In a home with pets, start by choosing a robot based on how well it picks up fibres from the floor coverings you have, especially if you have carpets: UFC-Que Choisir assesses this separately. A station can mean you empty the small dustbin less often, but it won’t eliminate brush maintenance. Keep a manual vacuum cleaner for areas or messes the robot doesn’t clean as well.
If pet hair and human hair get caught in textiles, look for a test result specifically measuring fibre pick-up on carpets. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this separately from results on other floor types. A robot can clean regularly, but your carpets may still need a deeper clean.
For regular cleaning of tiles or wooden floors, compare results on these surfaces, as well as edge and corner cleaning. How often you need to empty the dustbin also matters if the robot runs frequently.
As UFC-Que Choisir explains, an auto-empty station transfers dust from the robot’s built-in dustbin to a larger container. Check how much space it needs, how easy the dust container is to access and what maintenance the model still requires.
Start with the floor coverings and types of dirt in your home, then look at the features that will genuinely make cleaning and maintaining the robot easier.
| Criteria | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair and fibres on different floors | Compare test results for the exact model on carpets, then separately on your hard floors. UFC-Que Choisir assesses fibre pick-up on carpets, among other things; a stated suction power rating is no substitute for this result. | If I have carpets where hair gets caught, I prioritise a test measuring embedded fibres. If I have tiles or wooden floors, results on those surfaces matter more to me. |
| Emptying and maintenance | Check whether an auto-empty station is included, what type of dust container it uses, and how easy it is to access the brushes and filters. A station transfers the contents of the robot’s dustbin, but doesn’t remove the need for other maintenance. | If the robot runs often and its dustbin fills quickly, I want to empty it manually less often. I could also choose to empty the dustbin myself if I don’t want to install a station. |
| Navigation and obstacles | Check the mapping and obstacle-avoidance features of the exact model, as well as the requirements for using its app. Clear the floor before a cleaning cycle: no advertised feature guarantees that every object will be detected. | If there are cables, toys or pet bowls on the floor, I want to be able to plan cleaning runs and reduce interruptions, without relying on the robot to avoid every obstacle. |
| Parts and repairability | Check the repairability index for the model you’re considering, where applicable, and find out about replacement brushes, filters and other parts. The French Ministry of the Economy lists vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by this index in France. | For an appliance I use regularly, I prefer to know how to replace wear parts and find spares that fit the exact model. |
Results can vary between carpets, tiles and wooden floors. For pet hair and human hair, UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking its ‘Fibres’ rating on rugs and carpets rather than assuming that one feature tells you how well the robot will pick them up.
Compare tests for the exact model and floor covering you’re interested in. Without a relevant result for your carpets, don’t assume the robot will replace manual cleaning.
An auto-empty station transfers the robot’s dustbin contents to a larger container, but the brushes, filters and dust containers still need maintaining.
Before choosing a station, check how much space it takes up, whether it uses a bag or a dust container, how easy it is to access consumables and how noisy it is when emptying.
Detection features vary between models. A manufacturer’s description of objects the robot can avoid, such as iRobot’s description of the Roomba j7+, doesn’t guarantee it will avoid every cable, toy or pet mess in your home.
Clear the floor before cleaning and check the features, app compatibility and update requirements for the model you choose.
A robot used frequently needs regular checks, especially of its brushes and filters. Being able to get suitable replacement parts affects how easy it is to maintain over time.
Check the repairability index where applicable, and make sure parts and consumables are available for the exact model.
These examples of product ranges and features can help you decide what to check. A feature advertised for one model isn’t evidence of test results for an entire brand.
The Roomba range includes models with an auto-empty base and others with obstacle-avoidance features.
Depending on the model, the DEEBOT range includes features designed to reduce hair tangles or clean close to edges.
Some Roborock models combine navigation and a maintenance station with a brush designed to reduce tangles.
These robot vacuum cleaners offer different ways to keep the floors in a pet-friendly home clean regularly. Some highlight an anti-tangle brush or automatic emptying, while another is designed for you to empty the dustbin manually. To choose between them, compare their features with the floor coverings in your home and the test results for the exact model.
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For frequent cleaning when there’s pet hair and human hair to deal with, the product details describe FlexiRazor technology designed to reduce tangles and a base that empties the dustbin. They also state a suction power of 16 200 Pa and LDS navigation with an RGB camera for obstacle avoidance. Compare its fibre pick-up results and allow for maintenance of the station, brushes and filters.
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If you’d rather not empty the dustbin after repeated cleaning runs, the product details describe an automatic emptying station. They state a suction power of 12 000 Pa, a dual anti-tangle system, intelligent navigation and obstacle avoidance. Check the Qrevo S5V’s fibre pick-up results, the space needed for its station, and the maintenance required for its brushes and filters.
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According to its description, this model combines an auto-empty station with a dual anti-tangle system for regular floor cleaning. Its title states 8 000 Pa and LiDAR navigation. Before choosing it for carpets, compare fibre pick-up tests for the Q7 L5+ and check which consumables the station needs.
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For planning cleaning runs across different floor types, its product details mention TrueMapping 2.0, obstacle detection and a 0,4 L dustbin; its title states 8 000 Pa and an anti-tangle feature. Check which emptying system is actually included with this model before relying on a station, and compare its fibre pick-up results on carpets separately.
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If you want to schedule regular cleaning and empty the dustbin yourself, the product details state LiDAR navigation, storage for up to five maps and 4 000 Pa. They recommend emptying the dustbin after each session and removing the mopping attachment before cleaning carpets. Check the L15 Max’s fibre pick-up results before choosing it for embedded pet hair.
Not necessarily. Keep a manual vacuum cleaner if you need to deep-clean carpets, stairs, furniture or hard-to-reach areas. UFC-Que Choisir assesses robot vacuum cleaners separately according to floor type and dirt, so choose a robot for regular cleaning based on the results that matter for your home.
No. As UFC-Que Choisir explains, it transfers dust from the robot’s dustbin to a larger container, so you may need to empty it manually less often. You’ll still need to check the brushes, filters and dust containers, as well as the bags if the station uses them.
Look for a test result measuring embedded fibres on carpets for the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir uses this criterion to assess how well a robot picks up pet hair, human hair and other fibres. Also check results for the other floor coverings in your home. A stated suction power rating or a claim that the robot is suitable for homes with pets isn’t enough to establish how well it performs.
Yes. Check the applicable repairability index for the model you’re considering and whether its maintenance parts are available. The French Ministry of the Economy lists vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by the repairability index in France. Compare the exact model rather than relying on information about another version in the range.