Cleaning appliances designed to be the ingenious hacks you need to keep your home spick & span
If there’s one thing that COVID-19 has taught us (though there are plenty), it’s that maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, and sanitizing everything and anything in sight is a must. It’s also turned most of us into homebodies -irrespective of whether we were originally one or not. Our minds naturally focus on taking care of the home since we spend so much time there. At least it does for me, once I wrap up my work! A few innovative, unique appliances could really be helpful in this regard. These handy home appliances can help you if you are looking to do some Marie Kondo-style cleaning, or just to make your life easier. From a space-saving vacuum cleaner that breaks down into 4 parts to a futuristic toilet cleaning robot – we have curated a whole range of nifty gadgets that promise to be the ultimate sidekick during your cleaning expeditions at home. Have fun cleaning.
1. The Dayoo Kitchen Steam Cleaner & Dishwasher
With a nozzle inspired by a water-saving showerhead, the Dayoo Kitchen Steam Cleaner & Dishwasher permits you to use less water to clean more dishes in mere minutes.
Why is it noteworthy?
The modern dishwasher is an engineering marvel. But it has a few flaws. It’s sort of a carwash for your utensils. The nozzle within the dishwasher just senselessly sprays hot water in every possible direction, hoping to get food and grime off your utensils. It doesn’t necessarily target stains because it doesn’t ‘see’ them, and it wastes a massive amount of water trying to clean all your utensils regardless of their quantity and how they’ve been arranged on the trays. The kitchen sink is a much better option because it uses the right amount of water to clean a set of utensils. The problem, though, is that it requires effort manually scrubbing grime off your utensils. Dayoo combines both of these devices into one solution for the kitchen that combines both.
What we like
- Make cleaning utensils faster, effective, and energy-efficient
- The heated steam does a more efficient job of getting grease and food off your plates and spoons
What we dislike
- Dayoo can heat water up to temperatures of 221degF, which obviously raises safety concerns, but the company behind the appliance says that as long as your hand is 4 inches away from the nozzle, you’re fine
2. The Sebastiano
A new concept design for what they say is the “only designer robot in the world” has caught my attention as it says it will be my “home pal” and it was designed to be by my side. Sebastiano It’s actually a vacuum that sweeps, brushes, and vacuums any type of surface, including marble floors or wood floors.
Why is it noteworthy?
Another thing that may appeal to those who dislike those noisy old-school vacuum cleaners is that it is designed to be basically noiseless. The robot’s cleaning action should be quiet enough to not disrupt your audio or visual content, so even though you are watching TV, it shouldn’t disturb your listening. But it will apparently suddenly speak when the dust bin is already full and inform you that you need to empty it. The bin itself is triangular shaped and detachable so you won’t have any trouble getting rid of all that collected dust.
What we like
- When it’s not in use, it is programmed to go back to its charging port so you won’t trip on it
What we dislike
- There’s no app to help control it when it’s moving around
- It’s still a concept
3. H5
H5 is a multifunctional vacuum cleaner designed for small spaces that can break down into four parts that fit into a compact charging bin for easy storage.
Why is it noteworthy?
While living tiny is all the rage nowadays, it takes some skill to keep small city spaces clean. Vacuuming can be a tedious chore, especially if you have pets or live in an older apartment. Vacuuming small areas is easy, but storing bulky vacuum cleaners can be a hassle. To keep small spaces clean without the pain of storing big cleaning appliances, industrial designer Yipeng Zhu ideated a space-saving multifunctional vacuum cleaner called H5 that shrinks down to almost a 1/3 of its height.
What we like
- H5 keeps an overall slim build when assembled and when disassembled so it doesn’t take up too much space in storage
- H5 comes with three different vacuum heads that can be switched out for various cleaning needs
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept
4. Giddel Toilet Cleaning Robot
There almost comes a time when family members or housemates fight over the Porcelain Throne, but none actually like to stick around to clean it. It’s no surprise, considering all that happens inside the bathroom, that it ranks among the most disliked chores. You can hire others to do it, but that’s not the best option. Instead of paying a monthly expense for someone to clean your toilet, you could just purchase a robot. This adorable little robot is here to help you make life easier, at least for a few times.
Why is it noteworthy?
Given its purpose, Giddel almost seems too adorable to be dirty. Big blue eyes set on a black face almost look at you innocently while hovering in the middle of the toilet bowl. A push on one of those eyes, which are actually control buttons, sends Giddel methodically spinning and scrubbing that toilet clean, including the hard-to-reach places that you probably wouldn’t even dare touch.
What we like
- You can also use your choice of liquid cleaning solutions, so you won’t be locked into whatever the company sells, which is good because it doesn’t actually sell any
- Is critical for people with disabilities
What we dislike
- Giddel can itself get quite dirty and will require cleaning
5. Leo’s Loo Too
Looking almost like a slick front-loaded washing machine, the Leo’s Loo Too by Smarty Pear uses a similar rotating chamber to automatically ‘flush’ out your cat’s poo, saving you the trouble of digging away at kitty excrement with a scoop.
Why is it noteworthy?
