and whether it’s compatible with your rugs.
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ECOVACS DEEBOT T30C OMNI Gen2, black
This robot with a mopping function is designed for households that want to schedule everyday cleaning while keeping up with the docking station’s maintenance.
The product listing states that it has 25 000 Pa suction, an OZMO Turbo 2.0 function and mop pad washing at 75 °C. These specifications don’t guarantee how it will perform on your floors.
Allow time to fill and empty the tanks and clean the brushes and filters.
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ECOVACS DEEBOT X9 PRO Omni
Worth a look if you want a robot that combines vacuuming, mopping and a docking station, without expecting it to eliminate all manual cleaning.
The product listing mentions 16 600 Pa suction, an OZMO Roller and a docking station that washes and dries the mopping component.
Compare its height and stated threshold clearance with the requirements of your home. The tanks, brushes and filters also need attention.
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Q8-Max with mopping and emptying station
Worth considering for scheduled cleaning if you have room for the docking station and the network connection needed for the app.
The product listing states that it has 8 000 Pa suction, LiDAR navigation, up to 200 minutes’ battery life and a Wi-Fi connection. Check the conditions under which these figures apply to your use.
Pairing requires a 2,4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Also check how it handles rugs while mopping and whether it can clear your thresholds.
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Eureka E20 Plus, black
This robot is worth considering if you want to hand over regular cleaning, can clear away small objects and have room for its docking station.
The product listing states that it has 8 000 Pa suction, up to 180 minutes’ battery life, 3D obstacle avoidance and a docking station.
Before you buy, check there’s enough clearance around the docking station and consider rugs with tassels and any thresholds.
Frequently asked questions
Is a robot vacuum suitable for every home?
No. Its suitability depends on factors such as rugs, thresholds, objects on the floor and clearance under furniture. Que Choisir assesses several floor types, as well as edges and corners, separately. Compare these conditions with the manual for the model you’re considering.
Can a robot mop replace a traditional mop?
Don’t assume it will always replace manual mopping. In December 2024, Que Choisir reported disappointing mopping results for the appliances it tested, though this doesn’t tell you how every current model will perform. Check the results for the specific model and find out what’s involved in maintaining its mopping components.
What else needs maintaining on a robot vacuum?
Follow the model’s instructions for the dust bin, brushes, filter, sensors and charging contacts. For some Roomba models, iRobot France recommends emptying the dust bin after every use and cleaning the brushes and filter each week. These intervals don’t apply to every robot.
Which consumables should you check before buying?
Check which filters and brushes are compatible, as well as mop pads or docking station components if the model uses them. iRobot France’s guidance recommends replacing certain parts on the relevant Roomba models. Check the maintenance schedule for the specific model you’ve chosen.