Setup & Mapping
How to Create No-Go Zones for Your Robot Vacuum
No-go zones are how you tell a mapped robot vacuum where not to clean, without physical barriers. Here is how to set them up well.
Where to draw them
Common candidates are around pet food and water bowls, loose cable clusters, and delicate rugs. Draw the zone slightly larger than the object itself to account for minor mapping drift.
No-go vs no-mop
A no-go zone blocks all cleaning; a no-mop zone (on combo robots) still allows vacuuming but keeps the wet mop pad away — useful for rugs you want vacuumed but not dampened.
When to use a physical strip instead
A minority of older robots do not support app-based zones at all and instead read a physical magnetic boundary strip. Check your model’s manual — most current mapped robots use the app method described above.
This guide is general information to help you use your gear, not professional, legal, or insurance advice. Rules vary by region — check your local regulations where relevant.