Pane relief

After more than 10 years, a clever piece of technology inspired Metropol’s gadget guru Ian Knott to finally clean his windows.

For those tired of struggling with hard-to-reach windows, or those like me who are simply too lazy to clean them, the Ecovacs Winbot W1 Pro is nothing less than a game-changer. The robot window cleaner attaches securely to glass surfaces of varying thicknesses with advanced suction technology, making it perfect for high up or awkwardly positioned windows, inside and out.

As a seasoned techy, it takes a lot for a gadget to leave me speechless these days, but watching the Winbot’s ability to defy gravity and cling on is truly amazing.

Setting up and using it is incredibly simple, making it accessible for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Just pair it to the app, fill it with cleaning solution, attach it to the window, and press a button to start the cleaning process.
It can’t clean small windows, as it requires a minimum surface area bigger than the unit itself to attach to.
It obviously can’t do leadlighting, textured glass or car windscreens (due to the angle not being vertical). But it can sense the edges of frameless glass, making it perfect for showers and tempered glass barriers.

The W1 Pro effectively cleans large areas of glass, although it may leave a few millimetre uncleaned border around the edge of the window frame.

Depending on how dirty your window is, it’s barely noticeable.

The washable cleaning pads are a plus, allowing for numerous uses before needing to be replaced.

The supplied bottle of cleaning solution lasts approximately one whole house, so depending on your intended schedule, that could prove to be a costly consumable.

I did have limited success with ordinary glass cleaner, although it may void your warranty.

The robot cleaner has an emergency battery to prevent falling if the power is disconnected, plus a tether for extra security, especially for multi-storey dwellings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

This gadget is perfect for those looking to take the elbow grease out of their window cleaning routine.

It’s also one of those innovative gadgets that will gather a crowd of neighbours to watch it go about its work.

The pure convenience of the Winbot W1 Pro makes it a worthwhile investment, and it also comes in a stylish carry case to boot.