Floor Cleaning 101: Types of Floor Cleaning Machines
Not sure what type of floor cleaning machine you need for your facility? Check out this guide to learn about each type of floor cleaning equipment, where you should use them, and on what kind of surfaces.
New to the floor cleaning process? Check out this article to learn more about the full process of cleaning a floor and where each of these machines come in.
Floor Sweepers
Floor sweepers are floor cleaning machines that can be utilized both indoors and outdoors for removing dust, glass, rocks, non-adherent dirt, and other debris. They work on both hard floors and carpeted areas.
Like floor scrubbers, floor sweepers use disk or cylindrical-shaped brushes to loosen debris from a surface which is then vacuumed up all in one pass. However, floor sweepers do not dispense a cleaning solution like floor scrubbers do, nor any liquid for that matter– they are a dry machine.
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:
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Small to midsize spaces, easily walkable by the operator
- Great for 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:
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Large spaces (up to tens of thousands of square feet)
- 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
Floor Scrubbers
Floor scrubbers are floor cleaning machines that are used to remove light debris, dirt, dust, oil, grease or floor marks from various types of hard flooring. Working on both wet or dry indoor floors, floor scrubbers work by using disk, cylindrical, and orbital brushes or pads to scrub the floor clean with automatically dispensed cleaning solution that is then vacuumed up all in one pass.
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:
- Indoor use only
- Small to midsize spaces, easily walkable by operator
- Great for grocery stores, retail stores, schools, offices, and other commercial facilities
Intended Surfaces:
- Wet or dry hard floors (non-carpeted)
Rider Floor Scrubbers:
Ride-on floor scrubbers are machines that are driven by the operator.
Ideal Environment:
- Indoor use only
- Large spaces (up to tens of thousands of square feet)
- Great for malls, hospitals, airports, schools, warehouses, and other industrial facilities
Intended Surfaces:
- Wet or dry hard floors (non-carpeted)
Industrial/Rider Sweeper-Scrubbers
Sweeper-scrubbers are multi-purpose floor cleaning machines that perform the work of both a floor scrubber and a floor sweeper. Driven by the operator, sweeper-scrubbers use large disk or cylindrical-shaped brushes to loosen and suction debris or to scrub and remove dirt or grease from the floors using automatically dispensed cleaning solution. They are durable and well-suited for harsh, dirty environments, working on both wet or dry surfaces.
Ideal Environment:
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Large-scale facilities and/or spaces that produce an excessive amount of debris or grime
- 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:
- Indoor use only
- Small to midsize spaces, easily walkable by the operator
- Any carpet in high-traffic areas that easily retains dirt, grime, or stains
Intended Surfaces:
- Carpeted floors
Buffers (Single Disk Floor Machine or Swing Machine)
Floor buffers are multi-purpose floor cleaning machines that use buffing pads or brushes to clean and strip hard floors as well as create and maintain a smooth, moderate shine on finished floors. Buffers are relatively light and can be moved in any direction, making them an easily maneuverable cleaning machine.
Ideal Environment:
- Indoor use only
- Small to midsize spaces, easily walkable by the operator
- Ideal for removing scuffs, marks, cleaning lightly dirty hard floors, and creating a moderate shine
- NOT intended to remove loose debris or to be used on wet surfaces
- Popularly used in hospitals, schools, and other commercial/retail businesses
Intended Surfaces:
- Dry hard floors
Burnishers
Floor burnishers are floor polishing machines that use a more refined pad that spins faster than those used on buffers or single disk floor machines/swing machines and produce a finished, wet-looking sheen on sealed hard floors. They are typically used after buffing a floor to finish polishing. Burnishers only move forward and backward and are heavier than buffers, making them less easily maneuverable.
Ideal Environment:
- Indoor use only
- Small to midsize spaces, easily walkable by the operator
- Ideal for creating a desirable shiny, polished look
- NOT intended to remove loose debris or to be used on wet surfaces
- Great for hospitals, schools, sports arenas, and commercial retail spaces
Intended Surfaces:
- Clean, dry hard floors – they work best on tile, marble, terrazzo, or concrete
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