Types of Floor Cleaning Machines When To Use Them
Interested in renting or investing in a floor cleaning machine for your business, but not sure what you need? This article will teach you the differences between these 6 types of floor cleaning machines and help you choose the right machine for your needs. To help you understand how and when each machine is used during the floor cleaning process, we’ve organized this article in accordance with the steps of cleaning a floor.
Jump to:
i. Walk-Behind Floor Scrubbers
b. Industrial/Rider Sweeper-Scrubbers
a. Buffers (Single Disk Floor Machine or Swing Machine)
Step 1: Sweep
The floor must first be prepared to be cleaned by removing all the large debris such as cardboard, banding material, paper cups, bottles, cans, etc. If after the area is cleared of large debris and there are small pieces of debris remaining, the floor should be swept using a floor sweeper or by hand using a broom or vacuum.
Floor Sweepers
Walk-Behind Floor Sweepers:
Walk-behind floor sweepers are self-propelled machines that are directed by the operator using the handles to steer while walking behind the machine.
Ideal Environment: Walk-behind floor sweepers are ideal for small to midsize indoor or outdoor spaces that are easily walkable by the operator. These sweepers work great in retail environments, schools, offices, and other commercial facilities.
Intended Surfaces: Dry, hard or carpeted floors indoors or hard level surfaces outdoors.
Rider Floor Sweepers:
Ride-on floor sweepers are machines that are driven by a seated operator.
Ideal Environment: Rider floor sweepers are ideal for large indoor or outdoor spaces (up to tens of thousands of feet) that would require a lot of walking to clean otherwise, but maintain agile maneuvering and are relatively compact for storage. These are perfect for malls, hospitals, schools, warehouses, sidewalks, parking lots, parking garages, and other industrial facilities.
Intended Surfaces: Dry, hard or carpeted floors indoors or hard level surfaces outdoors
Step 2: Scrub
Once the floor has been cleared of debris, it can then be scrubbed fully clean using a floor scrubber. Allow the floor to fully dry before using the area or continuing on to the following steps.
Floor Scrubbers
Walk-Behind Floor Scrubbers:
Walk-behind floor scrubbers are self-propelled or brush assist machines that are directed by the operator walking behind the machine using the handles to steer.
Ideal Environment: Walk-behind floor scrubbers are ideal for small to midsize indoor spaces that are easily walkable by the operator. These scrubbers work great in grocery stores, retail stores, schools, offices, and other commercial facilities.
Intended Surfaces: Indoor, wet or dry hard floors (non-carpeted)
Rider Floor Scrubbers:
Ride-on floor scrubbers are machines that are driven by the operator.
Ideal Environment: Rider floor scrubbers are ideal for large indoor spaces (up to tens of thousands of feet) that would require a lot of walking to clean otherwise, but maintain agile maneuvering and are relatively compact for storage. These units work great for malls, hospitals, airports, schools, warehouses, and other industrial facilities.
Intended Surfaces: Indoor, wet or dry hard floors (non-carpeted)
Industrial/Rider Sweeper-Scrubbers
Rider sweeper-scrubbers are multi-purpose floor cleaning machines that perform the work of both a floor scrubber and a floor sweeper.
Ideal Environment: Industrial ride-on sweeper scrubbers are ideal for cleaning harsh, large-scale facilities that are not walkable by the operator and/or produce an excessive amount of debris or grime.
Sweeper-scrubbers are the all-in-one cleaning machines that are perfect for industrial factories, warehouses, sports stadiums or arenas, and other large facilities.
Intended Surfaces: Wet or dry hard floors
Carpet Extractors
Carpet extractors are cleaning machines that dispense a cleaning solution onto carpet, scrub the fibers to release deeply ingrained dirt particles and stains, and then suction up the liquid effectively removing filth and stains.
Ideal Environment: Carpet extractors are ideal for cleaning any carpet in high-traffic areas that easily retains dirt, grime, or stains.
Intended Surfaces: Carpeted floors
If working on a finished hard floor (tile, marble, terrazzo, etc):
Step 3: Strip* (optional- advanced floor care)
If working on a finished floor that is showing signs of wear such as scuffing, or is simply not as shiny as it used to be, the next step would be to strip the finish off the floor. This is done by applying a stripping solution and then using a buffer or single disk floor machine (or swing machine) to buff off the old finish or wax.
*These steps may be skipped if the finish on the floor does not need to be redone and can just be re-polished to attain the desired level of sheen
Buffers (Single Disk Floor Machine or Swing Machine)
Ideal Environment: Floor buffers are ideal for removing scuffs, marks, and cleaning moderately dirty hard floors but are NOT intended to remove loose debris or be used on wet surfaces. Because they are easily maneuverable, they work great in smaller spaces but are popularly used in hospitals, schools, and other commercial/retail businesses.
Intended Surfaces: Indoor, dry hard floors
Step 4: Recoat* (optional- advanced floor care)
Once fully removed, a new layer of finish or wax can be applied to the floor. Sometimes multiple coats are required to obtain the desired level of sheen.
*These steps may be skipped if the finish on the floor does not need to be redone and can just be re-polished to attain the desired level of sheen
Step 5: Polish (optional- advanced floor care)
After the wax has been applied (or the floor has been cleaned and dried, if stripping and recoating is not necessary), a burnisher can then be used to polish the floor to a high sheen.
Burnishers
Ideal Environment: Floor burnishers are ideal for creating a desirable shiny, polished look on clean, dry hard floors. Burnishers are great for polishing floors in hospitals, schools, sports arenas, and commercial retail spaces.
Intended Surfaces: Indoor, dry hard floors – they work best on tile, marble, terrazzo, or concrete
©