A cleaning method and a cleaning robot are provided. The method includes: after the cleaning robot obtains a cleaning instruction for a target scene, acquiring a current power of the cleaning robot and a scene map for the target scene; if it is determined that the current power is insufficient to clean all areas to be cleaned in the target scene, determining a target cleaning area from all the areas to be cleaned in the target scene, based on a target dirtiness level for each of the areas to be cleaned; cleaning the target cleaning area based on the scene map, the target dirtiness level for the target cleaning area and the current power. A more intelligent cleaning robot and a more reasonable cleaning process are realized.