SALT LAKE CITY — The secret to a clean home may be a robot — or many — especially when it comes to taking care of tedious chores that could easily be automated by something with a programmed mind of its own. When human help isn't available, some are turning to robots to get dirty jobs done.

Robots are being designed to do just about every task you can think of: from spying underwater to digging in ancient archaeological sites. But what could they do at home?

Roomba

Made famous by Parks and Recreation, Gilmore Girls and Arrested Development, the Roomba robot has become a staple for people wanting a clean floor and be simultaneously entertained. It's circular and flat enough to carry an iHome across a room as it cleans.

Set it, forget it and let it sweep across any floor — carpet or hard. Cycles can vary in length, some going an hour, but many Roomba fans say the robot can take on a life of its own, following a random or sometimes repetitive pattern. While some complain that the robot doesn't clean deep enough, it's an easy fix for a multitasker.

The WinBot

A self-proclaimed "window cleaning robot," the WinBot is a rag-free solution for the high-rise dweller with dirty windows blocking a view. Cleaning small, reachable windows might not seem like enough work to merit a robot helper, but when it comes to bigger windows that can't be washed without a ladder or scaffolding, the WinBot can shine.

It works like a Roomba, but on a vertical scale defying gravity with its suction power, moving up and down windows. But it puts in a little more work by cleaning impossible streaks, sticky fingerprints and layers of dirt and dust. There's still human work involved — the underlying pads need to be sprayed with cleaning fluid. Just set it and check on it once in awhile to make sure it doesn't get stuck.

Rapiro

It's not like the Roomba or WinBot; the Rapiro is a humanoid robot designed to perform a variety of tasks, like making coffee. The LEGO-like robot is powered by a software the size of a credit card and it's fully customizable for users. It can manage calendars, tell the user what the weather is like and essentially act like a personal assistant.

The tiny white robot has big, doe eyes and is fully equipped with legs and arms and looks like it could be ready for battle.

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FoldiMate

If folding clothes is the bane of your existence, FoldiMate was made for you. It may be more ideal for retail store settings — the robot simply.

It can fold anything from shirts to towels to pants at the click of a button, according to its Kickstarter website. Folding a third of a washer load at a time, the site said the robot takes about half the time as manual folding.

What it looks like: It's not the typical robot — it can't walk and it can't glide across a room or window. It was designed at the robotics lab at the University of California, Berkeley. They're planning a bright future for the innovation, but for now, only a limited number are available through the Kickstarter campaign.

Photo Credit: Rapiro.