My apartment is always sparkling clean, and I owe it all to these two robots

Split image of Ecovacs Winbot Mini and Switchbot K10 Plus
(Image credit: Ecovacs, Switchbot)

Robot vacuums and window-cleaners can be complete game-changers when it comes to keeping your home looking neat, but if you live somewhere small like an apartment, many of them are just too large. A full-size robot vacuum might not be able to get into the narrow gaps between items of furniture, and a window cleaning bot may not even fit on your narrow window panes. Thankfully though, there are a handful of robots specifically designed for compact homes, and they've made my life a whole lot easier.

Although my apartment is small, it has quite a lot of windows, and living on the top floor means they get dirty fast — and I mean fast. I was lucky enough to be able to test the Ecovacs Winbot W2 Omni last year, and it made light work of the biggest glass panes, it was simply too big of them.

Split image showing window before and after cleaning with Ecovacs WinBot

The Winbot W2 Mini might be small, but it has real cleaning power. The view isn't exactly pretty, but I can finally see through my windows (Image credit: Future)

My other friend when it comes to home maintenance is the Switchbot K10+, which is a tiny robot vacuum that, despite its size, has real suction power and a self-emptying dock. It's on offer at Amazon as well, but there's an even better deal if you buy it direct from Switchbot's own website, where the Switchbot K10+ is down to a mere $160 (was $499.99) when you enter the code SPRING68 at the checkout.

It works like a dream with all the main smart home ecosystems as well. I recently gained access to Alexa+, and although I haven't created an automation specifically for it, the AI-powered assistant can clean the floor, stop the bot, and return it to its charging base whenever I ask it to.

Ecovacs Winbot Mini 2
Ecovacs Winbot Mini 2: was $239.99 now $203.99 at Amazon

Sick of scrubbing your windows? Me too, but now I can just sit back and let this little bot handle the hard work. It's just a shade over $200 in Amazon's Big Spring Sale, and worth every penny in my opinion. This extra-small version is great for mirrors and shower doors, too.

Switchbot K10+
Switchbot K10+: was $499.99 now $160 at SwitchBot

This tiny robot vacuum is a piece of cake to use, effective, self-emptying, and perfect for small homes. Its regular price is $499.99, but it drops to an incredible $160 when you enter the code SPRING68 at the checkout, which is much cheaper than Amazon's best price.

The K10+ purports to have a mopping function too, but this involves dragging a wet wipe across your hard floors, rather than scrubbing with brushes like some of the best robot vacuums. It works fine for cleaning up everyday dust and crumbs, and I like using it in the kitchen, but having to clip on and remove the wipe by hand means it's not as effortless as vacuuming.

It's astonishing value though, and keeps my floors looking spotless with zero effort in my part. Together with the Winbot, they keep my apartment pristine. Now, if only someone could create a robot for scrubbing ovens...


Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too


TOPICS
Cat Ellis
Homes Editor

Cat is TechRadar's Homes Editor, covering smart home tech, kitchen appliances, vacuums, haircare and more. She's been a tech journalist for 15 years, having worked on print magazines including PC Plus and PC Format, and is a Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) certified barista. Whether you want to invest in some smart lights, find your ideal hair styler, or pick the espresso machine of your dreams, she's the right person to help.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.