At this year’s CES, humanoid robots appeared closer than ever to becoming a reality in homes. LG unveiled CLOiD, a household robot designed to handle tasks like food preparation and loading the washing machine. SwitchBot showcased the Onero H1, a robot built to assist with daily chores, while Boston Dynamics, WIRobotics, Zeroth, and other companies presented even more advanced models. These machines represent a major leap in robotics and AI, with improved mobility, dexterity, and decision-making. Despite these advances, one task remains stubbornly out of reach: doing the laundry. While we already have robots that vacuum floors and mow lawns, the full laundry cycle—collecting clothes, sorting by color and fabric, loading and unloading machines, folding, and putting items away—remains a complex challenge. At CES, nearly every humanoid robot maker claimed their machine could handle laundry, with live demos showing robots placing clothes into washers and attempting to fold them. The Verge put these promises to the test on the show floor, sending senior smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy to evaluate whether these robots are truly ready for real-world use or if they’re just polished examples of CES hype. She tested multiple models, observing their performance in real-time tasks, from picking up scattered clothes to folding a T-shirt. Along the way, she spoke with key figures in the robotics industry, including the president of Roborock, a leader in robot vacuums, and the CEO of Zeroth, a new entrant in the humanoid space. Their insights revealed a growing debate: Is the future of home robotics in versatile, human-like machines, or will it remain with specialized, single-purpose devices that do one thing exceptionally well? While the humanoid robots at CES were impressive in their movements and design, many struggled with basic tasks—dropping clothes, misjudging fabric types, or failing to fold items properly. The gap between demonstration and real-life reliability remains wide. The question isn’t just technical—it’s practical. How much do people actually want a robot to do for them? And are we willing to wait years for a robot that can handle laundry, or would we prefer a smarter vacuum or a robotic drawer organizer today? The answer may lie not in one robot doing everything, but in a smart ecosystem of devices working together. For now, the dream of a fully autonomous laundry robot remains just out of reach—though the progress shown at CES suggests we’re getting closer.