REVIEW – Let’s just get this out of the way right now – When it comes to cleaning, I’m lazy. I like a clean house, but I really don’t want to be the one that cleans it. That’s why I love my Neato Botvacs, so I don’t have to vacuum the floors. Lately, I’ve been on a quest to find a robot to clean my windows. I’ve already Albohes Z5 Robot Window Washer robot which did little to nothing to improve the cleanliness of the windows. When Ecovacs asked if I wanted to review their WINBOT X window cleaning robot, I told them about my previous attempt and that I wasn’t sure window cleaning robots were to the level that I think they need to be yet. They still sent me one to test out, so let’s take a look.
What is it?
The Ecovacs WINBOT X is a battery-powered window cleaning robot that will clean a window automatically or by using a handheld remote control.
What’s in the box?
WINBOT X
Safety pod
Power adapter
Remote control (with batteries)
Cleaning solution
Cleaning pads x4
Finishing cloth
Manual
Design and features
The WINBOT X is made of white plastic. On the top of the cleaner is a large power button on the handle, an LED status LED, and socket for the Safety Pod tether.
On the front and back edges are bumpers which help the robot find the edges of the window frame as it’s traveling back and forth across the window as it’s cleaning it.
The bottom of the WINBOT X has two sets of driving treads, the suction fan in the center, power button and status LEDs, and the cleaning pad around the edges.
The cleaner comes with four cleaning pads which can be washed and reused.
The pads attach to the bottom of the WINBOT X and are held in place with Velcro.
To use the WINBOT X, you first have to charge the main unit for 2.5 hours which will allow for up to 50 minutes of cleaning time. The Safety Pod is powered by regular alkaline batteries which come pre-installed. The Safety Pod is a suction cup that makes sure that the WINBOT X does not cause an injury if it happened to fall from a high window by providing an 8.2ft tether. The WINBOT X will not even suction to a window without the Safety Pod first being attached.
Once the WINBOT X is fully charged, you can connect the Safety Pod to it by inserting the cable into the jack on the WINBOT X and locking it in place. Then you flip the power switch on the bottom of the Safety Pod and stick it to the window and turn on the WINBOT X using the power button on the handle. The status LED on the WINBOT X will glow green if the Safety Pod is correctly attached. Then you squirt the cleaning solution on the cleaning pads and hold the WINBOT X against the window, press the power button, and the fans will turn on and create enough suction to hold it to the glass.
See it in action
Clean or not
The Ecovacs WINBOT X can be used on windows that are at a minimum of 19.7 x 19.7 inches and with a frame no narrower than 0.2 inches.
I did my testing on a large window which you have already seen in the video above and it started out with smudges, some dirt, dust, spots, etc. on it like most exterior windows, but it wasn’t filthy as I had already cleaned it using the other window washing robot a few weeks ago which was followed up by a manual human (me) cleaning session.
The WINBOT X will choose whether to clean in up/down swipes or side to side swipes. You can also use to remote to move it around manually and can also press the deep clean button which will clean first in up/down and then inside to side so it goes over the window twice.
I cleaned the outside and the inside of the window. I had to wait until the sun started setting before I could really see if the WINBOT X had really made a difference and I’m sorry to say that it didn’t. You can see the results yourself by clicking on the image above. You can see the spots and streaks that were left after the cleaning sessions.
I even let the WINBOT X run a 2nd time using the deep clean setting and couldn’t tell much of a difference after it completed the cleaning session. The water spots were still there as were some of the smudges and streaks. Did it clean off dust and some dirt? Yes, but not enough to really say “wow, those windows are clean!” I’ll have to say that the result was a minimal improvement.
What I like
- Comes with cleaning solution
- Cleaning pads are reusable
- Battery powered
What needs to be improved?
- Better scrubbing/polishing action
- Price
Final thoughts
I’m swiftly coming to the conclusion that an effective window washing robot may not be available yet. Until a window cleaning robot can actually scrub the window to clean off the crud, it’s not going to be a robot that I think is worth using/buying. I’m not giving up hope, but my hope is quickly dimming and the reality is setting in that the best window washer may be me and not a robot.
Price: $449.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Ecovacs.
Filed in categories: Reviews
Ecovacs WINBOT X window cleaning robot review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 28, 2018 at 9:00 am.
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