Guide
Window cleaning robots compared: which Winbot wins?
by Lorenz Keller
An inexpensive – and incredibly impressive – window cleaning robot
28-4-2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Lorenz Keller
The Hutt DDC55PRO’s the most affordable cleaning robot I’ve tried so far. But I’m sceptical about whether it will get my window clean – especially since it only uses water.
So far, only one robotic system’s cleaned my windows to my satisfaction. The benchmark’s been set by manufacturer Ecovacs with its Winbot models. They don’t clean glass surfaces perfectly, but they do it well enough to save me having to do the tedious task.
The robots use suction to attach themselves to the window and then move across the entire surface on two tracks, spraying the glass with cleaning fluid and wiping it with a square cloth.
Round mops instead of tracks
Hutt’s model uses different technology. The robot doesn’t move on tracks; instead, it has two rotating mops. Each mop has air inlets underneath, allowing the device to suction itself to the window.
When I unpacked it, I was surprised to find the robot was smaller than expected: about 30 centimetres long and 15 centimetres wide. It weighs around a kilogramme without cleaning fluid. Inside the packaging, I also found four replacement mop heads, a remote control and a plastic bottle. But there was no cleaning fluid in it – the bottle was totally empty.
What am I supposed to do with the empty bottle? The instruction manual provides the answer. The bottle just makes it easier to fill the robot with water. You read that right: unlike the competition, it doesn’t clean your window with a special (and expensive) cleaning agent; all you need is ordinary water.
When asked, the manufacturer stated you can also use standard glass cleaner as an alternative. However, you must dilute it 1:10 – otherwise the nozzles will get clogged.
An empty bottle and a jumble of cables
So, I fill the bottle with liquid, and the thin nozzle means I can use it to fill the small water tank on the robot without making a mess. It’s just a shame the bottle opening isn’t very big and the plastic isn’t clear. Getting the right ratio’s tricky – I can’t see how much is in there.
In practice, this isn’t a big deal; the results with glass cleaner are only slightly better than with plain water, anyway. But more on that later. Once you’ve filled the tank, you can get started. Unlike other models, you don’t have to dampen the mop heads for each window. The liquid from the water tank is enough for cleaning.
The robot does have a small built-in battery, but it only keeps it attached to the window for about 20 minutes in an emergency. For continuous use, plug the DDC55PRO into the mains. Unfortunately, the cable provided’s pretty short. You can only manage without an extension cord if there’s a power socket right next to your window. I use a cable reel.
The Hutt has a built-in safety cable. I need to attach it somewhere to make sure the robot can’t fall several stories outside. However, all my windows and doors open onto balconies. That means the robot can’t fall from anywhere – so the cable’s not needed. Unfortunately, you can’t remove it. Since I can’t find a convenient place to store either the power cable or the safety cable, I have to keep untangling them, which is annoying.
Easy to use
Thankfully, the robot’s really easy to use. I hold it against the window, press and hold the big button and it immediately attaches itself. Pressing the button a second time starts the cleaning process.
The way the Hutt DDC55PRO moves is comical. Only one mop rotates at a time, pushing one side of the robot forward. Then the second mop rotates briefly, and the other side is pushed forward. And so on, and so on. Every few rotations, the nozzle sprays liquid onto the surface.
First, it moves upwards to the edge of the window, then it cleans from left to right, moving down a little each time. Gradually – and sedately.
The round mops are a mixed bag. They can’t reach into corners, leaving about a square centimetre uncleaned. However, because they extend slightly beyond the main robot and are also a centimetre thick, the cloth reaches right to the edge and even cleans the edge of the window frame. At least partially.
Cleaning performance
The test shows that precision’s not the Hutt DDC55PRO’s strong suit. At first glance, the window appears clean, but a closer look reveals a few issues at the edges, in the corners and sometimes even right in the centre. If I were to clean it by hand, the result would definitely be more precise (albeit not perfect either).
The nozzle sprays a bit inaccurately and over a wide area, which can result in the window frame getting slightly wet. Or some could land on an area you’re not even trying to clean.
Overall, I’m satisfied with the result. Pollen, fingerprints, most stains – all gone. That’s enough for me. The robot saves me boring work and delivers an acceptable result at a reasonable price.
If I add some glass cleaner to the water, I only notice a difference if I look very closely. Dried-on dirt dissolves a bit better, but the difference isn’t particularly noticeable. It does smell cleaner afterwards, though.
Maintenance is reasonable. I have to refill the cleaning fluid every 15 to 20 square metres of window area and change the mop covers depending on the level of dirt. You’ll probably need to do this after each 10 square metres or so for exterior windows with pollen, and after each 15 to 20 square metres for interior windows. The covers are machine-washable.
