What's the difference between Dreame and Roborock?

Both make excellent robots. Dreame often has better price-performance and better Valetudo support. Roborock has slightly better app and more established brand. In 2025, Dreame L50 Ultra is a better buy than equivalent Roborock.

Is Valetudo worth it?

Yes, if you want local control and privacy. You don't lose functionality, and you get faster response + MQTT integration. However, it requires some technical skill to install.

Can robot vacuums handle pet hair?

Yes! Modern models with anti-tangle brushes (Dreame HyperStream, Roborock DuoDivide) handle long hair and pet hair without getting tangled.

How often should the robot run?

Most run daily on standard suction. With pets or kids, 2x daily may be needed. Weekly deep cleaning on max is recommended.

Does the mop work well?

Modern rotating mops (2024-2025 models) are surprisingly good. They don't replace thorough manual mopping, but keep floors nice daily. Spinning pads are better than vibrating pads.

Should I buy a self-emptying dock?

Absolutely! Auto-empty + mop wash + drying reduces maintenance to almost nothing. It's worth paying extra for.

Smart Cleaning

Cleaning Automation Smart Home

Robot vacuums keep your home clean automatically every day. Modern models combine vacuuming and mopping, empty themselves, and can be controlled from Home Assistant based on when you leave home.

🎯 Types of Robot Vacuums

Overview 2025

Type	Description	Maintenance	Price
Vacuum only	Simple vacuuming	Empty bin	💰
Vacuum + mop	Combined cleaning	Change water	💰💰
Combo + auto-dock	Self-empty + mop wash	Minimal	💰💰💰
Premium all-in-one	Everything automatic	Almost none	💰💰💰💰

What Should You Choose?

graph TD
    A[Do you have hard floors?] -->|Mostly| B[Combo w/ mop]
    A -->|Mostly carpet| C[Vacuum only]
    B -->|Budget| D[Dreame L10s Ultra]
    B -->|Premium| E[Dreame L50/X50 Ultra]
    C -->|Budget| F[Roborock Q5 Max+]
    C -->|Premium| G[Roborock Saros 10R]

🏆 Top Robot Vacuums 2025

Dreame L50 Ultra - Best Value

Price: ~$1,100

Dreame L50 Ultra is best buy of the year:

✅ 19,500 Pa suction power
✅ ProLeap™ system (climbs 2.4” thresholds!)
✅ Self-cleaning mops with hot-air drying
✅ HyperStream anti-tangle brush
✅ AI obstacle avoidance (200+ objects)
✅ Extendable side brush + mop
✅ 3.2L dust bag (100 days)

Disadvantages:

❌ Large dock
❌ Cloud-dependent (without Valetudo)

Spec	Value
Suction	19,500 Pa
Battery	6,400 mAh
Noise	~67 dB
Mop	Rotating dual-pads

Dreame Integration

Via Dreame integration (HACS):

# HACS → Integrations → Dreame Vacuum
# Requires Dreame/Xiaomi account

# Entities:
# - vacuum.dreame_l50_ultra
# - sensor.dreame_l50_ultra_battery
# - sensor.dreame_l50_ultra_cleaning_time
# - button.dreame_l50_ultra_start_pause

# Example: Start when leaving
automation:
  - alias: "Start vacuum when everyone leaves"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: group.all_people
        to: "not_home"
        for: "00:05:00"
    condition:
      - condition: time
        after: "08:00:00"
        before: "20:00:00"
      - condition: state
        entity_id: vacuum.dreame_l50_ultra
        state: "docked"
    action:
      - service: vacuum.start
        entity_id: vacuum.dreame_l50_ultra

Local Control with Valetudo

Dreame L-series supports Valetudo for 100% local control:

Supported models:

Dreame L10s Ultra ✅
Dreame L10s Pro Ultra Heat ✅
Dreame X40 Ultra ✅
Dreame L50 Ultra ✅ (newest)

Root requires:

3.3V USB UART adapter
Dreame Breakout PCB
Minimal disassembly

# After Valetudo installation
# Connect via MQTT to Home Assistant

mqtt:
  broker: 192.168.1.x

# Entities autodiscover:
# - vacuum.valetudo_dreame
# - sensor.valetudo_dreame_battery
# - camera.valetudo_dreame_map

Benefits of Valetudo:

✅ No cloud - 100% local
✅ No account required
✅ No data sharing
✅ Faster response
✅ MQTT integration

Buy: Amazon, Dreame.com

Price: ~$1,200-1,500

Roborock’s 2025 flagships:

