Floor Cleaning Robots

Buying advice

Walk the site before you shortlist a scrubber

Take a floor plan and walk the route a robotic scrubber would follow, noting lifts, door thresholds, ramps and loading bays. IEC 63327:2021, the safety standard for the driverless mode of commercial floor machines, does not cover machines intended for slopes steeper than 20%, so measure any ramp you expect it to climb and raise it with the maker. Mark where staff can fill clean water, drain the recovery tank and park the machine to charge. Plan for the wet floor too: HSE's guidance on slips in cleaning says people often slip on floors left wet after cleaning, and it prefers barriers or closed doors to warning signs alone.

Documents to request from commercial robot makers

For commercial machines such as the Pudu SH1 Scrubber or the Gausium Phantas 2, ask for test reports or certificates against IEC 60335-2-72:2021, which covers the scrubber as a machine, and IEC 63327:2021, which covers its driverless operation. Ask who issued them, because a report from an independent test house carries more weight than a maker's own declaration. If you are a contract cleaner running robots in client buildings, agree in writing who owns the risk assessment, the insurance and incident reporting at each site. Ask, too, for the maker's own risk assessment and a demonstration of what the robot does when someone steps into its path.

Costs that follow a scrubber after delivery

Looking at the listings in October 2026, a buyer could spend as little as about $250 on the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac or as much as about $45,000 on the Gausium Scrubber 75, and none needed a quote. For the commercial units, budget for brushes, pads and squeegee blades, spare batteries, a service contract with response times written in, and any fleet software the maker bills annually. Commissioning matters as well: someone has to map each floor, set routes and train the staff who will start runs and clear stoppages. That staff time stays on your books after the robot arrives, so record it during a trial and compare it with the hours the machine actually saves.

What to look for

• Vacuum only, or vacuum and mop, and whether the dock empties and washes itself
• Navigation and mapping: how it plans rooms, handles rugs and avoids obstacles
• For commercial floors: area per charge, tank capacity and route scheduling

Common questions

What is the difference between a robot vacuum and a robotic scrubber?

A robot vacuum lifts dust and debris, and many also mop. A robotic scrubber washes hard floors, typically with brushes, a cleaning solution and a squeegee, and is usually built for larger commercial spaces.

Do I need a self-emptying dock?

Not always, but it means fewer trips to the bin, and many docks also wash the mop pads. Weigh the dock against the space it takes up and the difference in price.

Sources and further reading

• IEC 60335-2-72:2021 Floor treatment machines for commercial use — International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
  Safety standard for ride-on and walk-behind commercial scrubbers and sweepers, the base for their robotic versions.
• IEC 63327:2021 Automatic floor treatment machines for commercial use — International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
  Safety requirements for the driverless mode of commercial scrubbers, sweepers and polishers that work near the public.
• Slips and trips in cleaning — Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
  Guidance for cleaning employers on floors left wet after cleaning, keeping people off them and trailing cables.