Whether a robot like this one’s suitable for you depends on both your expectations in terms of cleaning quality and your home environment. Since the domestic helper can’t jump or climb from window to window on its own, you have to move it around. And the smaller the surfaces and the more panes the windows have, the more often you’ll need to do it. I have large, continuous window panes that extend the full height of my rooms, so a cleaning robot like this is ideal.
I hardly used the remote control in everyday use. You could use it to manually control the DDC55PRO, activate or deactivate the nozzle, clean only downwards from a specific point, or clean the window a second time at the touch of a button. The spot cleaning function, which intensively scrubs a small area, could also be useful.
Slow, but not particularly loud
The numbers back up the first impressions. Hutt’s budget model cleans windows particularly slowly. The robot cleans the reference window – which is just over four square metres – in just over 17 minutes. Competitors manage it twice as fast.
Cleaning all the windows in my apartment now takes me about four hours instead of two. That’s significantly longer. The only advantage is that it can be more convenient if I want to do something else in between moving the robot from window to window.
The DDC55PRO’s surprisingly quiet. The device measures 74.6 decibels. That’s less than Winbot models. While the noise isn’t unpleasant, it’s about as loud as a vacuum cleaner.
Glass tops, gaps and extreme situations
Cleaning robots are designed for standard framed windows. However, the Community frequently asks whether these models can also clean skylights, conservatories or loggia windows.
According to the manufacturer, the DDC55PRO can effectively clean slightly inclined surfaces up to an angle of approximately 20 degrees. However, Hutt writes that it performs «poorly/unreliably» on flat glass roofs.
What’s it like in practice? I put the robot through some extreme tests. It can do more than I thought.
Obstacles: It navigates around obstacles such as cat flaps and hinges. Sometimes it needs several attempts, but at least on the second try, it manages to clean the entire window. However, this is based on trial and error rather than smarts.
Uneven surfaces: Children’s drawings made with window paint may be cute (parents know this), but they’re not ideal for cleaning. The DDC55PRO just glides over them. It adheres a little more to the uneven surfaces, but it handles them without any problems.
Frameless glass: The robot moves slightly over the edge, but it recognises that it can no longer generate enough suction pressure and corrects its course. This allowed it to clean a frameless glass shower door.
Tiles: The robot also adheres to other materials. Mirrors are no problem, and nor are bathroom tiles. I used the DDC55PRO to clean an entire wall in my bathroom. It just glides over the grout lines.
Gaps: If the glass isn’t continuous, the gap can potentially be detected as an edge. For example, with my two-part mirrored cabinet, the robot only cleaned half of each section. It refused to cross the gap, even though it was only three millimetres wide.
Glass roofs: As I don’t have a conservatory or a glass table, I laid a large mirror flat across two chairs. The spray nozzle works from both above and below, so it adheres to the glass even upside down. However, its horizontal alignment is a lot less accurate. Several times, it only cleaned part of the pane. What’s more, when it’s upside down, not all of the spray reaches the glass and vaporises into the air.
In conclusion, the DDC55PRO cleans not only standard windows, but also a lot of other smooth surfaces and panes of glass. The manufacturer is deliberately limited when describing its range of applications with to avoid disappointment. I also can’t guarantee it’ll work flawlessly in your conservatory. However, my tests show that it’s capable of much more than you might think. It’s worth trying – but be sure to keep a close eye on the robot, at least to start with.
Affordable – but with fierce competition
The Hutt DDC55PRO costs around 180 Swiss francs or 200 euros at launch. This makes it one of the more affordable window cleaning robots on the market. However, the competition’s fierce. For example, last year’s excellent Ecovacs Winbot Mini also costs just under 190 Swiss francs in Switzerland. In the eurozone, it costs just under 220 euros.
However, the prices of Hutt’s previous year’s models have also dropped considerably.
In a nutshell
Better than expected
The Hutt DDC55PRO doesn’t cost much, but it delivers solid cleaning performance. The windows end up clean – as long as you don’t pay too much attention to detail. It gives good value for money.
The robot’s easy to use and quick to set up. In testing, it proved to be robust and handled frameless windows and divided glass surfaces with ease. However, mopping takes time. Those with patience and tolerance will find it a useful cleaning aid.
Pro
- Worth the price
- Straightforward
- Relatively quiet
- Suitable for different surfaces
Contra
- Slow
- Doesn’t reach into corners
- Somewhat imprecise when it comes to detail
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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