Feature	Qrevo CurvX	Saros Z70
Suction	18,500 Pa	22,000 Pa
Mop	Rotating	Rotating
Robot arm	No	✅ OmniGrip
Threshold	0.8”	1.6”
Price	~$1,200	~$1,500

Saros Z70 special:

🦾 OmniGrip robot arm (picks up shoes, socks!)
Climbs 1.6” thresholds
Lifts body on carpets

Disadvantages:

❌ Valetudo support is limited
❌ Cloud-dependent
❌ Expensive

Native Roborock Integration

Home Assistant has official Roborock integration:

# Settings → Devices → Roborock
# Login with Roborock account

# Entities:
# - vacuum.roborock_s8_maxv
# - sensor.roborock_s8_maxv_battery
# - sensor.roborock_s8_maxv_last_clean_area
# - number.roborock_s8_maxv_mop_intensity
# - select.roborock_s8_maxv_mop_mode

# Example: Room-specific cleaning
automation:
  - alias: "Clean kitchen after cooking"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.stove_active
        from: "on"
        to: "off"
        for: "00:10:00"
    action:
      - service: vacuum.send_command
        entity_id: vacuum.roborock_qrevo
        data:
          command: app_segment_clean
          params:
            - segments: [16]  # Kitchen segment ID
              repeat: 1

Buy: Roborock.com, Amazon

Ecovacs Deebot X11 - Best Suction

Price: ~$1,250

Ecovacs X11 has market’s strongest suction:

✅ 22,000 Pa suction (OmniCyclone)
✅ Dual-camera navigation
✅ OZMO Turbo 2.0 mopping
✅ Auto-empty + mop wash + drying
✅ TrueEdge edge mopping

Disadvantages:

❌ No Valetudo support
❌ Ecovacs app can be buggy

Home Assistant

# HACS → Integrations → Ecovacs
# Requires Ecovacs account

# Entities:
# - vacuum.deebot_x11
# - sensor.deebot_x11_battery

automation:
  - alias: "Notification when vacuum is done"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: vacuum.deebot_x11
        from: "cleaning"
        to: "returning"
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "Cleaning done"
          message: "Deebot is returning to dock"

Buy: Ecovacs.com, Best Buy

💰 Budget Choices

Roborock Q5 Max+ - Vacuum Only

Price: ~$350

Perfect for carpet-dominated homes:

✅ 5,500 Pa suction
✅ LiDAR navigation
✅ Auto-empty dock
✅ 180 min battery
✅ Native HA integration

Dreame L10s Ultra - Best Budget Combo

Price: ~$550

Still excellent in 2025:

✅ 5,300 Pa suction
✅ Mop wash + hot-air drying
✅ LiDAR + AI navigation
✅ Valetudo support! ✅

🔧 Valetudo - Local Control

What is Valetudo?

Valetudo is cloud replacement for robot vacuums:

Benefit	Description
100% Local	No data to cloud
No account	No login required
MQTT	Perfect HA integration
Fast	No cloud latency
Privacy	Camera/mic data stays local

Supported Brands

Brand	Support	Root Difficulty
Dreame	✅ Good	Easy (UART)
Roborock	⚠️ Older models	Harder
Xiaomi/Viomi	✅ Good	Varies
Ecovacs	❌ No	N/A

Installation Overview

# 1. Check if your model is supported
# https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/supported-robots.html

# 2. Order hardware
# - 3.3V USB UART adapter (~$7)
# - Dreame Breakout PCB (~$15)

# 3. Use Dustbuilder for firmware
# https://builder.dontvacuum.me/

# 4. Flash via UART
# (follow guide on valetudo.cloud)

# 5. Configure MQTT in Valetudo
# → Home Assistant autodiscovery

Home Assistant with Valetudo

# Valetudo uses MQTT autodiscovery
# No manual configuration needed!

# Entities:
# - vacuum.valetudo_[robot_name]
# - camera.valetudo_[robot_name]_map
# - sensor.valetudo_[robot_name]_battery
# - button.valetudo_[robot_name]_locate

# Lovelace card for map display
# HACS → Frontend → Xiaomi Vacuum Map Card

🏠 Smart Automations

Start When Leaving

automation:
  - alias: "Vacuum - Start when everyone leaves"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: group.all_people
        to: "not_home"
        for: "00:05:00"
    condition:
      - condition: time
        after: "08:00:00"
        before: "20:00:00"
      - condition: state
        entity_id: vacuum.robot
        state: "docked"
      - condition: template
        value_template: >
          {{ now().weekday() < 5 }}  # Weekdays only
    action:
      - service: vacuum.start
        entity_id: vacuum.robot

