A robot vacuum cleaner is well suited to regular floor maintenance if you can clear its path, make room for its docking station and maintain its brushes and consumables. For carpets, obstacles or hard floors that need mopping, choose based on the performance and features of the specific model. Keep a manual vacuum for areas it can’t reach and for deep cleaning.
A robot takes care of regular floor cleaning, but how useful it is depends on the space it can move around and which tasks you’d prefer to keep doing by hand.
If your floors are fairly clear, you can schedule cleaning runs between your regular manual cleaning sessions. Set aside a permanent spot for the docking station and check that the navigation system suits the number of rooms in your home.
Pet hair, crumbs and different floor coverings make performance on your own surfaces a key consideration. UFC-Que Choisir assesses vacuuming on carpets, tiles and wooden floors, among other surfaces. Look for results for the model you’re considering, then check its brushes and compatible accessories.
A damp cleaning run can help with light maintenance on compatible floors. However, you’ll need to clean the mop pads, manage the water and, depending on the model, maintain the station. UFC-Que Choisir points out that robot mops don’t always remove the need for manual mopping.
Start with the task that matters most to you, then check whether the robot can handle it in your home without adding the extra steps you were hoping to avoid.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Unattended cleaning runs | Navigation suited to your rooms, no-go areas and access to a docking station that can stay in place. | If I want to schedule regular cleaning runs without keeping an eye on the robot, it needs to move around and find its way back to its base. Around 25% of consumers rank this level of autonomy as their top priority. |
| Carpets, pets and obstacles | Performance on your floor coverings, brush type and how the specific model handles obstacles. | With pet hair, carpets or items on the floor, I want to know what the robot will pick up and what I’ll need to clear away before each run. Around 31% of consumers put performance on these surfaces and handling obstacles ahead of other criteria. |
| Mopping hard floors | Water settings, carpet protection and maintenance of the mopping components. | On hard floors, I mainly want to cut down on manual cleaning for light dirt, not expect stubborn stains to disappear without any effort. This everyday mopping need is a priority for around 19% of consumers. |
| Long-term maintenance | App compatibility and the availability of filters, brushes and other parts for the exact model. | If I plan to use the robot for a long time, I want to be able to maintain its functions and replace worn parts. Around 25% of consumers prioritise durability and having control over the appliance. |
An auto-empty station mainly saves you from having to empty the dustbin after frequent cleaning runs. It also takes up space and doesn’t eliminate the need to clean the robot. If your main need is to tackle stairs, furniture or a specific area straight away, a cordless stick vacuum is still a handy manual option. If you want to direct a deep clean yourself, especially on difficult surfaces, keep or consider a canister vacuum cleaner.
UFC-Que Choisir reports that robot mops vary in effectiveness. A damp maintenance run won’t necessarily remove stubborn stains.
Choose this feature for compatible hard floors, check how it handles carpets and keep a manual method for deep cleaning.
Mop pads and station components need regular cleaning. The system may also require mopping consumables.
A suction figure alone doesn’t tell you how well a robot will pick up dirt from carpets, wooden floors or tiles, or how it will clean along walls. UFC-Que Choisir tests these surfaces separately.
Look for tests on the floor coverings you have most of, and check the robot’s height if you want it to clean under your furniture.
An auto-empty or washing station cuts down on some tasks, but it needs to be accessible and won’t remove the need to maintain the brushes, filters or mopping components.
Measure the space where you plan to put it and check which accessories are compatible with your chosen model.
Depending on the system, you may need to replace bags or filters, empty a tank or clean the station.
Mapping and some settings may depend on an app, an account or your home network. The CNIL also points out that mobile apps can access personal data.
Before choosing, check the requirements for the specific model, which features are available without a connection, its privacy information and compatible parts.
These ranges offer a starting point for comparing features and maintenance. Always check the specifications of the model you’re interested in.
The X-Plorer range includes connected robot vacuum and mop models. It may be worth considering if you want to compare navigation settings and the parts available for each model.
The Roomba and Roomba Combo ranges offer different navigation, mopping and docking station features, depending on the model.
The DEEBOT range includes models that combine vacuuming, mopping and docking stations in different configurations, with accessories organised by model family.
These Joybuy models combine vacuuming and mopping, with a station designed to take care of certain tasks after a cleaning run. Compare their advertised features with your floor coverings, available space and the maintenance you’re happy to do.
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Worth considering if you want to combine vacuuming and damp cleaning as part of your floor-care routine. The product title states that it offers 16 600 Pa suction, an OZMO Roller system, an Omni station and hot-water washing of the mopping components. This suction figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it will perform on your carpets or hard floors. Also check its connectivity requirements and compatible consumables.
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Worth considering for regular hard-floor cleaning if you’re looking for a mopping function and a station. The product title states that it offers 25 000 Pa suction, OZMO Turbo 2.0 mopping and an Omni station that washes the mopping components at 75 °C. Check how well it mops your surfaces, how it handles carpets and what’s required to use the app.
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Worth considering if you want to combine vacuuming and mopping and care about maintaining the brushes and wet-cleaning components. The product title states that it offers 16 200 Pa suction, anti-tangle technology, brush lifting and hot-water cleaning at 75 °C. These advertised features don’t guarantee a particular result on pet hair or carpets. Look for tests relevant to your home and check which consumables are compatible.
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Worth considering if you want a robot vacuum and mop with laser navigation and a station. The product title states that it offers 8 150 Pa suction, an anti-tangle side brush and hot-air drying. You’ll still need to maintain the brushes and station, so check how well it performs on your floor coverings and what’s required to use the app.
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Worth considering if you want to bring vacuuming, mopping and a docking station together in one appliance. The product title states that it offers 12 000 Pa suction, FlexiArm mop pads, an anti-tangle system and hot-air drying. Before choosing, check how it handles your carpets, which navigation features you need and which parts are compatible with this model.
Not with every model. iRobot, for example, says the Roomba 976 can work without the iRobot Home app. If you want to schedule cleaning runs or use a map, check which features on your chosen model require an app, an account or a Wi-Fi connection, and whether it’s compatible with your phone.
Clear the robot’s path, open access to the rooms you want it to map and place the station where it will stay. For compatible DEEBOT models, ECOVACS recommends not moving the robot during mapping and letting it return to the station to save the map. Follow the instructions for your model.
Not always. UFC-Que Choisir notes that robot mops have limitations when it comes to cleaning performance. Use damp cleaning for everyday care of compatible hard floors, and keep a manual method for stubborn stains or deep cleaning.
Depending on the model, you may need to clean or replace filters, brushes, station bags and mop pads. Rowenta, iRobot and ECOVACS offer accessory catalogues. Before buying, check which parts are compatible with both the robot and its station.