I tested a robot vacuum and mop that offers hands-free cleaning for up to seven weeks — I didn’t have to lift a finger

As Ideal Home's Vacuum Expert, it's literally my job to test the best floorcare appliances out there - including the best robot vacuum cleaners. And while I've tested countless options from home appliance brands that offer everything from vacuums to steam cleaners and mops, the latest addition to my roster comes from a brand that's known for its vacuums... and vacuums alone.

Yes, Roborock is a company primarily known for its robotic vacuum technology, and it's built its brand around convenient, hands-free cleaning. That's why I wanted to take the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop for a spin and see whether it has what it takes to compete with others on the market.

In a nutshell

Roborock is a company built around robot vacuum cleaners - not just a home appliance brand that happens to make robot vacuums as a nice added extra. This was apparent while testing the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop, as it’s clear to see that this particular model was made with people who love robot vacuum cleaners in mind. It’s customisable, powerful, effective, and a sleek addition to the home.

During testing, it thrived best on my hard flooring and excelled during the debris assessment. And while it wasn’t as powerful or effective on carpets and rugs (particularly with pet hair), it was still plenty powerful enough for an everyday clean. With its rotating mop pads, I was also confident that every inch of my floor was being cleaned in both a dry and wet capacity.

What I loved most about this particular model, though, was that there were no gimmicks, and I barely had to get involved in the maintenance side of things. Sure, the app is a little buggy and could be confusing due to the amount of options available, but this customisation is all in aid of the best clean possible.

The only real issue I encountered during testing was the obstacle avoidance. It’s not the worst I’ve come across throughout my career, but it’s also not the best. However, I will give it kudos for learning on the job and for the large docking station that requires almost no hands-on interference. The bonus? It also comes in a white colourway if you’re that way inclined.

Specifications

• Max. run time: 180 mins
• Suction power: 10,000Pa
• Bin volume: 2L dust bag, 80ml water tanks
• Auto-empty: Yes
• Mop function: Yes
• Noise levels: 64dB in Balanced Mode, 55dB in Mop Only Mode
• Dimensions: 35L x 48.7W x 52.1H centimetres
• Weight: 15.9kg
• Suitable for: hardwood floors, tiles, and carpets
• RRP: £699.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Roborock QV 35S arrived on my doorstep in a very hefty, heavy box. In fact, the gross weight of both the robot vacuum and mop, as well as the packaging, came in at just over 16kg. And while it did have some nice carry handles on the side, it was still a struggle for me to carry it over the threshold. So, this is something to consider if you have limited mobility.

Nevertheless, everything was nicely packaged and there was very minimal packaging - just some recyclable cardboard shells and some plastic encasing the smaller components. Sadly, I couldn’t recycle this plastic (it depends on your local authority), but there wasn’t too much to contend with.

When everything was unwrapped, assembly didn’t take long at all. All I had to do was click the docking station ramp into place, plug it in, connect the power cord, loop the excess around the very nice storage slot, attach the magnetic mop pads, fill the clean water tank, and turn it on.

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Then, I downloaded the app to connect the robot vacuum to my WIFI. Within just 30 seconds, it was set up, and it could start mapping the downstairs of my house. I left the Roborock to its own devices during this stage, and after about five minutes, my entire downstairs floor was mapped out. I repeated this process upstairs, so I had two maps handy. But it’s worth noting that you can save and store up to four maps if you have extra floors or a house with multi-level flooring.

I must admit that the size of this robot vacuum and mop did take me a little by surprise. While I appreciate that it has a large 2L dust capacity and clean and dirty water tanks to contend with, the docking station is huge. And as someone with a small house with limited corners for a docking station storage, I did find that it overwhelmed my dining room with its size.

However, the overall build quality felt solid, and the overall design is nice. Unlike other robot vacuums and mops, this one is taller and thinner rather than shorter and wider - and while this doesn’t really fit my home, I can see it working in others. Especially if you have a smaller space behind sofas or next to furniture for it to live.

Ease of use

I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the app while testing the Roborock QV35 S in my home. On the one hand, the wide range of customisation options - from the cleaning pattern (either going with the grain of your hard flooring or against it) to the washing modes and even the scheduling options - made it easy to clean in a way that suited my home and my needs.

