Hobot 198 review window washing robot

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We're not quite in the Jetsons robot housekeeper era yet, but there are a host of house cleaning robots out there that can automate some of you most dreaded chores.
And if you Don't do windows? The HOBOT 198 window cleaning robot may be able to help you.
I recently had a chance to test out the HOBOT 198 in my home to see how it works.
HOBOT 198 a relatively small robot scrubber, designed to adhere to windows and scrub them clean, either inside or out. The robot has two scrubber wheels that come with soft microfibre cleaning pads. There's a long power cord and a tether to keep the HOBOT from plummeting to its doom.
Getting going with this robot is pretty easy. You'll hook up the AC power cable, and add the scrubbing cloths to the wheels if they aren't already on there. They do affix easily.
If you’re using the Hobot outside or over a drop (think apartment balcony or second floor window) tie the safety tether onto something sturdy. Then, press the Hobot flat up against the window and flip the switch on. In a second, the robot will turn on its suction powers and hold itself against the glass. At this point you can let go.
Using the included remote control or the Hobot app, you can set a cleaning mode. The modes are… weird and not very intuitive. There’s three options: Up then Down, Left then Down, and Right then Down. Each is denoted by an arrow and two rings.
To me, none of these cleaning modes says “Clean my whole window” and frankly, I don’t really care whether it goes left or right first. The robot is smart enough to sense the window frame and edges, so it shouldn’t matter which direction it cleans in since it’s going to clean the whole window anyhow, right?
With that said, this device does do a great job of cleaning the entire window. It senses the left and right edges and the top and bottom, and cleans it quite thoroughly. I was quite impressed with the cleaning coverage.
Because this robot is corded and AC powered, it's rather limited in what and where it can clean. I'd love to clean the rear outside windows at my house, but since there's no AC plug anywhere nearby, they're off limits, unless I could connect a long extension cord, I suppose.
Hobot’s manufacturer recommends you clean with windows with Hobot’s help using the same cleaners you’d use at home.
I chose to use Windex; I sprayed cleaner on the top of the window and let it drip down. The Hobot was pretty good at wiping it up and it left a streak-free finish. I found on larger windows, sometimes the cleaner would dry before the Hobot got to it, so in a few cases, I followed it along, and spritzed more cleaner in front of it. That seemed to help.
Hobot’s microfibre cleaning cloths are washable and reusable. Hobot suggests you wash them in water under 40 degrees C (104F) and leave them to air dry.
A handy feature of the robot is that you can use it on floors, surfaces and even textured glass too, according to Home Robot Inc.
I tested it out on a glass coffee table. The first pass I tried it did great; it sensed the edges of the glass top and stayed on course. Second time around, the Hobot fell off the table and onto the floor. Good thing the drop wasn’t far. Third pass was fine too.
While this is a neat feature, I guess, I would have had the table cleaned in about 10 seconds using paper towel and glass cleaner; instead, the Hobot took almost two minutes.
Hobot does some rather random patterns when it comes to scrubbing the floors; it’s not nearly as linear or as efficient. That said, it did do a pretty thorough job on the parts that it did clean.
A legitimate issue is what happens to the robot if the power cord ever got kicked loose or you had an outage. Fortunately, the device has a battery backup that will hold it on the window for up to 30 minutes. Despite what you may think, this doesn’t mean you can pull out the AC power cord and use the Hobot wirelessly; there’s a failsafe to prevent this. If you try it will just stick to the window and beep at you.
I found this device surprisingly helpful. It does a really good job at sticking to the windows and cleaning them too, both inside and out. I experienced no falls, and the windows got clean every time.
If there’s a downside, it’s that Hobot needs to be constantly connected to AC power, and you basically need to supervise the cleaning, so I recommend doing the windows at the same time as you’re doing some other chores nearby. I also thought the control or cleaning buttons weren’t intuitive; the app (and remote) could use a bit of tweaking, in my opinion.
The fact that the cloths are washable is nice, plus you can use it on other surfaces, though it didn’t seem to have the easiest time with tables or floors. Even so, the Hobot 198 is a surprisingly versatile and useful device. www.HomeRobot USA.com

[@eleonoramarree]

you didn't show the results of how clean the windows are after cleaning. As well I would have liked to see how this window robot is handling the edges of the windows....

[@pp-jh4ig]

This is a paid ad, that's why.

[@ZVIKAGREENBERG]

Hi - what are you doing with the safety rope that behave like a tail in your case?

