IFA 2025 Round-Up: The Future Of Clean

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IFA, the world's largest home and consumer tech event, located in Berlin, Germany, officially began on Sept. 5, showcasing how advancements in technology can positively impact our everyday lives. There were a number of devices on display from companies based across the globe that presented ways to make our lives easier, whether with a robot lawn mower that simplifies lawncare or a device that can quickly and efficiently cook your meals for you. But there's one daily task we all could use some help with — cleaning. As I scoured the showroom floors, making my way through hundreds of companies that offered robot vacuums, window cleaners, pool cleaners, and more, Neakasa, AEG, and Haier stood out from the crowd.

I also had the chance to speak with their representatives at IFA and learn about what made their products truly exceptional in a market filled with several versions of the same thing. From sustainable features to unique designs brought to the world for the first time, the products from these brands offer an innovative way to clean.

Haier, a brand that specializes in home appliances, including ovens, washing machines, and air fryers, revealed its new dishwasher range, the I-Pro Shine with Biovitae technology, on Sept. 4 at IFA. Their patented Biovitae technology is an LED lighting system capable of eliminating nearly 100% of bacteria from not only your dishes, but also from the inside of the appliance itself. Consumers are also encouraged to use this feature, which is free of UV rays, to disinfect children's toys, makeup brushes, car keys, and more. I had the opportunity to look at the dishwasher myself, and enjoyed the several racks available to hold various-sized items, as well as the little basket it comes with to keep them organized.

After enjoying a meal, if you're worried that leaving dirty dishes in your dishwasher for a few hours will make it smell (because who doesn't do that?), you can also use the dishwasher's odor-safe mode that utilizes the Biovitae light to reduce odors and keep your dishwasher smelling fresh for about 10 hours. And if you forget to activate it before leaving your home for the day? You can remotely turn the LED light on with the hOn app, which also offers personalized tips based on your cleaning routine that can help save water and energy. Although it's uncertain whether the product will make it to the U.S., it is expected to be available for purchase in Europe by the end of 2025.

The Neakasa M1 was released early 2024, and is the world's first open-design self-cleaning cat litter box. If you have a cat, big or small, that loves to roam freely (which most do), this product was designed to allow them to easily come and go as they please without the fuss. "It causes less stress for them and creates a safer environment, compared to products with closed tops that may accidentally trap the cat inside," Yolanda Wu, Global Sales Director at Neakasa, told House Digest. The simple yet modern design caught my eye — not too bulky and too plain – which makes it a great option for a home that cares about aesthetics. 

Following its release, Neakasa sold 6,000 units on Amazon Prime Day, and 5,400 the year after in 2025. Aside from its innovative open design, cat owners don't have to worry about emptying their litter box for two weeks due to the device's ability to remove waste from the kitty litter and control odors with leak-proof trays. There's also a Neakasa app that gives curious cat owners — maybe too curious — a rundown of their pet's litterbox activity throughout the day and notifies them if the device needs more litter. And if you have two or more cats you need to monitor? Neakasa M1 is able to identify each one based on their weight.

Although only available in Europe, the AEG 7000 ProSteam showcases a different and much simpler way to clean your clothes while maintaining their quality. "This is a pro steam top loader, which uses steam to make the clothes softer while working sustainably," Product Manager at AEG, Daniel Gerbig, told House Digest. "It doesn't require a full cycle of washing, only a steam wash, which only uses 4 liters of water." The machine is also able to remove odors and wrinkles, which eliminates the chore of having to iron your clothes after washing them.

This steam washer is also Woolmark Blue certified, meaning it can safely clean wool items, which are known to be quite difficult to wash properly, and maintain their quality for longer. I noticed that the product is a bit small, so it can't handle large loads, but it might be worth it for those who have accidentally shrunken a sweater or two. And aside from using less water by cleaning with steam, the machine also has a ProSense feature that is capable of identifying how many items you've added inside the drum, which allows it to adjust the time and energy used to wash them.