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TECH NOW: Gadgets tackle big spring cleaning chores

A look at a gutter-cleaning robot and other household gadgets.

winbot

The Winbot automated window washer.(Photo: Ecovacs)

Story Highlights

  • Clean your gutters with iRobot's Looj 330
  • Tackle garage cleanup with tips on Pinterest
  • Try shopping site Quirky for accessories to organize cords and plugs

If the idea of scouring, scrubbing, and squeegee-ing your home into tip-top shape in time for summer makes you cringe, there are a few high tech tools that can help.

The first job you can tackle with tech is cleaning out your gutters with the iRobot Looj 330[1] gutter cleaning robot. It's really easy to use and keeps you from having to stand on your tippy-toes on the top of your ladder for too long.

All you do is charge it up, put it in one end of your gutter, and use the wireless controller to send it on its way. The auger spins at 500 RPM, kicking out debris, leaves, and muck, while still being sensitive enough to stop and backup if it hits an overhang or other major impediment. It was even recently redesigned to ensure that it fits in smaller spaces. The Looj stays charged for three hours and can clean 30 feet of gutter in just five minutes.

This kind of set it and forget it slacking isn't cheap, the Looj runs about $300. But according to homeadvisor.com[2], if you pay someone else to do it for you just once, it costs an average of $200 or more. (That's the argument I used with myself to get one of my own recently.)

There are also robots that wash your windows[3], scrub your floors[4] and even vacuum[5] your entire house. But not all "smart" cleaning gadgets need an on-switch to win big in the battle against the dust-bunnies.

Shopping site Quirky[6] has a dozen or so devices to better tackle and help you tolerate chores. I'm loving the Broom-Groomer[7], a step-on dustpan that traps dirt, dust and debris with brilliantly simple rubber "teeth."

RELATED: The window washing robot in action[8]

Quirky also has several tools to help you cut the cord clutter, such as Cordies[9] and the Plug Hub[10]. Both can help you bring some sanity to all those tangled power cords.

For everything else, there's savvy outsourcing. Websites Task Rabbit[11] and Zaarly[12] help you find the right person for the job, for a price you can afford to pay. That still might leave you with a few chores that only you can do. Website howtocleanstuff.net[13] gives you a spring-cleaning checklist, plus all sorts of tips, tricks and insights.

RELATED: A guide to maintaining your kitchen appliances[14]

RELATED: How to spring clean your washer/dryer[15]

When it comes to a massive clean-up, don't forget social media eye-candy site Pinterest[16]. Among the food and shopping beauty shots, you'll find links to clean out your garage in 12-easy steps[17], or a recipe for making homemade all-purpose cleaner[18]. Just don't get too distracted by inspirational quotes or food-porn. There will plenty of time for that as soon as you're spring-cleaning is out of the way.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. Email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." title="http://mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./" style="color: inherit; text-decoration: none;" name="readabilityLink-19" id="readabilityLink-19" target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.[19]. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly[20].

References

  1. ^ http://store.irobot.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13081876 (store.irobot.com)
  2. ^ http://homeadvisor.com/ (homeadvisor.com)
  3. ^ http://www.ecovacs.com/bot/Winbot-Winbot%207%20Series.html (www.ecovacs.com)
  4. ^ http://www.irobot.com/en/us/robots/home/scooba.aspx (www.irobot.com)
  5. ^ http://www.irobot.com/us/robots/home/roomba.aspx (www.irobot.com)
  6. ^ http://www.quirky.com/ (www.quirky.com)
  7. ^ http://www.quirky.com/products/36 (www.quirky.com)
  8. ^ http://www.washerdryerinfo.com/features/a-brighter-future-with-cleaner-windows-video?utm_source=spikes&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=collab (www.washerdryerinfo.com)
  9. ^ http://www.quirky.com/products/84 (www.quirky.com)
  10. ^ http://www.quirky.com/products/64 (www.quirky.com)
  11. ^ http://www.taskrabbit.com/ (www.taskrabbit.com)
  12. ^ http://zaarly.com/ (zaarly.com)
  13. ^ http://howtocleanstuff.net/ (howtocleanstuff.net)
  14. ^ http://www.dishwashersinfo.com/features/how-to-clean-almost-every-appliance-in-your-kitchen?utm_source=spikes&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=collab (www.dishwashersinfo.com)
  15. ^ http://www.washerdryerinfo.com/features/tips-for-cleaning-washers-and-dryers?utm_source=spikes&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=collab (www.washerdryerinfo.com)
  16. ^ http://pinterest.com/ (pinterest.com)
  17. ^ http://pinterest.com/pin/15129348720634186/ (pinterest.com)
  18. ^ http://xn--http-4ea79a//pinterest.com/pin/238127899019865217/ (â¢http)
  19. ^ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." title="http://mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./" name="readabilityFootnoteLink-19" id="readabilityFootnoteLink-19" target="_blank">http://mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ (usatoday.com)
  20. ^ http://twitter.com/jenniferjolly (twitter.com)
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