A robot can take care of some routine vacuuming on accessible floors, but its performance on rugs, carpets, along edges and in corners needs to be checked separately, as it is in UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol. Keep a manual option if your cleaning routine also includes stairs, furniture or skirting boards: Les Numériques points out that a robot cannot clean these areas.
If you want to automate the collection of dust and crumbs, compare results across every type of flooring in your home. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses floors, room edges and corners separately.
A robot can take care of some of your floor-cleaning routine. However, you’ll still need a vacuum you can handle for stairs, furniture and skirting boards, as Les Numériques points out.
If the dock needs to fit into a limited space, measure the area before choosing a model. Also check exactly which tasks it handles: some docks reviewed by Les Numériques empty the dust container and maintain the mops, but features vary by model.
Start with the surfaces and areas you need to clean, then look at which maintenance tasks will still be left to you.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on different floors | Look for separate tests on rugs or carpets, tiles and wooden floors. Check how well the robot picks up dust, crumbs and fibres, as well as its performance along edges and in corners. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these surfaces and areas separately. | I have several types of flooring and want to know whether the robot can clean each one, rather than assuming its performance on rugs will match its performance on hard floors. |
| Areas it can’t reach | Identify any stairs, furniture and skirting boards that need vacuuming. For these areas, compare a cordless stick vacuum for quick clean-ups with a cylinder vacuum cleaner for a more thorough clean. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these uses, while Les Numériques highlights the areas a robot can’t reach. | If I also need to clean steps or furniture, I’ll keep a manual vacuum cleaner close at hand. |
| Dock and maintenance | Check the dock’s dimensions and exactly what it does: emptying the dust container, wetting, washing or rinsing the mops. Check cleaning performance on hard floors separately. | I’d like to reduce some of the hands-on tasks, but the dock must fit where I plan to put it and I need to be happy with the tasks that remain. |
| Repairability | Check the repairability index for the model you’re considering, along with information on how it can be dismantled, maintained and supplied with spare parts. The French ministries include vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by this index and outline the assessment criteria. | As well as automatic features, I want to compare how easy different models are to maintain and repair. |
A listed specification doesn’t tell you on its own how well a robot picks up dirt on rugs or along walls. UFC-Que Choisir tests different floors, edges and corners separately.
Compare tests that match your flooring and the dirt you need to pick up, rather than relying on a single figure or the presence of a side brush.
Les Numériques points out that a robot can’t climb stairs or clean furniture and skirting boards.
Make a list of these areas before you buy. If they’re part of your regular cleaning routine, keep a manual vacuum cleaner or make that your priority instead.
Depending on its features, a dock may empty the dust container or handle some mop-related tasks. These functions don’t remove the need to check what you’ll still have to do yourself.
Measure the space you have in mind and check the features of the exact model’s dock, rather than relying on the general claim that it has an automatic dock.
The French ministries say that the repairability index takes into account factors including how easy a product is to dismantle, the maintenance information available and spare-parts availability.
Compare the index and maintenance information for the models you’re considering alongside their vacuuming and mopping features.
These models are designed for everyday vacuuming on mixed flooring and also have a mopping function. If your home has rugs, check vacuuming test results and mopping performance on these surfaces separately.
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A robot vacuum and mop with an Omni dock for everyday cleaning on mixed flooring. The product title lists suction power of 16 600 Pa, but that doesn’t tell you how well it will clean your rugs. Check test results for this model on your flooring and measure the space needed for the dock.
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This model combines vacuuming, OZMO Turbo 2.0 mopping and an Omni dock. The listed suction power of 25 000 Pa is a claimed figure: look for test results on rugs, hard floors and along edges, then check how much space the dock needs.
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The product title describes a robot vacuum and mop with 75 °C hot-water cleaning and a liftable brush. If you’re mopping hard floors near rugs, check how the mopping components behave on the rugs, as well as the model’s vacuuming performance.
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This robot and dock combine vacuuming with FlexiArm mopping pads. For mixed flooring, look for test results on each surface and check how the pads behave on rugs. Also measure the space available for the dock.
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The product information lists a mopping function and an auto-empty dock for everyday floor care. However, it gives conflicting details about dust collection, both with and without a disposable bag. Confirm which system is included before you buy, and look for test results on your flooring.
Not if you regularly need to vacuum stairs, furniture or skirting boards: Les Numériques says a robot can’t reach these areas. It can help with everyday cleaning on accessible floors, provided it performs well on your flooring, while you keep a manual vacuum for other jobs.
Look for test results for the model on each type of flooring you have, rather than relying on its stated suction power alone. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses rugs, tiles, wooden floors, room edges and corners separately.
No. Depending on its features, a dock may empty the dust container and handle some mop-related tasks, as described by Les Numériques. Check what the model you’re considering can do, what you’ll still need to do yourself and how much space it needs.
Use the mopping function for damp cleaning on hard floors, not as proof that the robot can clean rugs. If your home has a mix of surfaces, check its vacuuming performance on rugs and how the mopping components behave when they come into contact with them.
It helps you compare the repairability of eligible models, beyond their automatic features. The French ministries say vacuum cleaners are among the categories covered and that the assessment takes into account factors such as dismantling, maintenance information and spare parts. Check the index for the exact model you’re considering.