To cut down on everyday cleaning, first choose a robot that can move between your rooms and is suited to your flooring. A vacuum-only model handles regular pick-ups, while mopping is mainly for floors that are suitable for damp cleaning. A docking station can mean less frequent emptying, but it takes up space and needs looking after too. For stairs and deep cleaning, a robot is still a supplement to a manual cleaning solution.
A robot can clean regularly, as long as it can reach the rooms you want it to. Measure your thresholds and check how it handles rugs and narrow spaces: Rowenta says a threshold that is too high can prevent a robot from reaching the next room.
If pet hair builds up quickly, check how well the robot picks it up on your types of flooring and how easy its brushes are to maintain. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol assesses pick-up on rugs, tiles and wooden floors, among other surfaces. A claimed anti-tangle feature alone won’t tell you how well it will work in your home.
An emptying station, or a washing station for a compatible model, can reduce the amount of work needed after each clean. However, you’ll need to make room for it and still look after the relevant bins, bags, tanks or mop pads.
Consider it: for regularly picking up dust, crumbs and pet hair, without the need for mopping.
Bear in mind: without a station, you’ll need to empty the bin. The robot won’t clean stairs or handle deep cleaning.
Consider it: if you’d also like to mop floors that are suitable for damp cleaning.
Bear in mind: mop pads and tanks need looking after. UFC-Que Choisir reports that mopping results are often disappointing among the models it has tested.
Consider it: if frequently emptying the robot’s small bin is your main concern.
Bear in mind: the station takes up space, and its container, along with any mopping components, still needs maintenance.
Once you’ve decided which type to go for, compare each model with your rooms, flooring and home connectivity requirements.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Getting around | Measure every threshold and the clearance under your furniture. Compare these measurements with the exact model’s specifications, and check its mapping and no-go zone features. | I want the robot to reach the rooms that need cleaning without having to move it each time. |
| Pick-up | Look at test results on your types of flooring, especially rugs, rather than relying on a single power figure. Check how easy it is to access the brushes if you often need to remove hair. | In my home, rugs and pet hair matter just as much as dust on hard floors. |
| Mopping | Check that your floor is suitable for damp cleaning and how the model handles rugs. Factor in mop pad maintenance. UFC-Que Choisir highlights limitations in the mopping performance of the models it has tested and advises against using this feature on wooden floors, particularly solid wood. | I’d like to mop less often in some areas, without relying on the robot to tackle stubborn stains. |
| Station | Check how much space it takes up, the clearance required in the instructions and what you’ll need to do to maintain its bags, bins or tanks. | Fewer trips to empty the robot appeal to me, but I can make room for the station and maintain it. |
| Connectivity and maintenance | Check compatibility with your phone, Wi-Fi and the app, as well as the update requirements. Find out which replacement parts are compatible and check the model’s repairability rating. | I want to be able to schedule the robot and find the parts needed to maintain it. |
A threshold the robot can’t cross may leave a room out of reach and mean you have to move it by hand. Whether it can get under furniture also depends on the robot’s height.
Measure these spaces, then compare your measurements with the specifications of the model you’re considering and test results on your flooring.
UFC-Que Choisir finds that mopping results are often disappointing among the robot mops it has tested. A floor that is sensitive to water or a stubborn stain may still need a different cleaning method.
Check the care instructions for your flooring and robot, and keep a manual cleaning solution for surfaces or dirt that need it.
A station can mean less frequent emptying, but it adds a container to maintain and, depending on its features, mopping components to clean.
Before you buy, check where it will go, what maintenance it needs and which replacement parts are compatible.
Bags, filters, brushes or mop pads may still need replacing. A washing station also means looking after its tanks and tray.
Scheduling and some settings may depend on a compatible app and network. Requirements vary by model.
Before ordering, check its connection process, supported mobile operating systems and update requirements.
Worth considering if access to parts and repairability information matter for the model you choose.
Compare the options based on whether you prioritise the robot’s ability to get around or the tasks handled by a station.
Consider it if you want to check which accessories are available for a particular Roomba series.
Worth considering, as long as you check the connectivity requirements for the DEEBOT you’re looking at.
A brand to compare model by model if mapping, mopping or a station are part of your decision.
These models are suited to shoppers looking for a robot vacuum and mop for everyday cleaning. A station’s features don’t remove the need to check your flooring, thresholds and the maintenance required for each model.
Image unavailableWorth considering if you want to combine vacuuming and mopping with a station. The model name lists 25,000 Pa, OZMO Turbo 2.0, ZeroTangle 3.0, TruEdge 2.0 and mop pad washing at 75 °C. These stated specifications don’t show how it will perform on your rugs. Check whether it can cross your thresholds, and factor in maintenance for the tanks, brushes and filters.
Image unavailableAccording to its name, this model combines an OZMO Roller mop with an OMNI station. Its stated suction power is 16,600 Pa; the name also mentions ZeroTangle 3.0, TruEdge 2.0 and hot-water mop pad washing. If you have mixed flooring, check how it performs on rugs and the conditions for crossing thresholds, then factor in station maintenance.
Image unavailableIf you want to schedule vacuuming and mopping across several rooms, check the mapping features of this X40 Ultra Complete before you choose. Also check that it’s compatible with your Wi-Fi and the Dreame app, make sure you have enough space for the station, and look at its performance on your rugs and thresholds.
Image unavailableFor cleaning across several rooms, this model lists laser navigation and five-stage mapping, along with 4,000 Pa suction power. These specifications don’t guarantee how well it will pick up dirt on rugs or pet hair. The title and specifications give different noise levels, 55 dB and 70 dB. Check which figure applies to the mode you’re interested in.
Image unavailableIf brush and mop pad maintenance is an important factor for you, take a closer look at this model, which is listed with anti-tangle technology and hot-water cleaning at 75 °C. Its name gives a suction power of 16,200 Pa, but that doesn’t tell you how it will perform on your flooring. Check mopping test results, compatible replacement parts and any precautions for using the heated station.
No. It’s mainly designed to automate some everyday cleaning. Les Numériques describes it as a supplement, particularly because it can’t go up or down stairs. Keep a manual cleaning solution for areas it can’t reach and for deep cleaning.
No. Check the care instructions for your flooring and robot before using it for damp cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir advises against using it on wooden floors, particularly solid wood, and notes limitations in the mopping performance of the models it has tested.
Check your phone’s operating system, the app required and the Wi-Fi restrictions for the exact model. For the DEEBOT X2, Ecovacs specifies a 2.4 GHz or mixed network and highlights restrictions for hidden networks, VPNs and proxies. These requirements don’t automatically apply to other models.
Follow the instructions for the station you’re considering and check you have enough space before buying. For the Rowenta station described in its documentation, the brand specifies a hard floor, a position against a wall, 0.5 m of clearance on each side and 1 m in front. Don’t assume these distances apply to another station.
Note the robot’s exact model number, then check which filters, brushes, bags and mop pads are compatible, along with information about parts availability. iRobot and Rowenta list accessories for certain series or models. A part offered for one won’t necessarily fit another.