Wet cleaning by Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner: instructions, settings and life hacks

Xiaomi’s vacuum cleaners are no longer just smart brooms. The current Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop, Dreame or Viomi series is capable of not only collecting dust, but also cleaning floors properly, provided you have the right setup, but many owners face problems such as laminate divorces, poorly washed stains, rapid water consumption or, conversely, excessive humidity that damages parquet.

In this article, we'll look at everything about wet cleaning by Xiaomi robots, from the preparation of the room to the intricacies of customizing the mobile application, focus on compatibility with different types of coatings, the choice of detergents and the typical errors that shorten the life of the equipment, and also tell you how to get the robot to wash the floors more efficiently than 90% of users.

Spoiler: If your Xiaomi leaves dirty stripes or avoids wet areas, the problem is not the robot, but the settings. We fix it in 10 minutes.

1.What Xiaomi models support wet cleaning?

Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners can wash floors. The wet cleaning feature appeared in the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop line (starting with the first version of 2019) and has evolved into more advanced series. Here are the key models with support for moping:

Importantly, even if your model can wash floors, not all coatings are compatible with wet cleaning, such as flooring, cork floors or unlaced wood, you can't be washed by a robot, it will lead to deformation. Read more about compatibility in the next section.

How do you check if your model supports wet cleaning? Look at the specs in the Mi Home app or on the box - look for mentions of mopping, wet cleaning or a water drop pictogram.

2. Preparation of the room: what to do before cleaning

Xiaomi's robot is not a human being, it doesn't realize that the carpet in the hallway is better to bypass and the vase on the floor is worth moving. 80 percent of the wet cleaning problems are due to improper preparation. Here's a checklist of mandatory actions:

Pay special attention to carpets. Most Xiaomi robots (except the Viomi V3 and X10+) don't automatically raise a mop on a carpet. If you leave the carpet in place, one of two things happens:

1. The robot will wet the carpet and it will dry for a long time (risk of mold).
2. The rag will pick up dirt from the carpet and smear it on the laminate.

⚠️ Warning: If you have backlit boards or infrared security sensors in your home, the robot may be off the route.

Another nuance is leg furniture. Xiaomi's robot can't always squeeze under a sofa or a closet, but if the floor is more than 10 cm away from the furniture, it will try to climb in with a wet cloth. The result is puddles under the furniture and the risk of damage to the laminate, the solution is to either lock the area in the settings or put moisture-resistant pads under the legs of the furniture.

3. Set up wet cleaning in the Mi Home app

Most users are limited to the Start button on the robot body, but the real magic happens in the mobile app. Consider the key settings for the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro (for other models, the menu may be slightly different).

Open Mi Home, select your robot and go to Cleaning Settings → Wet Cleaning.

Preventive advice: once a month, clean the robot's sensors (especially lower infrared sensors), the dust on them causes the robot to "not see" the wet areas and sprinkle water randomly.

⚠️ Note: If your model has an Automatic Add Water feature (e.g. Xiaomi) X10+), Don't put any foam liquids in the tank, even those for robots, and the foam will fill the pump, and you'll have to disassemble the robot to clean it.

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So that the robot doesn't get lost after a pause (like when you add water), put it on the base before you stop cleaning, and then it will continue to wash from the same place, rather than start again.

4. Choice of detergents: what can and cannot

Xiaomi officially recommends using only water for wet cleaning, but in practice, water does not cope well with greasy stains or footwear dirt.

✅ Approved funds:

• 💧 Special fluids for robot vacuum cleaners (for example, Xiaomi Mop Detergent or Dreame Floor Cleaner) They do not foam and do not leave divorces.
• 💧 Vinegar solution (1 tbsp. spoon per 1 liter of water) - disinfects and removes lime plaque.
• 💧 Glass washing products (without ammonia!) – suitable for glossy coatings.

❌ Prohibited funds:

• 🚫 Household chemicals with chlorine (such as "White") - corrodes plastic and rubber seals.
• 🚫 Gels for dishes (Fairy, AOS) — They form a foam that will clog the pump.
• 🚫 Concentrated acids/alkalis – can damage robot sensors.

The critical nuance is that if you use non-original detergents, flush the water tank after each cleaning, and the residues of the chemicals can crystallize and clog the tubes.

For models with the function of self-cleaning mop (for example, Xiaomi X10+) you can use only the original capsules Xiaomi Mop Cleaning Capsule.

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The best detergent for Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner is a special liquid of the same brand. It costs more than household chemicals, but extends the life of the equipment by 2-3 times.

