1. Confirm this exact job is compatible
Open the exact model manual and confirm the pane type, clear width and height, angle, frame or frameless edge, coating, temperature and indoor or exterior use. Inspect the glass for cracks, looseness, chips, deep seams, decals, condensation, oil and heavy debris. Check the window hardware and make sure an opening sash is stable.
Do not start when a required specification is missing. Mark the job verify first and ask the robot or glass manufacturer. Past success on a different pane is not proof that today's surface and conditions are compatible.
2. Inspect the robot and cleaning system
Check the housing, handle, attachment point, drive surfaces, sensors, spray nozzles and pads. Pads should be clean, correctly fitted and prepared with only the solution amount the manual specifies. Remove grit that could scratch glass. Do not operate a unit with cracks, unusual odor, damaged connectors or a persistent error.
Confirm maintenance intervals and pad orientation. A saturated pad is not extra cleaning power; it may smear or reduce traction. Keep spare clean pads ready for a large or dirty pane rather than extending one pad beyond a useful pass.
3. Verify power and emergency protection
Fully charge the backup battery or station as instructed. Inspect the approved adapter, cable, connectors and strain relief. Connect components completely and keep them dry. Plan enough reach for the entire route without tension, unapproved extensions, pinch points or trip hazards.
Identify the normal-ready signal, low-suction warning, power-loss alarm and physical stop control. Know the exact retrieval steps before attachment. Emergency battery time is model-specific and may be shorter in real conditions; it is not normal cordless runtime.
4. Set the tether and work zone
Inspect the supplied rope, connector, robot attachment and fixed indoor anchor. Attach it before placing the robot on glass, route it clear of sharp edges and use only the prescribed slack. Never rely on a person, movable furniture, sash or handle as the anchor.
For exterior or elevated glass, clear and control the area below. Keep children, pets, neighbors, pedestrians, vehicles and fragile items away. Postpone the job if that area cannot be controlled or if wind, rain, condensation, frost or temperature falls outside the manual's limits.
5. Attach, supervise and finish deliberately
Hold the robot by its handle, follow the prescribed startup sequence and wait for normal adhesion before releasing it. Start from the documented position. Stay close enough to see or hear warnings and intervene safely. Stop for slipping, repeated path errors, cable snags, pad bunching, obstacles or pressure alerts.
At completion, grip the handle from a stable position and use the documented stop and removal order. Do not switch off suction before the robot is securely in hand. Clean and dry the unit, pads and tether as directed, inspect for damage and record any fault before storage.
The five automatic stop conditions
Do not begin—or stop and retrieve safely—when compatibility is uncertain, the tether or anchor fails inspection, weather or glass is wet, the work zone below is uncontrolled, or recovery would require leaning or climbing. No convenience or product score should override these gates.
Print or save this checklist near the robot, but update it when the exact manual changes or a new model is purchased. General guidance supports the manual; it never replaces it.
Questions readers ask
Do I need the checklist for an indoor ground-floor window?
Yes. The consequences may be lower, but glass compatibility, pad condition, power, secure attachment and supervision still matter.
How often should I inspect the tether?
Before every run and after storage, abrasion, impact or any load event, following the manufacturer's replacement rules.
What is the most important reason to postpone cleaning?
Any failed safety gate: uncertain compatibility, damaged equipment or glass, unsafe weather, no fixed anchor, uncontrolled space below or unsafe retrieval.