[@x.sports1337]

Does it work alone without watching it or pressiing anything

[@nouras.m1493]

Thanks for the great review,can it clean walls like bath tiles?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

I don’t think this particular unit would stick very well two bath tiles.

[@fabianmac-namara8371]

Hi. great review. How did ir work on the window corners? Thank you

[@adamland12345]

no reply eh? :\

[@ahmedosama7463]

Unless you buy 20 hobots to do all windows in one shot i think it's too slow and expensive for the service offered

[@MrAndreCoutinho]

Does it work on non flat surfaces? My glass windows are wavy, it might be tricky for the hobot I suppose. For windows out of reach it could be useful, other than that, I can clean by myself with a cloth in much less time and quietly.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Hobot says it does work on textured glass too.

[@TheKingsapostle]

Help me find one to clean the inside of my car's windshield.

[@douglasdonaldson2510]

I clean windows for a living. This is my first notice of this kind of robot and I have to say I'm not yet worried about losing business to this thing. It would take all week to clean your windows. lol And what about the frames?

[@jamesaamoore]

i tried an actual window cleaner who said they would do the frames too, only let them do it the once !

[@oxoConstantinEoxo]

No idea Didn't cleaned my frame for 4 years now. I don't care.

[@michaelbaker7039]

Don't waste your money , hire a window cleaner. Go to work earn a days wage and have clean windows when you come home 👍

[@danzo5521]

@@oxoConstantinEoxo hobot is coming for you

[@tommyfender1968]

Yeah, I will continue using a professional window cleaner. You have to babysit the robot, move it from to one windows to the next. Too much work and it takes to long.

[@binflynn1]

Big question does it leave streaks

[@marshall.cochran]

You’re really good at this. You deserve more views

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you so much, Marshall!

[@harhccha]

I feel like one day the company might run into product confusion with future robots of a similar name

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

LOL!

[@scottheffernan1305]

👍

[@koruki]

Just add an R

[@kirstyadolphe4314]

Haha!!!!

[@GrossTechnology]

I also don't see the point, feel like unless the windows are huge, or really tall to where I have to use a ladder then I might as well get a paper towel. Especially since you have to move it from one pane to another. I do wonder about how it does for cars though, now that would be interesting. Did you test it on any car windshields?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

I didn't! I imagine it would work, but like the table, I. could probably have it done in 10 seconds without the robot. ;)

[@robotzoo]

You're right, no point unless there is a safety issue like windows being very tall or on upper floors of a building, or an access issue like getting between shop displays and the glass, or a mobility issue where the user is not very agile, or a frequency issue like in commercial spaces where windows need to be cleaned every day.

[@415sf305]

The reason u want to start from the top of the glass is because that is how all cleaning is done .. alll begin from the top and finish towards the bottom

[@allnotathome]

Yeah, this one will end up completely ignoring the corners due to its round pads.

[@andrewkamoha4666]

4:35 What happens when it gets to the edge? Is it smart or does it fall?

[@DennisMathias]

Corners. What about the corners?

[@EmerInspires]

Great review. Basically I don't think any of these will work for all my windows because of the height and accessibility. I have one poor window on my 3rd floor stairs (thankfully with blinds) that never gets cleaned by any regular window cleaners I have got in the past. I was hoping this would do it but looks like you need to wet the surface manually. Correct? Also what if there's something like bird poop or when the kids go on an egg spree (I live between a supermarket and school), guessing it won't manage this. One more question, regarding the corners, how well does it clean into the corners? Thanks 🙏🏻

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Correct! And you’d have to climb up on a ladder or some thing to a fix it to the window. If a window cleaner won’t do it, this robot is probably not going to help you.

[@EmerInspires]

@@ErinLawrenceTV thanks Erin. I can just about get to the bottom of the window on the inside. I saw another review saying to just wet the pads but this window is probably 6'/7' x 2.5' so a fair bit of glass. Will have a think about it for the rest. I live in a 3 storey so have to get a commercial window cleaning service and they are more expensive. Thanks again 🙏🏻 ❤️

[@Aw_tig]

@@EmerInspiressurely if your windows open you you can reach out from the inside and stick it on, no need to be climbing ladders, and you could also plug it in inside. If your climbing a ladder you might as well just wash the window quickly while your there 🤔 I think this is meant to stop people having to climb ladders as that can be really dangerous

[@Civilizationbob]

The safety cord should ALWAYS be fixed to something.... Not just out of fear it'll hit someone.... Imagine what happens if the power goes out.....I use a WinBot

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for the important info!

[@jekin908]

Can it be use on bathroom glass without frame?!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

On like a frameless mirror? No. On glass that’s framed in by walls, probably.

