Households looking to schedule routine cleaning
Regular runs can help pick up dust and debris without having to get out a vacuum every time. However, you’ll still need to maintain the bin, brushes and, depending on the model, the station.
Who is a robot vacuum right for?
The time you save depends just as much on how easily the robot can move around your home and the maintenance still required as it does on its automated features.
People living in homes with rugs and obstacles
Before choosing a model, check thresholds, clearance beneath furniture, items on the floor and stairs. A brand’s stated threshold clearance won’t apply to every other brand: iRobot Assistance France says Roomba models can climb thresholds up to 1.6 cm high while cleaning.
People interested in wet cleaning
The mopping function may appeal to households with compatible hard floors, provided you’re prepared to maintain the mop pads and check your flooring’s care instructions. Que Choisir reports variable mopping results and advises against using this function on wooden floors, particularly solid wood.
What should you look for before buying?
First, check where the robot will actually be able to go. Then choose mopping and station features based on the tasks you want it to handle and the maintenance you’re still happy to do yourself.
| What matters | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Getting around your home | Measure thresholds and the clearance beneath furniture, then compare them with the dimensions and threshold clearance of the exact model. Also look out for rugs, cables and items on the floor. | When thresholds or furniture divide my rooms, I want to know whether the robot can follow its planned route rather than get stuck. Around 36% of consumers put compatibility with their home first. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Check which tasks the station automates, how much space it takes up and which compatible bags, filters or other parts need maintaining. In France, check the repairability index displayed for the product. | If my main concern is not having time to empty the bin after every run, a station appeals to me, even if it still needs some maintenance. Reducing these hands-on tasks is the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Floor mopping | Check your flooring’s care instructions, how the robot handles rugs and what you’ll need to do after a wet-cleaning run. Que Choisir advises against mopping wooden floors, particularly solid wood. | For compatible hard floors, I want to add regular wet cleaning without expecting the robot to remove every stain. This is the main need for around 21% of consumers. |
| Manual cleaning as a backup | Make a note of stairs, corners and inaccessible areas, then decide which tasks you’ll leave to a stick or cylinder vacuum cleaner. | In a multi-storey home or one with awkward corners, I’d rather keep an appliance I can control myself. Around 14% of consumers prefer to have this manual option. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Expecting mopping to always replace a mop
In its tests of robot mops, Que Choisir finds that results depend on the type of dirt and are often not good enough for a thorough clean.
Use this function for regular cleaning of compatible floors, and keep a manual option for stubborn stains.
-
Choosing a model without measuring its route
An impassable threshold or furniture that’s too low can limit which rooms the robot can reach. The 1.6 cm clearance stated by iRobot Assistance France applies to Roomba models during a cleaning cycle, not to every robot or every type of obstacle.
Measure the key routes in your home and compare them with the manual for the model you’re considering.
-
Assuming a station means no maintenance
Depending on the model, a station may transfer dust or maintain the mop pads. You’ll still need to look after wear parts and, where applicable, the water tanks.
Check what’s required for the model you’ve chosen, which consumables are compatible and how much room the station needs.
Depending on the system, dust bags, filters, brushes and mop pads will need replacing.
-
Assuming the app will work with your set-up
Connected features depend on your phone, the app and your network. iRobot Assistance France notes that some of its models may require a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Before buying, check which mobile operating systems and Wi-Fi bands the exact model supports, as well as the app’s update requirements.
Brands to compare
Rowenta
The X-PLORER range includes various robot mops and models with a station. Compare features model by model.
- Rowenta presents the X-Plorer Série 580 Max RR9547E0 as having a station that collects dust and maintains the mop pads.
- The navigation and rug-handling features listed for this model don’t automatically apply to the rest of the range.
Roborock
Some series combine mapping, mopping and an auto-empty station, but the configuration varies by robot.
- Roborock describes the Q7 L5+ as featuring a RockDock Plus auto-empty station and LiDAR navigation.
- Check which bags, filters, brushes and mop pads are compatible with the model you choose. The stated features alone don’t demonstrate how well it cleans.
iRobot
Roomba models are worth comparing closely if rugs, thresholds or app requirements are important to your choice.
- According to iRobot, the Roomba Combo j7 lifts its mop pad completely to avoid wetting rugs and carpets.
- iRobot Assistance France says Roomba models can clear thresholds up to 1.6 cm high while cleaning. Check irregularly shaped obstacles and the Wi-Fi requirements for your chosen model separately.
Robot vacuums with a station on Joybuy
These models combine vacuuming, a mopping function and an auto-empty station. They’re mainly suited to households looking to reduce some of the hands-on tasks after a cleaning run, while allowing for the space and maintenance the station requires.
Image unavailable
ECOVACS DEEBOT X9 PRO Omni
Consider this model if you want to schedule cleaning runs and have the station empty the robot, wash the mop pad and dry it. The product details list a robot height of 9.8 cm and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi pairing. You’ll still need to manage the water tanks and maintain the brushes and filters. Measure your thresholds before choosing, too.
Image unavailable
White iRobot Roomba Combo 115 AE
Worth considering if auto-emptying and cleaning beneath certain furniture matter to you. The product details list an AutoEmpty base with a bag and a robot height of 7.9 cm, so compare this with the available clearance. The bag, brushes and sensors still need looking after. iRobot Assistance France says Roomba models can clear thresholds up to 1.6 cm high while cleaning, but this doesn’t guarantee they’ll get past every obstacle.
Image unavailable
Black ECOVACS DEEBOT T30C OMNI Gen2
Consider this model if you want to combine automatic bin emptying with wet cleaning on compatible floors. The product description mentions an OMNI station, rug detection and multi-floor mapping. You’ll still need to fill or empty the water tanks, and clean the brushes and filters regularly. Check that it can clear the thresholds in your home.
Image unavailable
White Dreame X40 Ultra Complete
Worth a look if you want to automate emptying, washing and drying the mop pads. The product details mention liftable mop pads and a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection. Allow for the recommended clearance around the station and easy access to the tanks. Also check your thresholds and your flooring’s mopping instructions.
Image unavailable
Eureka J15 Pro Ultra
Consider this model if you’re looking for a station that empties the bin, washes the mop pads and dries them. The product description lists a robot height of 117 mm, LDS navigation and liftable brushes and mop pads. These features don’t guarantee it will avoid every obstacle, so compare its dimensions and threshold clearance with the routes in your home.
Frequently asked questions
Does a new robot vacuum need to display a repairability index in France?
Yes. According to ADEME and the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, vacuum cleaners, including robot models, are among the appliances covered by France’s repairability index. The score out of 10 tells you about repairability, not cleaning performance or how well the robot suits your home.
Can you use the mopping function on every floor?
No. Que Choisir advises against using robot mops on wooden floors, particularly solid wood. Check the flooring manufacturer’s instructions and the robot’s guidance before wet cleaning, especially if your home has different types of flooring.
Can a robot clean a multi-storey home by itself?
It can’t climb the stairs to move between floors by itself. Rowenta says there are no robot vacuums that can do this apart from prototypes. You’ll need to move the robot between floors or keep a manual vacuum for stairs and areas it can’t reach.
What should you check before buying a robot controlled by an app?
Check that your phone is compatible, which Wi-Fi bands the exact model supports and what its app update requirements are. iRobot Assistance France notes that some of its robots may require a 2.4 GHz network. Don’t assume this applies to every model without checking.