Xiaomi vacuum cleaners are no longer a curiosity, they have become indispensable assistants in everyday life, saving time and effort during cleaning. But many owners still do not use them at full capacity, especially when it comes to wet cleaning. Washing floors with a Xiaomi vacuum cleaner requires not only the right setting, but also understanding the nuances, from choosing a mode to cleaning a napkin and a water tank.
In this article, we will learn how to make the most of the floor washing function on Xiaomi Mi Robot, Viomi, Dreame and others, avoiding the typical errors. You will learn what settings are optimal for different types of coatings, how to extend the life of accessories and what to do if the vacuum cleaner leaves a divorce or poorly cleans the contamination, and also secrets that the manufacturer does not always specify in the instructions.
Which Xiaomi models support the function of floor washing?
Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners can wash floors, a feature available in mid- and premium models equipped with a water tank and a napkin.
- 🤖 Xiaomi Mi Robot Mop are basic models with wet cleaning function (e.g. Mi Robot Mop 2 Lite).
- 💧 Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop are hybrid devices that combine dry and wet cleaning (Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P).
- 🌟 Dreame (a sub-brand of Xiaomi) are advanced models with wash intensity control (DreameBot L10 Pro, DreameBot D9).
- 🏠 Viomi (Xiaomi ecosystem) – robots with support for multi-level cleaning (Viomi V3, Viomi SE).
To check if your model supports a wash, note the presence of:
- 🔋 Removable water tank (usually white or transparent)
- 🧼 Fixings for a microfiber napkin on the bottom panel.
- 📱 The options are "Floor Wash" or "Wet Clean" in the Mi Home mobile app.
If your vacuum cleaner is not equipped with a water tank, but you want to wash the floors, you can buy an adapter for wet cleaning (for example, for Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum 1S).
Preparation of the vacuum cleaner for floor washing: step-by-step instructions
Before starting cleaning, you need to properly prepare the device, neglecting this stage often leads to divorces, leaks or poor quality of the wash.
Make sure the water tank is clean and dry |Pour the water (or detergent solution) to the mark MAX|Preview the fastening of the napkin - it should fit tight |Remove large garbage and wires from the floor |Close the doors to rooms where cleaning is not needed |Select the appropriate washing mode in the application-->
Let’s look at each item in more detail:
- Water tank filling. Use distilled or boiled water to prevent plaque from forming inside the tank. For severe contaminants, you can add 1-2 caps of a special cleaning agent for robot vacuum cleaners (for example, Xiaomi Mi Robot Detergent). Do not use conventional detergents! They can damage the napkin and machinery.
- Installation of a napkin. The napkin should be evenly spread out and secured to a plastic holder. If it shrivels during cleaning, the quality of the wash will deteriorate, and there will be stripes on the floor.
- Select mode. In the Mi Home or Dreame app, select: 🌊 Weak sink for laminate and parquet. 💦 Medium sink for tile and linoleum. 🌀 Intensive washing for persistent contaminants (requires frequent water change).
⚠️ Warning: If your vacuum cleaner supports a Z-shaped cleaning function (e.g. DreameBot L10 Pro), turn it on to distribute water evenly. Otherwise, dry stripes may remain.
What type of washing mode to choose for different types of coatings?
Not all flooring is equally well tolerated by wet cleaning. Excessive moisture can spoil laminate or parquet, and insufficient flooring will not wash the tiles. The table below shows the optimal mode for each floor type.
| Type of coating | Recommended treatment | Frequency of cleaning | Additional advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| laminate | Weak wash (Low) | 1 time 3-4 days | Use a napkin with a low pile. Avoid puddles - wipe them dry immediately. |
| parquet | Weak washing (Low) or dry cleaning | 1 time in 5-7 days | Pre-vacuum the floor to remove abrasive particles. |
| Tile (ceramics, porcelain) | Medium or intensive washing (Medium/High) | Every day or every other day | For inter-tiled seams, use an angle nozzle (if included). |
| linoleum | Medium wash (Medium) | 2-3 times a week | Do not use hot water – it can deform the coating. |
| Marble, natural stone | Weak wash (Low) | 1 time per week | After cleaning, wipe the floor with a dry cloth to avoid divorces. |
If your vacuum cleaner supports zoning (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro), set up different modes for each room, such as the kitchen can turn on an intensive wash, and the bedroom – a weak one.
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To remove persistent contaminants (such as footprints), apply a little detergent on the stain and let it soak up for 5-10 minutes.
Common mistakes in floor washing and how to avoid them
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that reduce the efficiency of cleaning or even harm the vacuum cleaner.
