Vacuum cleaner

Homewares are a tried-and-true gift avenue, but candelabras and doormats can be pretty dull. That's why we've rounded up some of the coolest home gadgets and gifts to help your friends and family (or yourself) relax and make the most of the holiday season.

Last year, the Neato Botvac joined the Internet of Things with the Wi-Fi-enabled Botvac Connected, allowing users to boss it around with a smartphone app. Now the little robo-maid is earning its Connected title all over again, with Neato adding voice control functionality through Amazon’s Alexa.

Samsung has developed a new system for its vacuums that uses a turbine to keep stray strands of hair away from the grille, making it easier to clean and less likely to lose suction.

LG's latest robot vacuum, known as the HOM-BOT Turbo+, will have an impressive set of features, including remote camera capabilities and the ability to use your smartphone to select areas most in need of a clean. The device will be on show at CES 2016 next month.

Canadian company bObsweep unveiled the bObi Pet – its latest robot vacuum cleaner, which we put it against a two-bedroom flat that hadn't been vacuumed in 10 days and is home to a pair of dogs who shed like they're filling backorders..

At IFA, Neato Robotics is showing the latest dust-sucker to join its Botvac line. The Botvac Connected, as the name suggests, packs Wi-Fi connectivity for control from a user's smartphone.

Cleaning up liquids spilled into carpets can be difficult. That's why the SpillMate was created. It attaches to the hose of a conventional vacuum cleaner, allowing it to actually suck liquid out of the carpet.

According to Dyson, bed mattresses contain anywhere between 10,000 and two million dust mites that churn out around 40 million droppings per day and has announced its handheld V6 Mattress cleaner to deal with the pesky critters.

Circular robotic vacuum cleaners may be popular, but it's hard for them to reach dust and dirt in the corners of rooms. That's why Panasonic has gone with a triangular shape – a Reuleaux triangle, to be precise – for its new MC-RS1 Rulo robo-vac.

Today, the Dyson company unveiled its next step in vacuum technology, the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball, which does away with not only the bag, but the filter as well. Gizmag had the opportunity to get in early and put the Cinetic Big Ball Animal through its paces.

3D printing technology may be some way off producing fully functional household appliances, but tiny steps are being made toward helping us out with our domestic duties. Hoover has today unveiled two designs for vacuum accessories, freely available to all through online marketplace Thingiverse.

Dyson revolutionized the vacuum cleaner industry when it introduced its bagless vacuum cleaner. Now, the company hopes to do the same again, with the introduction of a robot that cleans without human assistance. The Dyson 360 Eye "sees" its environment and can be controlled using a mobile app.