Stop When Arriving

automation:
  - alias: "Vacuum - Stop when someone comes home"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: group.all_people
        to: "home"
    condition:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: vacuum.robot
        state: "cleaning"
    action:
      - service: vacuum.return_to_base
        entity_id: vacuum.robot
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "Vacuum stopped"
          message: "Robot returning to dock since you came home"

Kitchen After Cooking

automation:
  - alias: "Clean kitchen after cooking"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.stove_energy
        to: "idle"
        for: "00:15:00"
    condition:
      - condition: template
        value_template: >
          {{ states('sensor.stove_energy_today') | float > 0.5 }}
    action:
      - service: vacuum.send_command
        entity_id: vacuum.dreame
        data:
          command: app_segment_clean
          params:
            segments: [kitchen]

Weekly Deep Clean

automation:
  - alias: "Weekly deep cleaning"
    trigger:
      - platform: time
        at: "10:00:00"
    condition:
      - condition: time
        weekday:
          - sat
      - condition: state
        entity_id: group.all_people
        state: "not_home"
    action:
      - service: vacuum.set_fan_speed
        entity_id: vacuum.robot
        data:
          fan_speed: "max"
      - service: vacuum.start
        entity_id: vacuum.robot

Maintenance Reminder

automation:
  - alias: "Remind about filter cleaning"
    trigger:
      - platform: template
        value_template: >
          {{ states('sensor.vacuum_total_cleaning_time') | float > 50 }}
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          title: "🧹 Maintenance"
          message: "Time to clean vacuum filter (50+ hours)"
      - service: counter.reset
        entity_id: counter.vacuum_cleaning_hours

🛒 Buying Strategy

Budget - Vacuum only (~$350)

1x Roborock Q5 Max+ ($350)
Total: ~$350

Starter Combo (~$550)

1x Dreame L10s Ultra ($550)
Valetudo option ✅
Total: ~$550

Premium All-in-one (~$1,100)

1x Dreame L50 Ultra ($1,100)
Valetudo option ✅
Total: ~$1,100

Ultimate (~$1,500)

1x Roborock Saros Z70 ($1,500)
OmniGrip robot arm
Total: ~$1,500

🛒 Where to Buy?

Official Retailers

Dreame.com - Dreame official
Roborock.com - Roborock official
Ecovacs.com - Ecovacs official

US Retailers

Amazon - All brands
Best Buy - All brands
Walmart - Good prices

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Ofte stillede spørgsmål

What's the difference between Dreame and Roborock?: Both make excellent robots. Dreame often has better price-performance and better Valetudo support. Roborock has slightly better app and more established brand. In 2025, Dreame L50 Ultra is a better buy than equivalent Roborock.
Is Valetudo worth it?: Yes, if you want local control and privacy. You don't lose functionality, and you get faster response + MQTT integration. However, it requires some technical skill to install.
Can robot vacuums handle pet hair?: Yes! Modern models with anti-tangle brushes (Dreame HyperStream, Roborock DuoDivide) handle long hair and pet hair without getting tangled.
How often should the robot run?: Most run daily on standard suction. With pets or kids, 2x daily may be needed. Weekly deep cleaning on max is recommended.
Does the mop work well?: Modern rotating mops (2024-2025 models) are surprisingly good. They don't replace thorough manual mopping, but keep floors nice daily. Spinning pads are better than vibrating pads.
Should I buy a self-emptying dock?: Absolutely! Auto-empty + mop wash + drying reduces maintenance to almost nothing. It's worth paying extra for.

📚 Next Steps

Smart Lighting

Turn on lights when robot runs.

See guide →

Presence Detection

Automate based on who’s home.

See guide →

Last updated: December 2025

Smart Cleaning

🎯 Types of Robot Vacuums

Overview 2025

What Should You Choose?

🏆 Top Robot Vacuums 2025

Dreame L50 Ultra - Best Value

Dreame Integration

Local Control with Valetudo

Roborock Qrevo CurvX / Saros Z70

Native Roborock Integration

Ecovacs Deebot X11 - Best Suction

Home Assistant

💰 Budget Choices

Roborock Q5 Max+ - Vacuum Only

Dreame L10s Ultra - Best Budget Combo

🔧 Valetudo - Local Control

What is Valetudo?

Supported Brands

Installation Overview

Home Assistant with Valetudo

🏠 Smart Automations

Start When Leaving

Stop When Arriving

Kitchen After Cooking

Weekly Deep Clean

Maintenance Reminder

🛒 Buying Strategy

Budget - Vacuum only (~$350)

Starter Combo (~$550)

Premium All-in-one (~$1,100)

Ultimate (~$1,500)

🛒 Where to Buy?

Official Retailers

US Retailers

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Ofte stillede spørgsmål

📚 Next Steps

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