How to properly clean the brushes of the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: from disassembly to drying

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners have become an integral part of the modern smart home, but their effectiveness depends on the condition of the brushes. Rotating elements clogged with hair, dust and debris not only reduce the quality of cleaning, but can also lead to engine failure or overheating. According to service centers, up to 40% of the treatments of Xiaomi Mi Robot, Viomi or Dreame vacuum cleaners are due to brush pollution, which users ignore for months.

In this article, we will discuss the step-by-step cleaning algorithm for both the main roller brush and the side (end) brushes, and also discuss hidden nuances that the manufacturer does not always specify in the instructions, for example, why you can not wash your brushes in the dishwasher or how to properly remove wound hair without damaging the plastic blades.

Why Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner brushes get dirty fast

The design of the robot vacuum brushes involves intense contact with the floor, which inevitably leads to the accumulation of garbage.

• 🧵 Hair -- human or animal hair is wound onto the shaft of the brush, forming a dense layer that blocks rotation, especially for longhaired pet owners.
• 🧹 Small debris – dust, sand and dirt particles penetrate bearings and fastening mechanisms, causing creaking or jamming.
• 🧼 Sticky substances – food residues, tar, or adhesive tapes stick to the bristles, attracting additional dirt.
• 🔧 Wear of materials – over time, the bristles lose their elasticity, and plastic parts become covered with microcracks where dust accumulates.

Xiaomi engineers say that brushes need cleaning every 3-5 cycles for daily cleaning, and after each switching on, when used intensively (such as in homes with animals).

• ⚡ A 30-50% reduction in suction power due to clogged channels.
• 🔥 Overheating of the brush engine (risk of fire in critical pollution).
• 💸 Early replacement of brushes - their resource is reduced by 2-3 times.

What tools will be needed for cleaning

Xiaomi's robot vacuum cleaner doesn't need professional tools to clean the brushes, but some tools will make it much easier.

For models with a self-cleaning base (for example, Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro) additionally require:

• 🧽 Special Base Brush (Combined or purchased separately)
• 🔧 Cross-shaped screwdriver for disassembling the base (if deep cleaning is required).

⚠️ Warning: Never use metal brushes or abrasive sponges - they damage plastic blades and bristles, reducing the life of the brush by 60-70%.

Step-by-step: how to clean the main brush

The primary brush is the most vulnerable element in a robot vacuum cleaner, and cleaning it requires care, especially if the brush is equipped with rubber blades (as in the Dreame D9 or Viomi V3).

1. Brush extraction: Turn the robot off the power. Turn it over and find the brush latchers (usually the latches on the sides). Press them and pull the brush over yourself. In some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum 1S), the brush is screwed — use a screwdriver.
2. Hair and debris removal: Remove plastic plugs from the ends of the brush (they are fixed by latches); with a toothpick or tweezers remove the wound hair from the bearings; To simplify the task, you can use scissors to cut dense tangles. 💡 If your hair is heavily pressed, soak your brush in warm water for 10-15 minutes, which will soften the dirt and make it easier to clean.
3. Wash: Prepare a solution of warm water with liquid soap (do not use aggressive detergents!). immerse the brush in the solution for 20-30 minutes, then clean the bristles with a soft brush. For rubber blades, use a silicone sponge to avoid damaging the material.
4. Drying and assembly: Dry the brush with a hair dryer (cold air mode!) or leave it for 24 hours at room temperature. Make sure there is no moisture left inside the shaft - this can cause bearings to corrosion. Set the brush back by fixing the latches.

Disconnect the robot from the network |

Remove the brush according to the instructions |

Remove hair from bearings |

Wash the bristles with soapy solution |

Dry the brush before installation-->

⚠️ Warning: In laser-navigated models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P), after cleaning the brush, you may need to calibrate the sensors. Place the robot on a flat surface and hold the power button for 5 seconds.

Side (end) brush cleaning

Side brushes, despite their smaller size, require equal attention, and their contamination leads to uneven cleaning along the walls and increased load on the main brush.

• 🔄 Removable mechanism: Side brushes are mounted on latches or screws. In Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum E10 models, it is enough to pull the brush up to extract it, in Viomi V2 it will require a screwdriver.
• 🧹 Bristles vs. rubber petals: The bristles are cleaned with a soft brush with soapy solution. Rubber petals (as in Dreame Bot Z10 Pro) are rubbed with an alcohol solution to remove sticky deposits.
• ⚙️ Bearing check: If the brush is rotating with difficulty, drip 1-2 drops of silicone lubricant into the axis of the fastening (do not use oil-based oil!).

For models with double side brushes (such as Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite), clean them alternately so as not to confuse the sides - the left and right brushes may differ in shape.

Mistakes in cleaning brushes: what not to do

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that lead to the breakdown of the brushes or robot.

• 🚫 Using sharp objects to remove hair – knives or scissors can scratch the shaft or cut the bristles.
• 🚫 Dishwasher washing – high temperatures deform plastic and detergents corrode rubber parts.
• 🚫 Drying on a battery or under direct sunlight – results in cracking of plastic and loss of rubber elasticity.
• 🚫 Ignoring bearings – if you do not clean the axis of the mount, the brush will begin to “beat” when rotating, which leads to engine wear.

Another critical mistake is the wrong build, for example, if you mix the sides of the main brush (on many Xiaomi models, one side has a marker in the form of an arrow), this will lead to:

• ↻ Incorrect rotation direction (dust will be scattered rather than collected).
• 🔊 Increased noise during operation.
• ⚡ Engine overload due to increased resistance.

💡

After cleaning, always check your brushes for cracks or deformities, and damaged brushes reduce cleaning efficiency by 40% and can damage flooring.

Cleaning brushes in Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners with self-cleaning base

Self-cleaning models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro or DreameBot X30 Ultra) have an automated brush cleaning system, but that doesn’t mean they don’t require manual maintenance.

• 🤖 Automatic washing: After returning to base, the robot lowers the brush into a water tank, where the rotating rollers remove the underlying dirt, but hair and large debris often remain on the shaft.
• 💧 Water reservoir: Requires weekly cleaning - drain the water, flush the container and filter (use vinegar solution to remove plaque).
• 🔄 Manual cleaning: Once a month, remove the brush and clean the bearings manually (automatics can't handle dense contaminants).

For deep base cleaning:

1. Disconnect the base from the network and remove the water tank.
2. Remove the brush for manual cleaning (see instructions above).
3. Wash the rollers of the base under running water, removing the plaque with a sponge.
4. Dry all the elements before assembly (moisture in the base can cause short circuit!).

In models with UV drying (for example, DreameBot L20 Ultra) after cleaning, it is recommended to start the drying cycle, even if the brushes appear dry - this will prevent mold formation.

How often to clean your brushes: Xiaomi recommendations

Xiaomi makes clear guidelines for brush care depending on the intensity of the robot vacuum, and here are the official data from the service manual:

It is important to consider the type of flooring:

• 🧵 Long-pile carpets – brushes become polluted 2-3 times faster.
• 🪵 Parquet or laminate – require more frequent cleaning of rubber brushes (sticky dirt sticks more actively).
• 🏡 Tile is the least aggressive for brushes, but dust accumulates in bearings.

The life of the brushes also depends on the quality of the water, if the robot supports wet cleaning. In regions with hard water, lime plaque forms on the bristles - in this case, wash the brushes with a solution of citric acid (1 tbsp. spoon per 1 liter of water).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Xiaomi brushes