Winbot: A Window Cleaning Robot

Mom Central received a Winbot W710 in order to facilitate this review. The views expressed here are entirely our own.

Washing the windows is one of my least favorite action items when it comes to cleaning the house. Household cleaning products, however, increasingly become smarter and more sophisticated, taking over tedious do-it-yourself tasks. Ecovacs Robotics had the vision of bringing robots into the home to replace traditional and even new technology-aided cleaning methods. In 2000, they created the first ever prototype for a robotic home cleaner. Now, they have released the Winbot W710, the first of its kind window cleaning robot for the home.

A little cleaning robot box, the Winbot works by attaching cleaning pads, spraying them with cleaning solution, and plugging the Winbot in. Turn the Winbot on and place it on a window. Press the start button on the device or on its remote control and watch it clean the window using a zigzag pattern from top to bottom. The Winbot automatically uses a pad for wetting, then a squeegee for wiping, and another pad for drying. When the robot finishes cleaning, it finds its way back to the starting place and signals that it’s done. Turning off the unit and pulling an Air Release button removes it safely from the window.

The Winbot hums along the window loudly, but managed to thoroughly entertain me and my family as it worked its away across the windows in our living room. It’s like having a little robotic pet in the house. But instead of making more mess, it cleans up! When I took the Winbot off the glass, I was impressed at how filthy the cleaning pads on the bottom looked. The robot pulled off so much dirt and dust from the window surfaces and left them remarkably cleaner than they have looked in years (minus some minor streaks left on the glass). I could also tackle the kitchen chores while the robot did its work, since it beeps when it finishes.

The Winbot can clean both the inside and outside of windows any size or thickness as long as it does not get stuck in the rain. The robot can also clean showers, mirrors, sliding glass doors, and Thermopane windows. It proves particularly helpful on large window surfaces that would take much time, effort, and up-high reaching to wash by hand.

The robot does not leave any scratches on the window surface. Bumpers on the edges and side rollers keep the window, window frame, and robot protected. When it encounters an obstacle, the robot adjusts its route and continues to clean. The detailed instructions, though somewhat complicated, also helped me learn how to set up and take care of the robot. The cleaning pads can be easily removed, washed, and reused.

The Winbot comes with a remote control with batteries, a power adapter, a power cord with extension, two sets of cleaning pads, and spray-on cleaning solution. The Ecovacs anti-slip technology secures the Winbot to the window while it cleans. A powerful motor for suction, a Safety Pod, and a built-in backup battery also ensure that the Winbot safely stays on the window.

Perhaps robotic cleaners like Winbot will be the future of household cleaning products and offer a new home revolution for getting chores done. The Winbot makes me feel like I’m living in a home from the future and does the window washing for me. Find the Winbot W710 online at ecovacs.com and at Facebook.com/EcovacsRobotics.