[@banyantree8618]

Adding batteries would make this prohibitively heavy or way too short a time. For floors, it probably can’t handle the size/area in terms of maintaining tracking.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you !

[@eastaronline2504]

Good ideas. Are you testing any swimming pool cleaning robot?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

No 😒 No pool.

[@rodneylafferty9035]

I’m wondering if it can do mirrors 🤔

[@baqtronic7704]

what about wet surfaces, like in a rainy day?

[@dradriancicortas]

Henrique BIR not recommanded

[@nolanerunner1]

Years ago... maybe up to seven or eight years ago ...it cost me $450 aud to get our windows clean Single storey house ...lots of big windows The guy came with an offsider...took hours to clean inside and out ...and missed two big ones round the side Never again ... Looking at a robot ...don’t care how long it takes as long as it gets them clean I’m home all day so I can supervise, maybe k’archer (pressure hose) the windows the day before to get the dirt off from outside I reckon if u do them once a month, you’ll get good results ...maybe more often for the rooms you use more often

[@kuzadupa185]

Im guessing this is version 1 that gives them some income. They must have a battery version that doesnt weigh that much more.

[@MC-hd5kr]

Best review I have seen. Very Helpful. Thank You.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you so much!

[@cdsdgbdg]

Very good and thorough review of the device. Thank you!

[@scottpatrick8352]

Seems like it's taking forever. Think I'll just hire somebody who knows what they're doing, and does one in about 2 minutes

[@iasimov5960]

A Hobot shall not break windows or, through inaction, allow a window to be broken.

[@LokiDaFerret]

This reminds me of where iRobot / Roomba was in the early 2000s meaning dumb onboard logic and random navigation. Feels like the product needs about 5 years of innovation to bring it up to speed.

[@Rap111unzel]

This product is probably not rechargeable because it would need a rechargeable battery inside of it which would add extra weight. That being said, the heavier the bot, the harder it will be to attach it to the window and keep it there. Also, a fall with a heavy battery could destroy the bot.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for the comment!

[@sabatham]

Love the idea, but I'm impatient and prefer to use a squeegee on the windows I can reach. I'm not sure how it would work on my second floor windows I cannot reach the exterior of. That would be something to look at, though. Very interesting! Thanks for the review!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@jsso2845]

Does it recognized triangle windows?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Yes!

[@jsso2845]

@@ErinLawrenceTV thank you

[@drmontague6475]

How does it get into the corner of the windows?

[@13panda13]

It tells u to go clean it yourself.

[@MarcioAramuni]

Nice review

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@chAlfred76]

How does it do in corners

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Not great.

[@scottsonic5474]

Have robot.. Move distance without cord extension, fiber , firmware,, wud be gr88 ..

[@ants_in_my_eyes_johnson6844]

May wanna reconsider the name considering what its doin.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

😂

[@imrickjames7012]

40 dollar squigee kit. Some water and you're done in about 30 minutes for the external of a house.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Also true.

[@TheHomeloanking]

In 2019 it is archaic for devices to be wired.

[@snoopybollox1485]

This is great it will give my ol winder cleaner mate Alan more time on grindr....😅

[@bunnyrabbit008]

I bought mine in Shenzhen China last year for 68 usd

[@mmarsbarr]

Now THIS is an awesome idea!!!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Right!? Thanks for watching!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Right!?

[@duncryan1]

Stay away from the Hobot S2. It 100% does not work and we have been unable to return it. Tracks just slide on the window and moves sporadically. Extremely disappointed with this purchase and even more so with the lack of any customer service.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

So sorry to hear that :(

[@Taran-d.B.23]

2:27 not with a Powerstation

[@Pokejoe88]

Hobot lol they should be working the street corner

[@scottsonic5474]

nice step for person us and hobots everrwher .

[@Stubchain]

What ever you do, don't mention the corners.

[@fesvy8087]

$450 for paper towels

[@bigdaveowens76]

Slowest window cleaner in the world. Doesn't do corners, doesn't clean the frames and sills, can't clean leaded or patterned glass, and costs a hell of a lot. Stick it on the bin

[@codytylek7836]

What a strange name for a robot.

[@Omyosef_]

كيف لا تسقط ؟

[@GoogleAccount-zl4kk]

I got it for 250$

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

ho bot lol

[@robertrachel8130]

En français

[@themastersqueegee]

hire a real window cleaner

[@13panda13]

Elbow grease is free.

[@nickjennings3630]

Why is the robot a "He"? (HA HA HA HA)! ;)

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

You had me until $449.