Brolan is unveiling ClearX, an intelligent shoe-cleaning robot that washes, dries and sanitizes your shoes in one fully automated cycle.
The automated home appliance uses a micro-nano bubble spray, a pressure-sensing robotic arm with ultra-soft velvet sleeves. It dries below 50°C, cleaning each pair without harsh scrubbing, and it uses about one liter of water and no plumbing.
The user secures a pair of shoes in place and selects a mode. ClearX handles the rest, returning shoes that are clean, dry, and ready to wear in approximately 90 minutes in Auto Mode, without manual scrubbing. The company has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project.
Shoe care typically involves hand-scrubbing, machine-washing, or professional cleaning. Each has its trade-offs, from time and manual effort to material restrictions or per-pair costs. ClearX combines micro-nano bubble technology with sensor-guided robotic cleaning to deliver effective cleaning with gentler care.
Each shoe is held on its own rotating support, while micro-nano bubble spray reaches into fibers, seams, and textured surfaces to loosen dirt. An intelligent robotic arm uses multiple sensors to adapt to different shoe shapes and maintain even, controlled pressure across different areas. Its ultra-soft velvet sleeves gently wipe the surface, removing loosened dirt without harsh scrubbing or aggressive friction.
Together, these technologies clean the shoes without tumbling, helping reduce the risk of deformation and damage. It has low-temperature drying below 50°C / 122°F and ozone sanitization complete the Auto cycle, with controlled heat helping limit exposure to shoe materials and adhesives.
“I have more than 200 pairs of sneakers and a shoe wall at home, and for years I put off cleaning them because I didn’t trust any method to treat them well,” said Shiyou Dong, founder of Brolan, in a statement. “Scrubbing by hand took hours and worried me about delicate materials, and professional services added up fast across a large collection. We built ClearX so
people can spend less time scrubbing shoes or worrying about damaging their favorite pairs, and more time wearing them.”
One cycle, start to finish
01 Shoe placement: The user places each shoe on a dedicated support and installs
the supports in ClearX. Laces can stay on.
02 Choose a mode: The user selects Auto, Quick Clean, Deep Clean, or Drying
Mode on the machine or in the Brolan App.
03 Automatic setup: ClearX checks that the door is closed and the tanks are installed, then measures shoe length and selects the matching program.
04 Shoe care: Micro-nano bubble spray and robotic wiping clean the shoes, followed by low-temperature drying and ozone sanitization.
05 Cycle completion: The supports rotate the shoes toward the user, while a light and sound signals that they are ready to remove.
How ClearX works
ClearX uses its Micro-Nano Bubble Spray, which uses extremely small bubbles to penetrate fibers, seams, and textured surfaces. Two nozzles move up and down to cover the whole shoe using room-temperature tap water.
A three-degree-of-freedom arm moves around the shoe, with pressure sensing to help control
contact with the shoe as it cleans. Soft velvet sleeves replace conventional hard bristles, wiping the shoe surface with a gentler cleaning action.
An arm supports hold each shoe steady and rotate it to present every side to the cleaning system. Built-in air ducts also direct airflow during drying.
You can control the machine from your iOS or Android smartphone. ClearX has its own display and physical controls, so the app is optional. Through the Brolan App for iOS and Android, users can start a cycle, select a mode, and check progress and machine status remotely. The app also includes Shoe Wall, where users can add and organize their shoe collection with photos and basic details.
Shoe compatibility
ClearX works with water-washable footwear, including mesh, knit, and canvas sneakers, synthetic leather and fabrics, cotton and linen shoes, sports shoes, kids’
shoes, and any pair labeled “Washable” or “Machine Washable.”
It doesn’t work with suede, nubuck, patent leather, wool felt, heavy flocking, and embellished fashion shoes. It’s also doesn’t work with high heels, tall boots, certain high-tops, slippers, and irregular shapes may not fit the supports.
Supported shoe lengths: children 155–195 mm, women 205–250 mm, men 250–290 mm (up to about US 11.5–12). Users should follow each shoe manufacturer’s care instructions.
Product specifications
Capacity 1 pair per cycle
Cycle Time About 90 minutes in Auto Mode
Cleaning Micro-nano bubble spray + 3-DOF robotic arm with pressure control
Contact Material Ultra-soft velvet sleeves
Drying Dual-channel internal and external airflow, below 50°C / 122°F
Sanitization Micro-nano bubbles + warm air + integrated ozone module
Water Tanks 3.3 L clean water, 3 L wastewater. One full clean-water tank washes at
least three pairs of shoes across separate cleaning cycles.
Water Use About 1 L per full cycle
Plumbing None required
Noise ≤ 56 dB during cleaning and drying
Power AC, 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz; < 70W cleaning, < 450W drying
Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Brolan App for iOS and Android
Materials ABS + PC exterior; metal and corrosion-resistant internals
Dimensions 460 × 432 × 629 mm (preliminary)
Weight 23 kg / 50.7 lbs (preliminary)
Colors Metallic Light Gray, Metallic Blue
Children’s shoe support attachments are available separately. The velvet sleeves and cleaning solution are consumables: sleeves are expected to last about 3 to 6 months, and the solution about 1 to 3 months. ClearX cleans with water alone for everyday use, and the optional cleaning solution, with a plant-based formula in development, is intended for heavier stains.
Brolan is a Shenzhen, China-based technology company building smart products at the intersection of technology, design, and lifestyle. Its team brings together backgrounds in robotics, automation, engineering, and smart hardware.
ClearX began with the founder’s own frustration as a lifelong sneaker collector with more than 200 pairs. Unable to find a cleaning method he trusted, the team studied shoe materials, cleaning methods, water systems, drying, and sanitization, and refined the machine through extensive testing and multiple prototype iterations. ClearX is Brolan’s first product, and its core technologies are patent-pending in China.
Availability
ClearX launches on Kickstarter on November 10, 2026 at 8 p.m. (GMT +4), or 9 a.m. Pacific time. Early backers can reserve the device at a special Super Early Bird price. Estimated delivery is in May, 2027.