How wet cleaning works on Xiaomi: device and features

Modern robot vacuum cleaners are no longer just devices that can suck dust from the floor. With the introduction of wet cleaning modules in Xiaomi and Roborock lines, the clean-up process has taken a fundamentally new level. Users often wonder what makes this process different from ordinary wiping with a cloth, and how effectively a smart gadget copes with dried stains. To answer this, you need to consider the mechanics of the process and the software algorithms that control each movement of the robot.

The technology is not just about dragging a wet cloth across a surface, it's about the complex coordination of water supply and pressure. If you've ever tried just wiping a floor with a wet cloth without pressing hard, you know that the result is often mediocre. Xiaomi's robots solve this problem by mimicking hand movements or using vibration. It's important to understand that efficiency is directly dependent on the correct settings in the application and the condition of the consumables.

In this article, we will look at how the humidifier works, what types of platforms exist, and why some models clean floors better than others. You will learn about the nuances of pumps, carpet sensors and intelligent water distribution, which will allow you not only to choose the right model, but also to use the device that already exists, extending its life.

Principle of operation of the moisture system

At the heart of a wet cleaning system is an electronic water tank, which is very different from the simple mechanical feeding analogues, and inside the tank is a micropomp that meters the liquid onto the napkin. Unlike gravity-driven systems, where water drips, it's completely controlled by the microprocessor, which avoids puddles and over-wetting of the flooring.

The pump algorithm is based on analyzing the speed of the robot and the intensity mode chosen. If the robot is standing still, the water supply stops so as not to damage the floor. When the device starts moving, the controller activates the valve. The amount of water supplied varies depending on the settings: light dust requires minimum moisture, and for ingrained contaminants - maximum supply. It is this adaptability that makes cleaning safe for different types of coatings.

• 💧 Electronic water management eliminates the formation of puddles on the floor.
• 🤖 Intelligent system analyzes speed of movement before moisture is applied.
• ⚙️ Intensity adjustment allows cleaning to be adapted to the type of pollution.
• 🛑 Automatic water supply stops when the robot stops.

Importantly, water quality also plays a role: Using distilled or well-filtered water significantly prolongs the life of the pump and prevents lime plaque from forming on the nozzles. Hard tap water can clog microholes over time, leading to uneven humidification.

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Use only filtered or distilled water to refill the tank to prevent micropomps from clogging with lime plaque and extend the life of the device.

Types of floorwashing platforms

In the Xiaomi smart appliance market, there are two main types of wet cleaning: a static platform and a vibrating one. The classic version uses a static platform where the microfiber is simply attached to the body. The robot runs across the floor and the water evaporates or is absorbed by the rag under the pressure of the device itself. This method is good for keeping clean and removing fresh stains, but may not cope with the old contamination.

More advanced models, such as the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ series or the Roborock flagships, feature vibrating platforms, and have an electric motor that creates high-frequency vibrations (up to 3,000 times per minute), creating a friction effect similar to how a person rubs a stain with a rag, and vibrating allows you to tear off the sticky dirt that a static platform simply smears across the surface.

There's also a third type, which is rotating, which is common in Dreame devices and Xiaomi's top-end models, where two round discs spin at high speed, creating powerful mechanical impact, and this approach is most effective in kitchens and high-traffic areas where pollution is most severe.

Management through the Mi Home app

The magic of cleaning management is centered in the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home mobile app, where you can customize scenarios that make cleaning truly automated. The interface allows you to choose not only the modes of operation, but also the specific rooms where you need wet cleaning. This is especially true, because on carpets, the robot must work in dry vacuum mode.

You can choose the water flow rate in your cleaning settings. You can usually choose three or four gradations: low, medium, high, and intelligent. You can determine the level of pollution (based on lidar data and cleaning history) and adjust the water supply. However, for complex cases, you can use manual adjustments to set the maximum consumption for the kitchen and the minimum for the bedroom.

And the thing that you should be looking at is the mapping and virtual walls, and you can draw a map of the wet cleaning zone, and if you have a valuable carpet in your kitchen that's afraid of moisture, you just surround it with a virtual circuit, and the robot will remember that area, and even if it has a washing platform installed, it will bypass that area or lift the platform (if the model supports auto-shooting).

⚠️ Warning: Before the first wet cleaning start, be sure to check the settings of the exclusion zones.The water that gets on the carpet made of natural wool or parquet without lacquer coating can lead to irreversible damage to the coating.

Interaction with carpets and carpet

One of the biggest problems with wet cleaning is the presence of carpets. Early robot models would just drive around or, in the worst case, wet them, causing the pile to get wet. Xiaomi's current algorithms have learned to recognize surface types with ultrasound or optical sensors.

When the robot detects the carpet, it can act in two scenarios: the first is a bypass. The device marks the carpet as an obstacle and continues to clean around it. The second, more advanced scenario, is available to models with automatic platform lifting. When you get on a pile up to 2 cm high, the robot lifts the detergent module a few millimeters, turning into a regular vacuum cleaner, which allows you not to interrupt the cleaning and not to drag wet modules back and forth.

• 🧶 Ultrasonic sensors can detect carpets even in the dark.
• 📈 Automatic increase in suction power on carpets.
• 🚫 Ignoring wet cleaning areas in the presence of carpet.
• 🔼 Mechanical lifting of the platform (in flagship models).

If your model can't lift the platform, it's recommended that you use the "Avoid Carpet" function in the app, in which case the robot first vacuums the entire house, and then, after manually changing the module or removing the platform, returns for wet cleaning only hard coatings, which requires user participation, but ensures the safety of textiles.

Expendables and system maintenance

To make the system work properly, you need to monitor the condition of the consumables. The main element is microfiber fabric. It needs to be villous, but not too long to effectively collect dirt and not scratch the floor. Over time, the fibers wear off and lose their absorbent properties, so they need to be changed.

It is recommended to have several sets of rags: one for daily light cleaning, others for general cleaning. After each use, the platform must be removed, rinsed and dried. Leaving wet fabric on the plastic can cause unpleasant odor and bacteria to multiply. In addition, the tank itself must be washed periodically so that mucus does not form inside.

Pay special attention to the contacts. There are electrical contacts on the platform and on the body of the robot to signal the presence of water. If they oxidize or become contaminated, the robot may not see the tank and start wet cleaning. Rub them with dry soft cloth once a month.

Typical problems and their solution

Even the smartest devices sometimes have errors. One of the common problems is uneven moisture or no moisture at all. If you notice the floor is dry, the first thing you do is check the tank water level and the density of the lid. Often the air can't come out and the water doesn't go to the pump.

Another common situation is that the robot leaves wet tracks or puddles, which may indicate that the valve is malfunctioning or that the pump is stuck in the open position, and it may also be because the water supply is too high for this type of flooring, laminate and parquet require minimal flow, while the tile withstands a more aggressive wash.

⚠️ Warning: Never add chlorine, linen conditioners or thick gels to the robot vacuum cleaner tank, which will destroy the rubber pump seals and clog the channels. Use only special fluids for robotic vacuum cleaners.

If the robot starts to leave a divorce, check the purity of the microfiber itself. The dirty cloth does not wash, but smears dirt on the floor, creating a "dirty footprint" effect. Also make sure that the wheels of the robot are clean - dirt from the wheels can get to the floor and rub it with a wet cloth.

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Regular replacement of microfiber and use of the right chemistry is the key to the absence of divorces and long service of the electronic pump.