Robots are getting smaller, smarter and more efficient, but they’re still cleaning our floors. The next generation household robot from iRobot is the Scooba 230, the world’s most compact floor washing robot, built small enough to clean in tight spaces, under and around furniture and bathroom fixtures.

“These new robots represent our ongoing commitment to developing innovative products that make a difference in people’s lives,” said Jeff Beck, president of iRobot’s Home Robots division. “While Roomba is already the world’s best-selling vacuum cleaning robot, we continue to make improvements to ensure it is the best on the market and stays at the head of the pack. With the compact Scooba 230, we focused on reducing size without compromising effectiveness and navigability. The launch of Scooba 230 has effectively made one of people’s least favorite household chores, cleaning the bathroom, a whole lot easier.”

At 3.5 inches tall and 6.5 inches in diameter, the Scooba 230 features a three-stage cleaning system: first it washes, then it scrubs and then it squeegees floors, neutralizing up to 97% of common household bacteria. Scooba 230 holds enough cleaning solution to scrub up to 150 square feet of linoleum, tile or sealed hardwood floors and includes a water management system so it never cleans your floors with dirty water. When Scooba is done washing your floor it lets you know with a couple beep-beep-boops.

iRobot Scooba 230 and the latest iRobot Roomba 700 Series vacuum cleaner will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 6th. They will be available for consumers this spring 2011. Price TBA.

Check out this video of PCMag’s Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff playing with the new bot.