Robots at CES 2026 Tackle Laundry in Major Home Helper Breakthrough

The future of household help just took a giant leap forward at CES 2026, where humanoid robots proved they're ready to tackle the chore many of us dread most: laundry.

LG unveiled CLOi, a household robot designed to handle everything from meal prep to loading the washing machine. SwitchBot introduced the Onero H1, built specifically for everyday home tasks. Boston Dynamics, WIRobotics, and Zeroth joined the lineup with even more impressive humanoid helpers, each promising to transform how we manage our homes.

What makes laundry such a milestone? It's one of the most complex household tasks out there. Think about all the steps involved: collecting dirty clothes, sorting by color and fabric, loading the washer, transferring to the dryer, folding, and putting everything away. Each step requires different skills, from fine motor control to decision making. If a robot can master laundry, it can handle just about anything around the house.

The Verge put these bold claims to the test right on the show floor. Senior smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy visited booth after booth, watching robots load washers and fold clothes with surprising dexterity. Thanks to recent advances in AI and robotics, these machines are genuinely smarter and more capable than previous generations.

Why This Inspires

This isn't just about avoiding a tedious chore. It's about giving people time back for what matters most. Parents could spend more quality time with their kids. Elderly individuals could maintain independence in their homes longer. People with disabilities could gain newfound freedom. When technology handles the mundane, humans get to focus on the meaningful.

We've already seen single-purpose robots succeed beautifully. Robot vacuums clean our floors. Automated mowers maintain our lawns. These specialized helpers proved that robots can integrate seamlessly into our daily lives. Now, humanoid robots are ready to take the next step, handling multiple tasks with the same versatility a human would bring.

During her CES investigation, Tuohy spoke with the president of Roborock, a leader in robot vacuum technology, and the CEO of Zeroth, one of the newest humanoid startups. Their insights revealed an industry at a turning point. The question isn't whether humanoid home helpers will arrive, but when they'll become affordable and accessible for average households.

The Ripple Effect

As these robots move from demo booths to real homes, they'll spark a broader transformation in how we think about domestic work. The time savings could be enormous. The average person spends about eight hours per month on laundry alone. Multiply that across millions of households, and we're talking about billions of hours freed up for family, creativity, rest, and community engagement.

The robots showcased at CES 2026 represent more than technological achievement. They're a glimpse into a future where our homes truly work for us, where innovation serves everyday needs, and where the promise of helpful AI becomes a practical reality in our laundry rooms, kitchens, and living spaces.