I think we're all agreed, aren't we? Cleaning windows is about the worst of all domestic duties. When you break it down, we probably hate this chore so much for several reasons. Firstly, it's like two jobs; you can't just do inside or outside. You have to do both. 

Secondly, it's potentially fatal. Who among us amateurs hasn't been tempted to lean out just that little bit too far when standing on the top rung of the ladder, just to save moving it for the 57th time? Check the ACC stats. I bet window-cleaning-related injuries are right up there. 

Thirdly. It's actually impossible. While those spray bottles of pungent blue liquid all claim to provide a "streak-free finish..." they just don't. And what do you mean that smudge is on the inside? I've already done the inside.

Lastly, the moment you finish, there'll inevitably be a massive storm and your windows will all be filthy again by morning.

Even more galling if you've done the sensible thing and hired a professional to risk his or her life up the ladder instead of you. Money well spent. Until it rains.

Surely tech can save us?

 

If you've read any of my robot vacuum reviews, you'll know how they've completely transformed my housework routine. This is exactly the kind of machine-of-the-future we all dreamed of for generations, as we watched the Jetsons literally drop their kids out of their flying car on the way to work.

Now ECOVACS, manufacturer of many of those wonderful sucky robots has done it again, with the WINBOT W1 PRO, basically a vacuum-cleaning robot for your windows.

In fact, the WINBOT W1 PRO looks quite a bit like a DEEBOT - except it's square, has a long power cable connected to it and a leather handle on the top. Strangely, for something capable of such a complicated task, there really isn't much to it; there are two microfibre cleaning pads included in the box. You moisten one of these under the tap, velcro it on, fill the reservoir with the specially formulated cleaning fluid, plug it in and you're good to go.

That's literally all it takes.

Okay, yes, there's an app. In fact, it's the same ECOVACS app you use for setting up and controlling DEEBOT robot vacuums. In this case you can choose between fast or deep cleans - or even use your phone as a remote control, steering the WINBOT W1 PRO exactly where you want. The app is also how you update firmware and you'll be reminded to clean the driving treads every now and again. Strangely, it doesn't tell you when the cleaning fluid has run out - although you can see this because the unique, dual direction spray nozzles stop spraying.

Anchored alongside the power cord is an equally long safety line, with a carabiner on the end so you can tether the WINBOT to something as a safety measure when you're doing high windows outdoors. Case in point; I have glass balustrades around my front deck which is on the second storey. Unless I leave it to the pros, cleaning this glass involves the worrying practice of leaning my ladder against the balustrade itself which is a) not very stable and b) obstructs my ability to clean all of it properly. Now, with the WINBOT I can just lean over from the deck side, push the cleaner against the glass and away it goes, returning to where I started it when it's finished so I can grab it again.

You see, once you've switched the WINBOT W1 PRO on, you don't even need to press the power button to start it - the fan automatically fires up the moment you push it to the glass, creating the never-fail suction effect and away it goes, cleaning the whole pane using its WIN-SLAM 3.0 auto-sensing technology to get to every corner... well, almost.

While the combination of auto-sprayed solution and edge-to-edge cleaning pad provides excellent coverage - especially on uniform, unobstructed window panes - obstructions like door handles and window latches make life more difficult and if things are particularly grubby under these, you'll need to sort that out with your own spray bottle, paper towels and elbow grease.

A few standard window-washing rules still apply, of course; you'll still get the best results in the shade or on a cloudy day and if you don't wring out your cleaning pad before you attach it, it'll be too wet to leave a genuinely blemish-free finish. As it is, it takes a little practice when removing the WINBOT from one pane to transfer it to the next; you do this with a long press on the power button and the fan will slowly wind down, releasing the suction as it does so. I have to remind myself not to keep pressing the WINBOT against the window as this happens or I'm left with a square imprint of the microfibre cleaning pad on the glass.

The instructions insist you should only use the specialist WINBOT-formulated cleaning solution - each 60ml tankful lasts about an hour's use and while it'll set you back about NZ$40.00 for a litre, that seems like a small price to pay compared to what you might be shelling out for a regular professional clean.

This thing even does the glass front of my fridge. That's thanks to its coupler sensor which detects the edges of frameless windows, altering the cleaning route to ensure no loss of suction. Even if you accidentally disconnect the power cord while the WINBOT is operating, the battery backup will hold it in place so you have time to grab it or plug it back in again.

What's more, it comes in its own very attractive and durable carry case. This makes for convenient storage and means you can easily whip around to your mum's to do her windows too. It'll blow her mind.

From the demonstration videos I'd watched online, I thought the WINBOT W1 PRO would be much louder than it is but in reality, it's not too invasive or distracting at all. In fact, I've written the majority of this review while watching it clean the French doors out to my back deck. I just pause to swap panes every minute or so then go back to work. That's my kind of multitasking.

 

 

 

    

Click here for more information on the ECOVACS WINBOT W1 PRO.