My Family's Review of the Dreame L40s Ultra CE Robot Vacuum

I’ve heard a rumour that multitasking is either not great for your brain or a myth altogether. It’s an idea I choose to ignore. Getting multiple things done at once makes my heart and brain happy.

So, when Dreame offered to send me the new L40s Ultra CE vacuum and mop to test, I jumped at the opportunity. Having a device clean my floors while I work, tidy the house or just read a book seemed like a kind of multitasking that even the naysayers could get behind.

Also, I had heard about Dreame robot vacuums before. A coworker told me about his combination vacuum and mop that identifies objects left on the floor and hops over obstacles with motorized legs. The X50 Ultra costs $2500, but according to my colleague, is well worth it. I understood that the L40s Ultra CE was a mid-range option that offered high-tech features and impressive cleaning at a more accessible price point, and I couldn't wait to try it.

We tested the Dreame L40s Ultra CE robot vacuum in our family of four and a cat. Here's my review.

Why a robot vacuum makes sense for busy parents

Once I got the hang of using the Dreamehome app, I set up a schedule for it to clean my first floor three times a week. We didn't vacuum that often before. We did a lot of sweeping of crumbs, but the vacuum came out maybe once a week.

So Dreame, as we lovingly call the vacuum now, took a bit of time off our hands, but most importantly, it's made our floors cleaner than ever. If you have a pet that spills their food or kids who spill everything, this vacuum will make your life easier. Simply set Dreame to clean their mess and move on with your day.

I can also see Dreame being ideal for parents of babies or toddlers who spend a lot of time touching the floor (and putting stuff in their mouths).

What is the Dreame L40s Ultra CE?

The Dreame L40s Ultra CE is a smart robot without a super scary price tag. It's expensive, but on par price-wise with some of the top models from Dyson. It's not the fanciest model Dreame offers (the $2500 one with little robot legs), but it's not at all basic.

Designed for families in small to mid-sized homes, the vacuum and mop combo sucks up dust, crumbs and pet hair then mops up after. It means you don't have to spend your weekend vacuuming—you can even set Dreame to clean when you're at work.

Here’s what it offers

• 13,000Pa Vormax suction: It easily picks up crumbs, cat hair, dust bunnies and whatever else ends up under the kitchen table.

• TriCut Brush: If you have long hair or a fluffy pet, this is a big perk. The brush cuts hair and pulls it into its dust box, so the brush never gets stuck. This is huge for me as I shed more hair than our cat.

• DuoScrub mopping system: Two spinning mop pads scrub the floor. You can set it to mop and vacuum the same area at the same time or have it vacuum the room, then go back and mop. It’s not going to deep-clean dried spaghetti sauce, but it does a good job keeping things fresh. It also cleans itself when it docks, so you don't have much dirty work to do.

• RoboSwing corner cleaning: Dreame swings its mop out at the corners so it doesn’t just skip over them.

• Smart carpet detection: It knows when it’s on carpet and lifts the mop so you’re not left with soggy rugs. It also adjusts suction levels according to the floor, making it feel smarter than the average vacuum.

• App-controlled cleaning paths: Once you get the hang of the Dreamehome app, you can set up zones, block off areas, and tell it exactly where to go.

Performance: Real-world cleaning in a family home

The Dreame L40s Ultra CE cleans hard floors and rugs seamlessly—and it gets into corners, too. It automatically identifies rugs and can even use a wheel to elevate itself high enough to climb onto a high-pile rug. It's pretty endearing, actually. The vacuum didn't love the tassels on the leather rug in our living room, but we were redecorating anyway, so that rug is in storage.

Dreame can climb small inclines up to 40 mm (1.57 inches), but we have a tiny step from our hall into our kitchen it couldn't overcome. So my husband built a tiny ramp. You can also buy ramps from hardware stores that will work. It may sound like a lot of work to go to, but seriously, having a robot vacuum is worth it.

I'm always pleased by how well it picks up all the stuff on our floors. It has strong enough suction power to clean everything from tortilla chip crumbs to hair stuck to thick-piled rugs. What it doesn't do well with is cords. If someone leaves a charging cord—or even a long shoelace out, Dreame will get caught on it.

The mop function works well. It might not get dry or sticky spills completely, but for everyday cleans, it's excellent. So far, we haven't used a cleaning detergent, just water.

