Robotic vacuum cleaners have been faithful cleaning companions in many households for years. For even longer, if possible, food processors. It’s time for verticality, now it’s windows’ turn. Spanish brand Create brings us Wipebot, an automatic window cleaning robot that promises to help us with the tedious task of cleaning windows. We had the opportunity to try it out and we will tell you about our experience.

First, when we open the box, we find the following:

• Wipebot robotic vacuum cleaner
• Remote control
• 12 mops
• 100ml atomizer
• AC cable
• Adapter
• Safety cable
• User manual and quick start guide

The first feeling that Wipebot conveys out of the box is that of a quality, robust device with good finishes. It may come as a surprise that it is relatively light (just 1kg and something), which, as we will see, is a very positive point considering its features. It maintains, like all the devices we were able to test from Create, a simple and elegant design, in this case with a black finish and a rounded shape.

Wipebot Specifications

Wipebot has a navigation system called TechMap that maps the cleaning area and detects edges to make cleaning as efficient as possible. With some exceptions, which we will discuss later. Its only cleaning mode is based on zigzag movements, with which it can cover an area of ​​up to 1 m² in just 4 minutes.

Performance and operation

It has a suction power of up to 2400Pa and 90w, which allows us to clean the windows fairly well. However, if a lot of dirt accumulates or we want a more thorough cleaning, we have the option to clean twice (x2) from the remote control for a better result. Even if we decide we want more shine, we can change the mops and run the Wipebot as many times as we need.

To ensure that the zigzag of its cleaning mode works properly, the Wipebot needs an area of ​​at least 30×30 cm, which is quite small. I think this is one of the positive points of the robot and what sets it apart from other window cleaners on the market, its small size allows it to be used on smaller areas than other devices.

However, we have a drawback, that its rounded shape does not allow you to reach the corners of the crystals enough, so this will be the part that we have to clean by hand. To be positive, it really saves us a lot of work and limits the manual part to just a few details to make the cleaning complete. I personally don’t find this to be a big issue, but it might be for other more demanding users.

Keep in mind that if you look at devices of this type that we have on the market (including Create’s other robotic window cleaner), the pattern is usually that the small ones have rounded edges and the ones with corners are much larger in size. In short, the norm would be something like small size equals rounded surfaces and large size equals corner surfaces. So we would have to choose between a compact device that allows us to work on small areas, or a large device that reaches into the corners.

First impressions

One of the things that struck me when I first used the Wipebot is how simple the surface adhesion system is. Just turn on the device and simply stick it on the glass. It sticks and starts zig zag wiping. Of course, don’t forget to anchor the safety line beforehand.

The downside we found during use is that the fan is noisier than expected. Granted, at no point does Create present this as a silent device, but I think it’s important to point that out. It’s also true that since it’s mainly used outdoors (although you do have to leave the window slightly open for the cables to pass through), it’s not as annoying as other devices like robot vacuums.

Wipebot works with a remote control from which you can control the robot while it is working. With it you can: pause/resume; move it in 4 directions (up, down, left and right); clean once; double clean; continue cleaning and scroll from the current position in three directions (up, left and right).

Even though the control with the remote control is practical and quite complete, today it falls a little and we miss the control of the applications. It seems that the more home automation apps we have on our phone, the more we feel the future. But it is true that an application is missing not only for control, but perhaps to provide us with some other type of information (such as warnings or notifications, possible errors that may occur, etc.).

Safety and fall control

In order to avoid possible problems, we find a 6-meter safety cable in the box, which we have to anchor to an object robust enough to support the weight of the Wipebot in the event of a fall. This puts an end to the main fears that window cleaning robots have had in us since we first learned about them: that they will fall into the void and break, or that they will “smash” someone. Goodbye problem and bungee jumping as much as possible.

If the possibility of bungee jumping doesn’t convince us too much, it’s important to note that it has a 30-minute battery backup. In this way, despite the fact that it works by cable, if at any time there is a power cut, this Li-On battery will guarantee adhesion to the surface we are cleaning, at least for that time.

One detail to note is that the carabiner we need to anchor the safety cable to a sturdy place that will support the robot’s weight in the event of a fall is quite small. When I first came into contact with the Wipebot, I found myself looking around feeling at a loss as to what might be a good choice, and ended up anchoring it to the strap of the blind.

Like all devices of this type, they have accessories that will need to be renewed over time, in this case mops. The good news is that the Wipebot already comes with 12 mops, so we can clean several windows without worrying about running out of wipes. Of course, they are washed and reused after use.

conclusions

On this occasion, Create brings us Wipebot, a window cleaning robot that, thanks to its small dimensions, can work even in small spaces. This feature makes it a versatile device that can be adapted to all types of households. Despite the fact that it has some disadvantages, such as the absence of an application or that it is difficult to get into the corners due to its rounded shape, it is very practical and will undoubtedly help us a lot when cleaning windows at home.

Right now, Create Wipebot is 23% off in the brand’s official store and can be purchased for €129.95.