After your cat has gone about its day, Leo’s Loo Too will wait for waste to settle before it begins its cleaning process. To clean out the cat’s waste, the entire inner chamber rotates a full 360, using gravity and a clever mesh design to sift out and separate the waste from the litter. At the end of one 360deg spin, the waste gets sent into the Loo’s waste drawer where it’s collected in a plastic waste bag, while the upper chamber is cleaned and laid down with the litter once again. The entire process happens automatically and can be controlled/calibrated via a companion smartphone app
What we like
- Sports a modern enclosed design
- The enclosed space means your cat can go about its business with utmost privacy
What we dislike
- Occupies a substantial amount of space
6. The AIPER Seagull 3000
Like a Roomba for your pool, the AIPER Seagull 3000 submerges itself in water to clean dirt in a way that your regular vacuum cleaner never could. Uniquely designed to work underwater (thanks to its rather clever floating battery unit), the AIPER Seagull 3000 filters water through its system, catching dirt, leaves, twigs, algae, and even that difficult-to-catch scum that your average cordless cleaner can’t grab.
Why is it noteworthy?
In turn, the AIPER Seagull 3000’s fine filtration system captures debris as small as 180 um preventing it from re-entering the water. You can operate it manually via a smartphone app or have it autonomously clean your pool’s floor, walls, and edges/corners efficiently with its 120W suction capability.
What we like
- The Seagull 3000 has an independent battery which just makes it a much stronger and more capable machine
- The floating battery makes the Seagull 3000 cordless, safe, and just as effective
What we dislike
- The wall-climbing feature doesn’t activate on critical battery levels, so you may need to gently pull the Seagull 3000 up using the battery line
7. BrushPro
BrushPro is extremely convenient to use compared to its forerunners. The extendable handle allows you to reach narrow spaces without having to perform advanced yoga poses on the floor and minimizes your direct contact with the dirty brush. It also features slits to allow the head of your brush to move around while you clean. This is a universal design that considers the needs and abilities of people with disabilities.
Why is it noteworthy?
The brush head includes rubber as well as fiber for more efficient cleaning. The slot in the detergent bottles allows you to refill the bottle and reuse it. This is a great feature that also saves money.
What we like
- A slot for the detergent bottle
- Combines two cleaning products in one
What we dislike
No complaints
8. AETHER
Imagine, after a long day, you walk into your home and pleasing music (you had preset) begins to play. To ensure that your home remains clean and fresh no matter what pollution has been inhaled, an air purifier is activated simultaneously. Designed in form of a turntable, AETHER is a concept that makes this possible.
Why is it noteworthy?
Clear air is essential for blood circulation and lungs. In fact, it is important for our well-being. And since the pandemic has pushed us all into the confines of our homes, we are spending approximately 90 percent of our time indoors. Studies show that indoor air contains five times the amount of pollutants as outdoor air. Even though we believe that our home air is clean, it may not be the purest. This is where AETHER comes in!
What we like
- The speaker is controlled remotely by a smartphone or smart device to play any music you like, well before you set foot into the house
What we dislike
- There is a lot of work that needs to be done to make it a valuable air purification device we’d want to vouch for
9. The Narwal T10
There is a growing number of robots invading our homes, but not in the nefarious way that many sci-fi flicks would have us believe. These robots roam around our rooms, picking up dirt, dust, and hair and sometimes even wiping off stains. Robot vacuum cleaners now come in all shapes and sizes, and it has become a bit more difficult to pick one unless they have some special feature or gimmick. The Narwal T10, the company’s first stab at a robot cleaner, advertises one such special skill, and we set it loose on the floor to check if it makes the cut.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Narwal T10 will immediately strike one as something so different from your usual robot vac, even the ones with 2-in-1 mopping and vacuuming functions. The robot’s base as well as the robot are covered in white. This color is associated with sanitation and cleanliness. Although it gives off a more minimalistic vibe, dirt and stains may be easier to see on its surface.
What we like
- 2-in-1 mopping and vacuuming functions
What we dislike
- You will need to empty the dust bin more often than not because of its small capacity
10. Air Spa
You know that age-old trend of drying yourself with a towel after a shower? Boring, no? And pretty time-consuming too, if you ask me. I mean it’s 2021, we definitely need a cooler way of drying ourselves. I guess BDCI Design thought the same because they designed ‘Air Spa’…a body dryer! Yes, you read that right. The South Korean design consultancy created a dryer for your body, and defines it as a “refreshing bathroom experience”. After you have taken a bath, the tall appliance vertically blows air out to dry your skin.
Why is it noteworthy?
So, where does the spa bit of ‘Air Spa’ come into play? The appliance’s unique form and height support various little holes that blow out air. The ‘air holes have multiple layers and can be placed vertically or horizontally as you like. So, you have air blowing at you from different angles and positions, mimicking the experience of a massage or spa. It’s almost like a wind bath if you ask me. It could also be the final step to unwind after a hard day at work.
What we like
- Air Spa’s interesting height makes it perfect for users of all ages. The vertical appliance can be used for children and adults alike
- Reduces our laundry load!
What we dislike
- Unsuitable for tiny bathrooms with space constraints