Navigation, mapping and smart capabilities

Navigation and mapping

Many of the Dreame robot vacuums create maps of your home, which makes cleaning easier because you can choose which rooms and even small areas you want it to clean. Or you can set no-go zones and edit the map later to remove areas you don't want it to clean. Even with set maps, Dreame is pretty flexible. It will automatically go around obstacles, like chairs, toys and shoes.

If you have multiple floors, you simply carry the vacuum to that floor, choose the right map, and press start on the app. I babysat Dreame the first few times I had it clean our second floor because I worried it would fall down the stairs, but the vacuum has edge sensors to prevent this from happening.

The app

The app has a bit of a learning curve, but once you've used it a few times, it becomes second nature. The thing is that this vacuum has a lot of features, many of which are customizable. This means that there are many menus, but you'll be pleased it does when you decide to schedule it to only vacuum your hall but to vacuum and mop your dining room.

Noise levels

The Dreame L40s Ultra CE emits a low hum, much quieter than most traditional vacuums. It shares voice alerts when it get stuck on something or the cleaning is done, but the volume can be adjusted or turned off completely. When the vacuum docks and cleans itself, that can be loud, but the whooshing sound lasts only seconds. So just don't place the dock next to your baby's room.

Usability and maintenance for busy parents

One of the best things about the Dreame L40s Ultra CE is how easy it is to live with. Once it’s set up, you don’t need to do much. It tells you when it needs to be cleaned or when the dirty water needs to be emptied. Dreame promises that you won't have to touch the dust box for 100 days, but this might depend on the size of your home and how often you use the vacuum.

Here’s what you can expect in terms of usability and upkeep:

Set-up

• Plug in the base station and give it some space—at least 1.5 metres in front and 5 cm on each side.
• Download the Dreamehome app and scan the QR code on the robot to connect it to Wi-Fi.
• Fill the clean water tank (just don’t use hot water—it can warp the plastic).
• Pop on the mop pads and side brush, remove the shipping tape, and you're ready to go.

Daily use

• You can start a clean with the button on the robot or by using the app.
• There’s also a “spot clean” mode that tackles a small mess—useful when someone spills snack crumbs under the table.
• If the battery runs low mid-clean, it recharges and picks up where it left off (unless it's in Do Not Disturb mode).
• Voice and app alerts let you know what's happening.

Maintenance

The vacuum will let you know via app notification or voice alert what needs to be done. Here are some of the regular tasks:

• Empty the used water tank so it doesn’t start to smell.
• Wipe down the charging contacts and sensors with a dry cloth.
• Clean the mop pad washboard.

Every couple of weeks:

• Rinse and refill the clean water tank.
• Clean out the dust box filter and give the main brush a once-over (it detangles hair, but not magically).
• Check the washboard and auto-empty vents for clogs or gunk.

Every few months:

• Replace the dust bag (the app will help track this).
• Swap out the mop pads and side brush depending on wear.
• Inspect the TriCut brush—it’s great at minimizing hair wrap, but you’ll still want to check for buildup.

Pros and cons for parents

Pros

• It's a robot that cleans your floors for you
• The Dreame L40s Ultra CE mops and vacuums at once
• It mostly cleans itself; maintenance is minimal
• You can customize your cleaning schedule and maps so it cleans only the rooms and areas you want
• It's quiet

Cons

• The app has a learning curve
• Despite being a very smart device, it can get stuck on cords and needs your help to get unstuck
• You will need to install ramps or move the vacuum yourself, if there are small steps around your home

Is the Dreame L40s Ultra CE right for your family?

When I schedule a clean or carry the vacuum up the stairs and have it mop and vacuum my second floor, I feel like I’m achieving something, even if I’m just watching it do the work for me.

Depending on how often you already vacuum, this robot will save you time, but more importantly, it will make your house cleaner. While it can't do much about the toy clutter (there is LEGO in every room of my house), clean floors are a big win for families. You can more or less put your broom away completely.

And Dreame makes multiple models, so you can splurge for an even fancier one or start with a lower-end option.

Ready to shop? Use these promo codes to save.

• Dreame L40s Ultra: $899.99 (55% off) using discount code ‘L40SULTRA’, valid through August 17 on Amazon.ca
• Dreame L40 Ultra CE: $649.99 (50% off) using discount code ‘L40SULTRACE’, valid through August 17 on Amazon.ca
• Dreame L40 Ultra AE: $799.99 (50% off) using discount code ‘L40SULTRAAE’, valid through August 17 on Amazon.ca