Switching between maps also meant that I could deep clean every floor in my home without needing to re-map anything, and I could ensure that the cleaning patterns stayed consistent every time I turned it on. However, I could also see how some people would find the app a little confusing.

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I have tested robot vacuum apps that are significantly more user-friendly in the past - especially for those new to robot vacuums and robot vacuum mops. Sometimes, it seemed as though there were too many options, which makes me think that this particular model suits someone who is already au fait with robot vacuums and knows exactly what they want from this handy appliance.

Another thing I did find was that the app was quite buggy during testing. Sometimes, it would completely disconnect from the robot vacuum, claiming an internet error (something I haven’t experienced with any other robot vacuum) before reconnecting itself five minutes later. It would also sometimes freeze on the home screen, and seemed to want to update itself all the time.

However, I will say that - for the sake of testing - I did push the app to its limits. But if you’re someone who intends to rely on pre-planned schedules, a buggy, slightly confusing app shouldn’t be too much of an issue. You’ll simply need to programme your dates and timings before letting it get on with what it needs to do.

Performance

During testing, I was overall impressed with the cleaning power of the Roborock QV35 S robot vacuum and mop. With 10,000Pa of suction power, it’s significantly more powerful than the average robot vacuum (although admittedly not the most powerful on the market), and it was clear to see that my floors looked visibly cleaner after a robo-vacuuming session.

I also found that the rotating mop pads offered a deeper clean than other models without this feature, and the mops lifted up off the floor when vacuuming carpets to prevent them from getting wet. However, I would have liked it if the cleaning solution, which is something you can buy for £19.99 at Amazon, were included as standard with the appliance, as I always prefer to use a manufacturer-approved cleaning solution with any appliance to ensure I maintain its warranty.

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Nevertheless, the robot vacuum and mop offered an effective and consistent clean during each use, and I also found that it made its way around larger pieces of furniture and chair legs with relative ease, and there wasn’t a single time when I had to ‘rescue’ the appliance because it had gotten itself stuck.

However, because we take how we test products at Ideal Home extremely seriously, I also wanted to put the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop through its paces. The first step was the obstacle test, which assesses the robot vacuum’s ability to both detect and react to obstacles in its way.

Despite claiming to have ‘Reactive Tech Obstacle Avoidance,’ I was initially disappointed when I placed a dumbbell in the robot vacuum’s way and watched it bump into it slightly. As you can see from the video, it didn’t seem to detect the dumbbell at all. And while all robot vacuums come with a bumper bar for this specific purpose, I was hoping it would avoid it before it hit it.

However, it seemed that this initial bump was enough for the smart appliance to remember where the obstacle was and then avoid it throughout the rest of the cleaning session. So, while it could be improved in terms of obstacle avoidance, it did seem to learn where the obstacles were over time - and I have definitely seen worse.

Plus, you can change the reactive avoidance settings in the app and increase its sensitivity if you find that it’s bumping into things more than you’d like.

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The second test focused on debris pickup, including both wet and dry removal, so I scattered rice, flour, crushed cereal, my dog’s hair, and some tomato ketchup on my hard flooring. And while many robot vacuums have struggled with the different sizes and textures of this debris, I found that the Roborock QV 35S tackled most of them with ease. The only thing it really struggled with was the crushed cereal, as the pieces seemed a bit big to pick up on the first pass.

Even the rice, which is notorious for simply being pushed around the floor, didn’t stand a chance with this particular model. And due to its efficient cleaning routine, where it zig-zags across the floor, the whole area was debris-free within a couple of minutes.

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I then repeated the same process on my carpet (minus the tomato ketchup), and found that the results weren’t as impressive - mainly because the hard flooring test had garnered such impressive results. No, the carpet cleaning ability wasn’t bad, but the Roborock QV 35S definitely didn’t offer the same oompf as it did on hard flooring, and it particularly struggled with my dog’s hair. So, bear this in mind if you have a lot of carpets and rugs in your home.

It’s worth noting, though, that this model does come with a ‘pet area deep cleaning’ mode on the app, which boosts the suction power around pet supplies for deep cleaning. I tried this on the rug around my dog’s bed, and I did find that it performed significantly better. Perhaps not as impressive as the best vacuums for pet hair, but still enough for an effective clean.

