Quick picks
- Best window vacKärcher WV 6 PlusUp to 100 minutes per charge and an LED battery display.
- Best budget window vacKärcher WV 2 Plus NTwo nozzle sizes, about 35 minutes of battery.
- Best robot window cleanerECOVACS WINBOT W2S OMNICordless, with a 6-in-1 portable station and edge cleaning.
- Best compact robotECOVACS WINBOT mini 2Small enough for panes down to 25 × 25cm.
Comparison table
Specs as published by Kärcher (via its Amazon.co.uk listings) and ECOVACS UK. Run times are the brands' figures.
| Model | Type | Run time | Coverage / window size | Water handling | Stand-out "do less" feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kärcher WV 6 Plus | Handheld vac | 100 mins | Up to 300m² per charge | 150ml dirty-water tank | Longest battery; LED battery display |
| Kärcher WV 2 Plus N | Handheld vac | 35 mins | About 105m² per charge | 100ml dirty-water tank | Two nozzle widths |
| WINBOT W2S OMNI | Robot | 110 mins cordless (or wired mode) | Windows from 30 × 40cm | Triple wide-angle spray | Portable station with built-in battery |
| WINBOT mini 2 | Robot | Mains powered (30-min backup battery) | Windows from 25 × 25cm | Ultrasonic spray | Small enough for small panes |
The picks in detail
Kärcher WV 6 Plus
Kärcher's window vacs are the best-known in the business, and the WV 6 Plus is the long-battery model in its range. You spray and wipe the glass with the supplied bottle and microfibre cloth, then draw the vac down the window. The rubber blade lifts the water and the vac sucks it into the tank, so nothing drips onto the sill.
Kärcher quotes up to 100 minutes of run time, enough for up to 300m² of glass on one charge. That's a lot of windows. An LED battery display shows how much charge is left, so it won't die halfway down the patio doors without warning. The 280mm nozzle suits big panes, and the 150ml dirty-water tank is easy to empty.
- Up to 100 minutes per charge; up to 300m² (Kärcher's figures)
- LED battery indicator display
- 280mm suction nozzle; 150ml dirty-water tank
- Comes with spray bottle, microfibre cloth and 20ml window cleaner concentrate
Why it's lazy-approved
- One charge does the whole house
- No drips, so no towels on the sill
- Handy for condensation and shower screens too
Worth knowing
- You still do the spraying and wiping
- Costs more than the smaller Kärchers
Specs: Kärcher listing on Amazon.co.uk.
Kärcher WV 2 Plus N
The WV 2 Plus N is the entry ticket to the Kärcher club. It works the same way as the WV 6, with a shorter battery life: Kärcher says about 35 minutes, enough for roughly 105m² of glass. That's plenty for most houses and flats if you aren't cleaning a conservatory.
You get two nozzles: a 280mm one for windows and a 170mm one for smaller panes, mirrors and tiles. There's an LED battery indicator, a 100ml dirty-water tank, a spray bottle and cleaning concentrate in the box.
- About 35 minutes per charge (approx. 105m²)
- 280mm and 170mm nozzles
- 100ml dirty-water tank; LED battery indicator
- Spray bottle with microfibre cloth and 20ml concentrate included
Why it's lazy-approved
- The small nozzle makes quick work of mirrors and shower screens
- Cheaper way into streak-free windows
Worth knowing
- Shorter battery than the WV 6 Plus
- Smaller tank means more emptying
Specs: Kärcher listing on Amazon.co.uk.
ECOVACS WINBOT W2S OMNI
This is the "I'm not doing windows anymore" option. The WINBOT W2S OMNI clings to the glass by suction and works its way across using ECOVACS' WIN-SLAM 4.0 path planning. It sprays as it goes with a triple wide-angle spray, and its TruEdge system cleans to within 1cm of the frame. Its intelligent pad lift raises the pads for quick moves around the edges, which ECOVACS says avoids repeated passes.
What sets it apart is the 6-in-1 portable station. It holds the battery, so the robot runs cordless for up to 110 minutes (ECOVACS' figure) and you aren't hunting for a socket near every window. There's also a wired mode. Safety is covered by 12-stage protection and a safety rope, which you should always attach.
- Up to 110 minutes cordless via the portable station; wired mode too
- WIN-SLAM 4.0 path planning; TruEdge edge cleaning (to within 1cm)
- Triple wide-angle spray; intelligent pad lift
- 12-stage safety protection plus safety rope
- Windows from 30 × 40cm
Why it's lazy-approved
- Pop it on the glass and walk away
- Cordless station means no socket hunting
Worth knowing
- The priciest pick here, by a distance
- Needs moving from pane to pane
Specs: ECOVACS UK product page.
ECOVACS WINBOT mini 2
The WINBOT mini 2 is a small robot for small panes. It works on windows from 25 × 25cm, which suits the many UK homes with smaller glazing, as well as mirrors and shower screens. It uses the same WIN-SLAM 4.0 path planning as its bigger sibling, plus an ultrasonic spray.
It runs from the mains rather than a battery, with a 30-minute power-off backup battery so it stays stuck to the glass if the power is cut. It also has four-stage fall protection. ECOVACS says it suits all types of flat window.
- Mains powered, with a 30-minute backup battery for power cuts
- WIN-SLAM 4.0 path planning; ultrasonic spray
- 4-stage fall protection
- Windows from 25 × 25cm; all flat window types
Why it's lazy-approved
- Hands-free cleaning on smaller windows
- Fits panes too small for bigger robots
Worth knowing
- Needs a socket nearby
- No portable station
Specs: ECOVACS UK product page.
How to choose a window vac or robot window cleaner
1. Handheld or robot?
A handheld window vac is cheaper and quicker for most homes. You still spray and wipe, but the vac stops the drips and streaks. A robot does the work for you but costs far more and still has to be moved from pane to pane.
2. Battery life vs number of windows
A small flat is fine with a 35-minute vac. Big houses, conservatories and lots of patio doors suit the longer run time of the WV 6 Plus.
3. Check minimum window sizes
Robots list a minimum pane size: 30 × 40cm for the W2S OMNI, 25 × 25cm for the mini 2. Measure your smallest window before you buy.
4. Inside, outside and safety
Robots can do the outside of windows from the inside, but always use the safety rope. Never use a robot on glass you can't safely reach, and remember a robot vacuum won't help here. A robot mop will do the floor while the WINBOT does the glass, though.
5. The condensation trick
Run a window vac over the glass on damp mornings to lift condensation before it soaks the sills. Kärcher says the WV 2 Plus N works on mirrors, tiles and shower screens as well as windows.
FAQ
Are window vacs worth it?
If you clean your windows, mirrors or shower screens regularly, yes. Picking up the water as you go means fewer drips, and fewer streaks than a cloth.
Can I use a window vac for condensation?
Yes, it's one of the most popular uses. A quick pass in the morning collects condensation before it soaks into sills and seals.
Do robot window cleaners fall off?
They're designed to stay put using suction, and the WINBOTs here have multi-stage fall protection, backup power and a safety rope. Always attach the rope as instructed.
Can robot window cleaners do the outside of windows?
They can clean the outside of a window if you can safely place them there and secure the safety rope. Don't lean out of upstairs windows to do it.
What cleaning solution should I use?
Follow the manufacturer's advice. Kärcher includes concentrate with its window vacs, and ECOVACS sells WINBOT cleaning solution. Using the wrong products can damage seals or leave residue.
Have you tested these window cleaners?
No. These are research-based picks. We've read the manufacturers' specs and published UK reviews so you don't have to. We don't publish made-up scores.