5. Step-by-step instructions: how to start wet cleaning

Now, let's get to the point. Here's a step-by-step algorithm for perfect wet cleaning (as in the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, but it's also suitable for other models):

1. Step 1: Prepare the robot Remove the dust collector and install the water tank. Make sure the mop nozzle is clean and properly secured (the cloth should lie flat, without folds). Pour the water (or water with detergent) to the mark MAX.
2. Step 2. Select Mode In the Mi Home app, select: Cleaning → Wet Cleaning → Intensity: Average Water Consumption: Medium Route: By Rooms For Severe Pollution, turn on the option of Double Washing (if any).
3. Step 3. Start Start Click Start on the robot or in the app. If you only want to wash certain areas, draw them on a map in Mi Home and select Cleanup in the zone.
4. Step 4: Control Keep track of cleaning for the first 5-10 minutes. If the robot avoids wet areas or leaves lanes, increase water consumption in the settings.
5. Step 5: After cleaning, remove the mop nozzle, rinse it under running water and dry it. The water tank also needs to be rinsed and wiped dry.

⚠️ Note: If a Xiaomi robot suddenly stops during a wet cleaning and produces an E10 or E11 error, it means that the humidity sensor has triggered overflow. Immediately remove the reservoir, check if the water holes are clogged, and restart the robot.

For models with automatic mop lifting (for example, Viomi V3), check the sensors before cleaning. If the robot does not lift the rag on the carpet, wipe the bottom sensors with an isopropyl alcohol wipe.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users of Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners sometimes make mistakes that spoil the cleaning result or shorten the life of the equipment.

• 🚫 Using dirty water. Many people put water in the tank as they run, but they forget to change it. 2-3 So, when you clean the water, you get dirt, and the robot smears it on the floor. Solution: change the water before every cleaning.
• 🚫 If the rag is crooked, the robot will leave stripes. Make sure that the rag is flat and doesn't hang.
• 🚫 Ignoring firmware updates. Newer software versions often improve wet cleaning algorithms. For example, firmware 3.5.8 for Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro added moisture auto-regulation support for different coatings.
• 🚫 Cleaning without dry cleaning, if there's sand or big garbage on the floor, a wet robot will smear it in the dirt. Always start dry cleaning first, then wet cleaning.

Another common problem is that the robot avoids wet areas, and this is because the humidity sensor is activated, so to avoid puddles, reduce water consumption in the settings, or break the cleaning up into steps: first wash one room, then another.

If Xiaomi robot leaves white stains on dark laminate after wet cleaning, it is the fault of hard water. Add some vinegar to the tank (1 tsp. per 1 l) or use distilled water.

7.Care for the robot after wet cleaning

To make Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaner last longer, you need to do preventive care after every wet cleaning.

• 🧼 Wash the water tank. The residues of the detergent can crystallize and clog the tubes. Use warm water and a soft brush.
• 🧺 Wash the mop nozzle. You can wash it in a typewriter (in a delicate bag) or by hand with a soap. Don't use bleach!
• 🔧 Clean the sensors. Wipe the lower infrared sensors and the humidity sensor with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
• 💧 Dry all the parts. Before you put the robot away, make sure the tank and nozzle are completely dry.

For models with self-cleaning mop (such as Xiaomi X10+), once a month, run the Deep Clean cycle with the original capsules.

⚠️ Warning: If the robot starts making extraneous noises (squeaking, crackling) after wet cleaning, it probably got water into the mechanism. Remove the battery immediately (if possible) and dry the robot for 24 hours. Do not turn it on until it is completely dry!

The mop nozzle lasts about 3-6 months (depending on the intensity of use), when the cloth starts to "crack" or absorb water poorly, it's time to replace it. The original nozzles for Xiaomi can be bought on AliExpress or in brand stores.

8. Model comparison: which is the best washer of floors?

If you haven’t bought a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner yet and are choosing the model with the best wet cleaning, here’s a comparative table of key characteristics:

For most users, the best choice is the Dreame D10 Plus or Viomi V3. They offer the best balance of price and functionality. If you want a premium version with minimal care, take the Xiaomi X10+ – it washes and dries the mop, and also automatically pours water.

If you have a budget, look for the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite, which is cheaper but requires manual water control and does not have a self-mop.

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For wet cleaning, it is better to choose a model with a vibrational mop (for example, Dreame D10) - it wipes off dirt 2 times more efficiently than a regular cloth.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions