Window cleaning robots are picking up steam, but are still not as mainstream as robot vacuums or even robot lawn mowers. There are a few reasons to why these robots aren’t household names yet.
- Most still require cords
- Bulky and unattractive on your window
- Take a long time
This doesn’t mean that there aren’t some good robot window cleaners on the market. And, hopefully we’ll continue to see manufacturers improve on the technology and come out with better, more efficient models as we move forward. One of the leaders in the window cleaning robot market is a company called Gladwell. They have a few models and each one has improved with time. In this review we are checking out the Gladwell Gecko Window Robot. Let’s see how it measures up, its features, the price and value, and if you should buy one.
Gladwell Gecko Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to set up and use
- Great app
- Rechargeable batteries
- Modern design
- Does well on fresh dirt and marks
Price – The Gecko is very affordable for most, at under $200. You do get some decent value for that price tag and this robot should last you several years.
Ease of use – Once you get everything out of the box and get the robot on your window, it is really easy to get things rolling. The app is very easy to use and makes using the window bot very simple. The app allows you to pick a cleaning pattern and even remotely control where the window robot cleans.
Cleaning power – The Gecko does well on newly gathered dirt and debris on your windows. It doesn’t have quiet enough power to handle long-standing stains or smudges, which was a bit disappointing.
Gecko Design And Appearance
the Gecko Window Robot is smaller than most competitors. I like this. I feel like most robot window cleaners are far too bulky and, frankly, kind of ugly. The Gecko is much slimmer and actually pretty attractive looking.
You won’t find a bunch of buttons and switches on the Gecko. I prefer this minimalistic approach.
There is a power button and a LED indicator light on the top of the robot. That is really it for buttons or lights.
As you move toward the bottom of the robot you’ll find the hole for attaching the safety rope. You definitely need to utilize this unless you want to risk your robot falling off and smashing on the floor.
On the other end of the robot there are sensors and buzzer that alert you to the jobs progress and if there are problems.
If you flip the Gecko over you’ll find 2 washable and removeable microfiber scrubbers. These work in a circular motion to lean your windows.
Gecko Cons
- Has trouble getting into corners
- Battery life isn’t great
- Struggles with tough dirt and smudges
- Takes a while to finish a job
Reaching corners – because of the more oval shape, the Gecko doesn’t do great at reaching 90-degree angles.
Tough dirt – while the Gecko does very well on small debris or newly created marks and smudges, it struggles with set-in marks and tougher dirt.
Job time – Most robot window cleaners take a long time to clean windows. The Gecko, being smaller than most, takes even long in my opinion.
Does The Gecko Clean Windows Well?
The Gladwell Gecko does well with newer smudges and light dirt and debris. The dual spinning pads do well to break up debris and wipe it away.
However, you have dirt that has set or is much heavier, the Gecko might not be able to remove it all.
The Gecko is great if you just want to keep your windows clean of finger prints and general dirt and debris. It is not made to clean your windows after a hurricane.
Related
Do Robot Window Cleaning Robots Work?
Should You Buy The Gecko Window Robot?
If you are looking for a window robot that can easily remove your kid’s finger prints or simply reach high windows for smudges and dirt, then the Gecko is a good value.
If your hope is to never have to bust of the Windex again, then you are in for a surprise. The Gecko, like all window robots, can’t handle all dirt and debris.
If it were my money – I would probably save my money and see if the technology on window cleaning robots gets any better. It still doesn’t seem like enough value for me to make the splurge.
