Xiaomi Vacuum Mop Essential is a budget wet-cleaning robot that has become a hit with smart home owners. But many users are faced with the problem of how to properly activate floor washing mode? In the instructions in Chinese everything is vague, and in the Russian manual this point is often missed. In this article, we will examine all the ways to enable wet cleaning, from basic to hidden functions, which are not discussed even in the official guides.
The Essential version is not a separate wash button, like the older Xiaomi models, but instead activates the mode via a combination of physical buttons or the Mi Home app. And then there's the nuances of adjusting the water intensity and choosing the type of flooring -- that's what we're going to talk about, too. E2, At the end of the article you will find a checklist to diagnose the problem.
So let's get to practice. The first thing you need to do is check the kit. The Vacuum Mop Essential box has to have a water tank, a microfiber wipe, and a mount for it, and without these elements, wet cleaning is physically impossible, even if you press all the buttons correctly.
Preparing the robot for wet cleaning: what to check before turning on
Before you activate the wash mode, make sure the robot is ready to handle the water, and failure to do so could lead to leaks or breakages of the pump.
- 🔋 Battery charge should be at least 20%. At low charge, the robot will refuse to turn on wet cleaning (protection from discharge during intensive work).
- 💧 The water tank must be installed before the power is turned on, and if you connect it later, the system may not recognize the tank.
- 🧽 Microfiber wipe should be clean and properly fixed on the bottom panel (see the diagram in the instructions).
- 🚫 Long-pile carpets – if there are such coatings in the room, it is better to remove them or set up avoidance zones in the application.
Pay special attention to the type of water. Xiaomi recommends using only distilled or boiled water, which prevents scaling in the pump and tubes. Conventional tap water can contain impurities that will eventually clog the supply system. If you use detergent, its concentration should not exceed 5% (per 200 ml of water - a maximum of 10 ml of the product).
Another important thing is that the robot is positioned before liftoff, and if the Vacuum Mop Essential is on a carpet or an inclined surface, it may not recognize the water tank, and before you turn on the wash mode, put the robot on a flat floor (tile, laminate, linoleum) and wait for it to emit a characteristic beep, a short double squeak, which means that the system is ready to go.
Method 1: Enabling wet cleaning through physical buttons
The fastest method is to use buttons on the robot body, which is suitable if you do not have access to the Mi Home app or have problems connecting over Wi-Fi.
- Make sure the robot is turned off (long press of the power button).
- Install the water tank on the back of the case (it should snap with a characteristic click).
- Press and hold the Spot Cleaning button for 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing blue.
- Press the Power button briefly, and the robot will beep and start cleaning with wet treatment.
If after these actions the robot still works in dry cleaning mode, check:
- 🔄 Is the tank properly installed (it should fit tightly to the body).
- 💡 Are the indicators on the panel on fire (if not, the robot does not recognize the tank).
- 🔊 Is there a confirmation signal (double squeak).
☑️ Check before wet cleaning is included
Importantly, if you use this method, the robot will wash floors at maximum water intensity, and to adjust the humidity level, you need to connect to the Mi Home app (more on this in the next section).
Method 2: activate via the Mi Home app (Step-by-step with photo)
The Mi Home app gives you more options for adjusting wet cleaning, so you can select the water intensity, program the schedule, and even create maps of areas where you don't need a wash (like carpets).
1. Open the Mi Home app and select your Xiaomi Vacuum Mop Essential from the device list.
2. Go to the Cleaning section (in the lower menu).
3.Click on the Wet Cleaning icon (a drop of water) in the upper right corner.
4. Select one of three intensity modes:
| Regime. | Description | Recommended surfaces |
|---|---|---|
| 🌊 Tall. | Maximum water consumption (≈15 ml/min) | Severely contaminated floors, dried spots |
| 💧 Medium | Moderate expenditure (≈10 ml/min) | Laminate, tile, regular cleaning |
| 🍃 Low. | Minimum expenditure (≈5 ml/min) | parquet, sensitive coatings |
5. Press Start, the robot will start cleaning with the selected parameters.
If the application does not have a button Wet Cleaning, update the firmware of the robot:
- Go to the device settings → Software update.
- If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to be completed (the robot will restart).
💡
After updating the firmware, reset the robot settings to factory (Settings) → Reset) if the wet cleaning button has not appeared.
You can also set up a wet cleaning schedule in the app, like programming a robot to wash the floors every day at 10:00, while you're not home.