- 🚫 Use of ordinary tap water, which causes limestone to run in the tank and tubes, which impairs the water supply, and always use filtered or distilled water.
- 🧹 Forgetting to clean the water tank, if you don't flush the tank after every cleaning, bacteria will multiply inside, and the vacuum cleaner will spread an unpleasant odor.
- 🔋 They don't monitor the charge level. If the battery runs out during the wash, the robot can stop in the middle of the room, leaving wet marks.
- 🧼 Adding too much detergent leads to abundant foam that the vacuum cleaner cannot remove completely, leaving sticky stains on the floor.
⚠️ Warning: If your Xiaomi vacuum cleaner is starting to leave stripes or is not washing corners well, check the health of the wipe. Over time, the microfiber wears out and stops absorbing water. The optimal replacement time is every 2-3 month in daily use.
Another common problem is that the robot avoids wet areas, and this is because of the humidity sensors that go off when water spills outside the napkin, so to avoid puddles, always check the tank's tightness before cleaning.
Care for accessories: how to extend the life of a napkin and a water tank
The health of the napkin and the water tank not only determines the quality of the cleaning, but also the life of the vacuum cleaner itself.
1. Cleaning the water tank
After each cleaning:
- Pour the remaining water.
- Wash the tank with warm water with a mild detergent (such as dishwashing liquid).
- Dry in the air in an inverted form to avoid mold.
Once a month, you should do a deep cleaning:
- Soak the tank in a solution of vinegar (1:1 with water) for 30 minutes.
- Clean the water supply tubes with a soft brush.
2. Washing and storage of napkins
Microfiber wipes can be washed in a typewriter at 30-40°C without bleach, air drying is better, avoiding direct sunlight, do not iron the napkin! This will damage the fibers.
What happens if you don't wash your napkin?
Keep the napkin in a dry place by folding it beforehand, rather than folding it, which will help to avoid deformation of the fibers.
3. Maintenance of nozzles and brushes
If your vacuum cleaner has a side brush to collect garbage around the edges, clean it regularly from wound hair and thread.
- Remove the brush (usually it is attached to the latches).
- Remove the garbage with a knife or tweezers.
- Wash the brush underwater and dry.
Additional features to improve washing: zoning, maps and schedule
Xiaomi’s modern robot vacuum cleaners support a number of features that make cleaning smarter and more efficient.
- 🗺️ Room mapping. Models with LDS- lasers (like DreameBot L10 Pro) build an accurate map of the apartment, allowing you to set up cleaning areas and avoid obstacles. In the Mi Home app, you can divide the space into rooms and assign a wash mode to each.
- ⏰ Cleaning schedule. Set up automatic cleaning for when you're not at home, for example, you can program a robot to wet the kitchen every day at 10:00, and dry cleaning the bedroom every other day at 14:00.
- 🚫 Taboo zones: Mark the areas that the robot has to go around (such as carpets or places where the wires are) in the app, and that will prevent unwanted surfaces from getting wet.
- 🔄 Re-cleaning: Double Cleaning (in some models) causes the vacuum cleaner to go through the same area twice, collecting dust first, then my floor, which is especially useful for the kitchen or the hallway.
If your vacuum cleaner supports voice control through Alice or Google Assistant, you can start cleaning with your voice, for example, the phrase "Alice, start washing the kitchen floors" will work if the robot is integrated into the smart home system.
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Using maps and zoning increases cleaning efficiency by 40% and reduces water consumption, as the robot does not waste time processing unnecessary areas.
Solving problems: the robot is bad washing, leaves divorces or does not go to wet areas
Even with the right setup, there are sometimes problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Robot leaves divorces | Too much detergent or a dirty wipe | Wash the napkin, reduce the amount of detergent, use distilled water |
| Vacuum cleaner avoids wet areas | A humidity sensor is triggered or a water tank leaks | Check the tightness of the tank, wipe the sensors with a dry cloth. |
| Poor quality of washing | Worn napkin or low water level | Replace the napkin, add water to the mark MAX |
| Robot doesn't wash corners | The napkin shifted or insufficient water pressure | Check the fastening of the napkin, select the intensive wash mode. |
| After cleaning, there are puddles left. | Faulty pump or clogged tubes | Clean the water supply system, contact the service center |
If none of these things worked, try resetting the vacuum cleaner to the factory.
- Press the Reset button (usually located on the case) for 5-10 seconds.
- Connect the vacuum cleaner to the Mi Home app again.
- Update the firmware to the latest version.
⚠️ Warning: If your Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner starts making unusual noises (like gurgling) during washing, stop cleaning immediately and check the system for air in the tubes.