Update | Brolan unveils Smart Shoe Cleaning Robot 1.0

Brolan has unveiled the Smart Shoe Cleaning Robot 1.0 at CES 2026. The combination washer and dryer comes in two versions, one designed for direct plumbing hook-up and one with a fresh water tank. It is designed for shoes made of canvas, fabrics, certain leathers, and mixed materials that can normally be washed, but not shoes made of genuine leather and similar materials that cannot be washed.

The Smart Shoe Cleaning Robot is designed to spray microbubbles under 50 µm in size to penetrate fibers while breaking up dirt and bacteria. The machine uses infrared sensors to detect the size and shape of the shoe, then dynamically selects the cleaning mode and water jet pressure to match the shoe material. The arms are driven by a variety of geared motors to reach all shoe surfaces, including the interior, while non-abrasive microfiber rollers help remove dirt and debris.

The Brolan uses 4 liters of water (0.26 gallons) per wash cycle, which includes self-cleaning of the inner chamber after each use. Shoes are dried at 50°C (122 °F) for 30 to 60 minutes. The machine generates less than 55 dB of noise in the wash cycle and less than 60 dB of noise in the dry cycle, says the company. Users can schedule, check, and operate the machine remotely using the smartphone app, which also catalogs all the shoes it has encountered.

The Brolan Shoe Cleaner Kickstarter campaign will begin in May 2026. Pricing is expected to be around $600, but interested readers can sign up to be notified of updates. Naturally, there's no guarantee that readers who wear collectible shoes like the Nike Men's Kobe 9 Elite can expect washed shoes to look as good as new.