1. Go to the Schedule → Add a challenge.
2. Choose the days of the week and the time.
3. Activate the option Wet Cleaning and save the settings.
Method 3: Voice control (for owners of smart speakers)
If you have a Xiaomi smart speaker (like Mi Smart Speaker) or Alice-powered devices/Google Assistant, you can use the wet voice cleaning:
1 Connect the robot to the same Mi Home account as the column.
2. Tell one of the teams:
- 🎤 "Alice, turn on the wet vacuum cleaner"
- 🎤 "Okay Google, start washing floors on Xiaomi"
- 🎤 "Xiao AI, Start the wet cleaning (for Xiaomi speakers)
Important: voice commands only work if the robot is already on and on standby, and if it's turned off, you first have to say, "Turn on the vacuum cleaner," and then you have to say, "Turn on the wet cleaner."
You can also combine commands.
"Alice, start cleaning the living room with a wet sink at medium intensity."
If the voice assistant doesn't recognize the command, check:
- 🔗 Robot and column connected to one Mi Home account.
- 📶 Both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz).
- 🔄 In the robot settings, the option Voice control is enabled.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Even with the right setup, Xiaomi Vacuum Mop Essential can give out errors or ignore the command to wet cleaning.
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| E2 | No water tank recognition. | Check the density of the tank mount, clean the contacts |
| E3 | The water supply system is clogged. | Wash the tubes and filter under running water |
| Robot washes dry | No water in the tank or low charge | Recharge the robot to 20%+ |
| App does not see wet cleaning option | Outdated firmware | Update the robot software through Mi Home |
If the robot starts washing but no water is supplied, check:
- Pump: If you're working, hold your ear to the back, you can hear a little buzzing sound (this pump works), and if you don't have one, the pump might have failed.
- Pipes: Take the tank off and blow the tube that connects the tank to the pump, and sometimes there are air bubbles that block the flow.
- Filter: There is a small filter at the bottom of the tank, and if it's clogged, there's no water going to the napkin.
What to do if a robot fills the floor?
Another common problem is that the robot avoids wet cleaning on the laminate flooring or flooring, and this is due to the settings of the coating type in the app.
1. Go to the Device Settings → Type of gender.
2. Choose a solid coating (even if you have laminate).
3. disable the option to avoid carpets if it interferes with cleaning.
Hidden functions of wet cleaning: what the robot can do, but does not advertise
Xiaomi Vacuum Mop Essential has a few “secret” features that are not mentioned in the official manual.
- 🔄 Double sink: If you run the robot twice in a row at 5 minutes intervals, it will follow the same route with twice the intensity of humidification.
- 📍 Zone wash: in the Mi Home application, you can select a site on the map (for example, near the front door) and start wet cleaning only there.
- 💦 Self-cleaning of the wipe: if after cleaning put the robot on the base and turn on the Cleanup mode in the application, it will automatically wash the napkin with water from the tank (works only at water level). >50%).
- 🔋 Economy mode: at a charge level below 30%, the robot automatically reduces the intensity of the water supply to complete the cleaning.
Another life hack is using two wipes, where if you attach two microfiber tissues (one on top of the other), the robot will better collect dirt, and the water will be distributed evenly, the main thing is not to exceed 5 mm thick, otherwise the height sensors may work falsely.
For owners of Xiaomi Home Assistant, there is a bonus: the robot can be integrated into automation, for example, configure the rule:
"If the humidity sensor in the room shows <50%, wet-clean".
For this:
- Open Mi Home Automation.
- Create a new automation with a humidity level trigger.
- Add the action Start cleaning (wet mode).
Frequent questions and answers
❓ Can I use regular water from the tap?
❓ Why a robot doesn't wash corners?
❓ How much water is used in one cleaning?
❓ Can I wash carpets with a short pile?
❓ How often should you change a napkin?
Conclusion: Which way to include wet cleaning to choose
So, to sum up, if you want to start floor washing quickly, use physical buttons on the robot body. It's simple, but it doesn't allow you to adjust the intensity. For flexible settings (mode selection, schedule, cleaning areas), you'd better use the Mi Home app. Voice control is convenient for quick start-up, but requires a smart speaker.
Remember, regular cleaning of the tank and napkins prolongs the life of the robot by 2-3 times. Once a month, flush the water supply system (especially if you use tap water), and the pump will last for years without complaints.
If after reading the article you still have questions about setting up Xiaomi Vacuum Mop Essential, check the official documentation or contact Xiaomi support through the Mi Home app (Profile) → Use the error table in this article to diagnose malfunctions – 90% of the time, the problem is solved by yourself.