Robot vacuums and mops

Match the home

Measure clearances beneath furniture and note thresholds, rugs, stairs and pet bowls. Decide if room mapping, no-go zones, multi-floor maps or a self-emptying dock will materially help. An old remote-controlled vacuum can still be useful, but it should not be assigned the mapping or app features of a newer model.

Mopping and docks

Check carpet detection, mop lifting or removal, floor-cleaning instructions and whether the dock needs water refills, a drain or plumbing. “Mop” can mean a damp cloth rather than active scrubbing. Allocate space for opening the dock and removing bins. Disposable bags, cleaning fluid and consumable parts affect the real annual cost.

Keep the model names straight

eufy 11S and 11S MAX are distinct; Roborock S5 is not S5 Max. Roomba i7 and i7+ packages do not necessarily contain the same dock. Original suction, runtime, HEPA and warranty statements are archived where exact documentation was not established. We have not conducted a new comparative cleaning test.

Test and maintain

Start with a supervised cleaning run. Remove cables and small objects, inspect wheels and brushes, and follow the manual’s maintenance interval. Confirm you can get the correct battery, filter and brush set. Test whether your chosen schedules and maps remain available during an internet outage; do not assume voice control means local control.

Sources and scope

• Eufy — official documentation
• Roborock — official documentation
• Roomba — official documentation

Reviewed against documentation on October 3, 2026. No new hands-on testing.