Forward-thinking homemakers will find a willing manservant in the Roomba Pro Elite, a self-sufficient vacuum from iRobot. Turn it on and walk away — neither stairs nor harmless brushes with furniture will prevent the device from completing a three-stage cleaning process as it careens around user-defined areas. Four power settings and spot-mode functions tackle even the toughest jobs, and the unit automatically adjusts to accommodate multiple floor surfaces. Its remote control further renders cleaning under the bed — and scaring pets senseless — a snap. $250. www.roombavac.com