A dream come true: I have a robot window cleaner

Vacuuming? Despite many robot vacuum cleaner tests, I like to do it by hand. Ironing? I really enjoy it. Cleaning the bathroom? It’s OK. But cleaning windows? No, thanks! For me, it’s one of the worst household tasks that I grudgingly complete once a year at most.

What annoys me most of all is my own lack of skill. I never manage to do it without leaving streaks. I cramp up – and when the first sunny days arrive, it looks as if little Spider-Men with greasy fingers have climbed up the window.

That’s why I’ve been dreaming of a window cleaning robot for years. Given the bad reviews, I’ve refrained from buying one so far. For example, in spring 2023 my boss wasn’t at all satisfied with the Winbot W1 Pro – too loud, not good enough, too cumbersome, too underdeveloped.

Now Ecovacs has launched a new version of the Winbot. The manufacturer has specifically improved the previous model’s weak points. Because even Ecovacs wasn’t entirely satisfied with its window cleaners’ capabilities, as it revealed when it presented the new model in early 2024. Technologically speaking, that’s all they were capable of at the time, they say. Now, that technology has moved on, it’s a different story.

So, it’s time for an extensive test of the Winbot W2 Omni. Can it make my dream come true? Do I never have to clean windows by hand again?

How the robot cleans windows

It’s very easy to use: I dampen the microfibre cloth provided. Then I attach it to the bottom of the robot with Velcro, fill the tank with cleaning fluid, switch on the Winbot at the docking station and press it onto the window.

The robot automatically attaches itself and lets me know when I can let go with a small jolt. Now the Winbot moves along the window on two belts up to the top right-hand corner. From there, the cleaning starts in a tight wavy line. The Winbot regularly sprays cleaning fluid onto the window. The edges are cleaned again separately – depending on the mode selected.

At the end, the robot returns to where it started. It beeps and a voice announces that cleaning has finished. I hold the handle, press the button, the vacuum releases and I can remove it.

How meticulously does the Winbot W2 Omni clean?

The short answer: it does well enough. The slightly longer answer: the robot cleans the windows without leaving streaks. Every now and then a small spot remains, so it’s not 100% perfect.

Especially if dirt is firmly stuck to the window or has dried on, the Winbot won’t remove it properly. As it doesn’t detect dirt – in contrast to robot vacuum cleaners for floors – the Winbot doesn’t go over particularly dirty areas a second time.

I could go back and forth manually a few times using the smartphone app – but it’s usually easier if I quickly wipe the area with a rag.

What to keep in mind for robot cleaning

It’s worthmoistening the microfibre pads between each window and changing them regularly. That’s why the manufacturer has included two cloths.

Washing them by hand every now and then is enough for spring cleaning. Then the two cloths simply go in the washing machine so that they’re fresh for the summer or autumn.

You should also have enough cleaning solution ready – and fill the tank regularly. Without fluid, the Winbot’s cleaning performance is significantly worse. Unfortunately, the tank is small at 60 millilitres. So, I have to refill it after one or two large panes. The manufacturer probably had to make sure that the filled tank wouldn’t become too heavy and make the robot fall off the window.

The 230-millilitre bottle provided lasts around 30 square metres of window space, which for me is three large windows inside and out. So, it’s worth buying the litre bottle. However, the opening on the tank is so small that I either need a funnel to fill it up or, better yet, use the empty bottle as temporary storage. This isn’t an ideal solution. The tank is also only fastened with a rubber cap. A screw cap would be more secure.

Cleaning equipment accessories

EUR12,23

Ecovacs WINBOT Cleaning Solution 230 ml

41

Cleaning equipment accessories

EUR29,83

Ecovacs WINBOT cleaning solution

193

What does the docking station add?

The Winbot W2 Omni has a fairly large docking station – but the W2 is also available without an Omni, i.e. without a docking station. This will save you around 100 francs or euros, but I don’t recommend it.

Window cleaners

EUR423,75

Ecovacs Winbot W2

33

Window cleaners

EUR423,75

Ecovacs Winbot W2

33

The docking station has four different functions: it has a built-in additional battery, it serves as a harness, the robot can be controlled from here with a few buttons and I can also store the robot and accessories in it. The whole thing weighs 6.9 kilogrammes.

Battery: With a base station, the battery’s almost twice as large as the version without one at 4,500 mAh instead of 2,600 mAh. In my case, the battery lasted for around 25 square metres of window space, including edges during intensive cleaning. In my apartment, that’s little more than two large panes inside and outside. An audible and visual warning indicates that the battery is slowly running out. Around 20 per cent of battery reserve is built in so that the robot doesn’t suddenly fall off the window. It takes almost two hours for the battery to be fully charged again.

Fall protection: The station’s weight serves as fall protection. It also suctions itself to the ground, holding the robot in place if it actually does lose its grip. This is especially important if you’re cleaning the outside out a window. Fortunately, this never happened during the test. I never felt that the robot wasn’t stable. If you want, you can also secure the docking station with a cable – also supplied by the manufacturer.

Controls: With three buttons on the base station, I can switch everything on, change the cleaning mode and pull in the maximum 5.5-metre cable to the robot to prevent tangling.

Accessories: Once the cleaning’s done, everything can be conveniently stored in the docking station: robot, charging cable, microfibre pads and even the bottle of cleaning fluid. The handle makes it easy to carry the Winbot from window to window and store it somewhere afterwards.

Ecovacs has improved the sound of the new model

«If household robots were an orchestra, the Winbot would be playing first violin. But a violin that’s out of tune and has been used and abused by a four-year-old. The noise the robot makes is quite simply unbearable,» wrote my boss Simon in his Winbot W1 review. But that was then. The W2 is neither loud nor makes an unpleasant sound. I measured it at just over 65 decibels at a distance of one metre, which is no louder than the latest generation of robot vacuum cleaners.

The docking station means that you don’t need the app for daily use. You can also set the different cleaning modes on the docking station. The app – which requires a login – is helpful to select the language during installation. And it’s handy for notifications: a message pops up in the app as soon as the robot has finished a window or the battery charge is low. The Winbot doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi, so you have to stay within Bluetooth range. Depending on the situation, you can also spend time out of earshot of the Winbot.

There’s still room for improvement

It takes around 30 minutes to clean an area of 5.5 square metres in intensive mode with edge cleaning. It’s certainly not faster than doing it by hand. But I don’t think that’s bad at all. I can use that time to work from home, do my tax return, read a book or watch a series.

I also save time by not having to set up a ladder for the high windows. I don’t even have to fully put furniture away. Pulling something out and creating space for the docking station is enough. The robot even easily cleaned behind decorative hangers attached to the curtain rails.

Irregularities on the windows are sometimes more difficult. The cat flap didn’t cause any problems for me, but other testers reported (website in German) that glass break sensors glued to the pane were partially torn off. This is because the robot only reacts to physical contact and moves. It has no sensors that detect obstacles.

Of course, having a small number of large windows is a major efficiency advantage. The robot is more worthwhile here than with many small glass surfaces that mean you have to keep detaching and reattaching it. The docking station makes moving from pane to pane much easier and faster than with the previous model.