I love my city. But here, pigeon-feeding is rampant (which means droppings are everywhere), and picking up after dogs is still a new concept. In short, the sidewalks can be downright gross—and my family’s shoes pay the price. I spend a ton of time scrubbing them after every outing. That’s gross, too. Enter the ClearX, an intelligent shoe-cleaning robot that debuted at CES 2026.
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Created by Brolan, it tackles one of the home’s most tedious (and often overlooked) chores: shoe cleaning. The company says ClearX is the first smart shoe-cleaning robot that can wash, dry, and (optionally) sanitize your footwear. Its sensors detect material and dirt levels, and it automatically selects the right cleaning method.
As a city dweller, I speak for all urbanites when I say: why hasn’t someone made something like this sooner?
How ClearX works
Shaped like a baby bottle sanitizer, the ClearX allows a hands-off approach to shoe cleaning (thank goodness). Just place your shoes inside, and the robot does the rest. The built-in sensors detect both the material and dirt level, then select the cleaning cycle. For most shoes, micro-bubbles penetrate the fabric to lift dirt and grime with water alone, avoiding harsh detergents. Leather shoes, though, are treated differently, with gentle rollers that scrub the surface without soaking it.
Drying is handled with low-temperature airflow to protect delicate materials, and sanitization is optional, so you can skip it for shoes that don’t need it. Every step is automated—and you get clean shoes while you handle the rest of your to-do list.
I really appreciate the options to customize the cleaning and drying—we wear so many different types of shoes in my family that a one-size-fits-all solution wouldn’t work. And since it’s all automated, I can finally clean shoes while I make my 3rd coffee of the morning.
How ClearX Fits Into Daily Life
At first glance, this shoe-cleaning robot might seem concept-y, but it’s actually designed for daily use. It’s super user-friendly, and the system is sustainable; each cycle uses roughly one liter of water per pair. Also, the robot separates clean and used water into two tanks, reducing maintenance.
If you’re a parent, a busy professional, or just tired of scrubbing soles after a rainy walk or a messy park visit, ClearX could make a small but annoying daily task hands-free. Honestly, I’d pay just to avoid the mini meltdown that happens every time I try to clean sneakers covered in chocolate ice cream.
Is a Smart Shoe-Cleaning Robot Worth it?
ClearX is expected to retail between $500 and $800, so it’s on the expensive side. The robot is still a concept, though, and will launch on Kickstarter in May 2026. Likely, the design will go through another iteration or two before it becomes mainstream, and the company says it is trying to reduce the final cost.
Regardless, ClearX is a cool project. With the hundreds of hours I spend cleaning shoes per year, I’d be willing to invest in a gadget that saves me the time and the yuck factor. For anyone who hates scrubbing shoes, ClearX might just be the hands-off helper you didn’t know you needed.