Before you buy a floor cleaner
PickWisely is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
A room-by-room checklist for choosing a robot or wet-dry cleaner.
Start with the surfaces
List your hard floors, rugs, stairs and upholstery separately. One appliance may not cover them all. Check the flooring maker’s cleaning instructions before choosing a machine that applies water.
Make a map, not a wish list
Measure thresholds, low furniture and the intended storage location. For a robot, include the approach to the dock and the clearance needed to service it. For a wet-dry cleaner, think about carrying it between floors and where you will empty the tank.
Choose the routine you will keep
Scheduled cleaning is useful only if rooms are accessible. Hands-on cleaning is useful only if the appliance is easy enough to get out and put away. Ask which task you actually want to reduce: repeated light maintenance or immediate cleanup after meals.
Check the ongoing work
Look up compatible replacement filters, rollers and pads. Read the cleaning schedule in the exact manual. A self-cleaning or automated dock feature does not mean maintenance-free ownership.
Your final shortlist
Compare two products against the same room and the same task. Check the full model name, seller, return policy and included accessories. Avoid deciding from a suction figure alone: it is not a complete measure of pickup performance.
Explore the products
Sources & further reading
This guide builds on our product research and the manufacturer information below. Check the current model documentation before purchasing.