Cleaning and maintenance

One of the best things about auto-empty, auto-refilling robot vacuum cleaners and mops like the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop is that they require very little maintenance. In fact, I barely had to touch it during testing, as it automatically empties the dust into the 2L dust bag after every use, automatically refills the clean water, and automatically empties the waste water from cleaning the mop.

In terms of mop cleaning, you can change the frequency of this in the app, depending on whether you want the mop to be washed every 15 minutes during cleaning or whether you just want to wash after every cleaning session (this is the option I tend to choose). Then, it’ll automatically dry the mop using a cold air drying process, which takes six hours to complete.

However, you can also change the setting for this and opt for an increased drying time of either eight or ten hours. This is a little long, but it wasn’t a problem for me.

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When returned to the dock, the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop also automatically charges itself, with Roborock claiming that this new model charges 30% faster than previous models. It also has a handy feature where it charges during off-peak times to help you save on your energy bills. And during testing, I never had any issues with the run time or the charging. In fact, I generally had about 40% battery life left after cleaning my whole house.

Of course, like any other robot vacuum cleaner and mop, there’s going to be a time when you’re going to need to replace the dust bag, filter, brush, mop pads, etc. You can check the remaining lifespan of these items in the app, and then buy them from the Roborock store. One thing I will say, however, is that stock is pretty flaky and at the time of writing, the dust bags are completely out of stock.

This shouldn’t be an issue for me for a while, as Roborock says that each bag should offer space for up to seven weeks’ worth of debris, but this is both an extra cost and a factor to consider when buying a robot vacuum cleaner like this one.

How does it rate online?

On the Roborock website, the Roborock QV35 S has received just 19 reviews, with an average star rating of 4.68 out of 5. There are a lot more on Amazon, with almost 2,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 5.

Customers praise how effectively it cleans their home, and the fact that it can be programmed to suit their schedules without them having to lift a finger. They also appreciate the minimal maintenance required.

However, some people do question how well it fares with pet hair, and many find that the obstacle avoidance can be a bit iffy in certain areas of the home. Generally, though, the consensus of the Roborock QV35 S robot vacuum is a positive one.

How does it compare to similar models?

The Roborock QV35 S robot vacuum is one of many robot vacuums that I’ve had the pleasure of testing in my home, and it’s certainly one of the best. It’s definitely a step up from the Hoover HG2 robot vacuum and mop, which is a great entry-level model at just £269, but doesn’t offer the docking station or the power of the Roborock.

I also think it’s on par with the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch, but for different reasons. The Shark is by far the easier model to use in terms of the app and the overall user-friendliness, but the Roborock offers a more impressive clean with a slightly compromised app, in my opinion.

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Yet, they are also the same price. Because of this, I think it’s important to understand what you really want from a robot vacuum and mop and your previous experience of owning one.

However, I will say that the Roborock QV35 S robot vacuum is a step down from the Eufy E25 Robot Vacuum and Mop, which I think toes the line of being both high-tech and easy to use. It even has 20,000Pa of suction power and a rotating roller mop, rather than the Roborock’s 10,000Pa and rotating mop pads. It is £200 more expensive, though. So, if you’re looking for a cheaper option, the Roborock may suit you better.

Verdict: Should you buy the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum With Mop?

I really enjoyed testing the Roborock QV 35S Robot Vacuum with Mop. From the overall design and aesthetic of the model to its cleaning power, I really do think it’ll be a welcome addition to anyone’s home. The suction power is above-average for robot vacuums, and the mopping ability is ideal for those with hard flooring in their property.

Due to the impressive range of customisation available, and the fact that the app isn’t as user-friendly as others on the market, I would say that this particular model would suit those who are already familiar with robot vacuums. I don’t think this is an entry-level robot vacuum, but it would instead be perfect for those who are on the lookout for a newer, more high-tech model to replace their old one.

I also think it will suit those who have a lot of hard flooring in their home, as this is where it performs best. It still offers an effective and efficient clean on rugs and carpets, but it really shines on hard flooring and deserves to show off what it offers - especially at this price point.