Cleaning and maintaining commercial floors are a never-ending process. There's routine care (cleaning and scrubbing), interim tasks (buffing and burnishing), and restorative work (stripping and refinishing). All told, floor care can easily make up a large percentage of the time on any cleaning contract.
Commercial cleaning companies are responsible for making their clients' floors look great and last as long as possible. At the same time, they must also be mindful of their own bottom line, so being as efficient as possible is key.
That's why commercial floor cleaning machines are such an important part of any cleaning company's toolbox. Industrial-strength equipment allows crews to make quicker work of cleaning massive spaces. Plus, thanks to advances in technology, these machines are safer and more energy efficient than ever.
Floor Care Daily Maintenance Machines
Vacuums
The biggest enemy to hard floors is sand and dirt, which can act like sandpaper when tracked in on the bottom of people's shoes. That's why walk-off mats at a facility's entrance are a must for protecting hard floors from damage.
Cleaning crews should vacuum those mats daily (and more during inclement weather) to keep them from becoming full and dirt and debris from spreading around the building.
Vacuums can also be used for daily cleaning of hard floors instead of a dust mop or broom. Not only do they make quicker work of cleaning, they are often more effective because they actually suction up and remove dust and soil rather than just pushing it around.
Commercial vacuums are available in upright or backpack models and can use a cord or be powered by batteries. Choosing a model with a HEPA filter is important for improving indoor air quality.
Vacuuming is an important first step before cleaning floors with liquid. It reduces the chance of dry surface dust turning into caked-on grime that requires effort to remove.
In very large spaces, like warehouses or stadiums, a walk-behind or ride-on automatic sweeper is a smart alternative. It will remove debris far faster than even the largest commercial vacuum.
Floor Cleaning Maintenance Machines
Scrubbers
Auto-scrubbers are the workhorse of the janitorial industry. They take the place of wet mopping large buildings, doing the daily task of removing soil to keep floors clean. They apply cleaning solution onto the floor, use high-speed motor-powered brushes to scrub and loosen debris, and then suction up the dirty solution off the floor.
This all-in-one approach to cleaning can make quick work of a large space. It takes 45 minutes to scrub 1,000 square feet with a basic mop. In a massive commercial building, that's just not speedy enough. Depending on the size and type of auto-scrubber, a custodian could clean that same 1,000 square feet in as little as 1.21 minutes.
Auto-scrubbers use brushes, rotary or cylindrical, that are soft enough to use on most hard floors, but strong enough to remove tough stains. They often include a squeegee to displace liquid as the machine moves. Most have two tanks—one for cleaning solution and a second for wastewater. There are two types availabl
- Walk-behind: The operator guides this machine. Depending on size, they can clean 19,000 to 42,000 square feet per hour. They are more compact than ride-on models, so they can more easily navigate corners and tight nooks. They are often used in office buildings, retail stores, locker rooms, classrooms, and other spaces where maneuverability is a priority. They may require fuel or electricity to operate. They use less energy than a ride-on scrubber and can typically be stored in a janitor closet.
- Ride-on: The operator sits or stands on this machine that looks similar to a mini car. It can clean 33,000 to 83,000 square feet per hour. Built for bigger, tougher jobs, these machines use floor pads or brushes for cleaning. They have a tank for cleaning solution and recovery tank for dirty water that is picked up with a vacuum. Ride-on scrubbers usually require batteries or fuel to be operated and may require a special space for storage.
Buffers/Burnishers
Depending on foot traffic, most commercial hard floors will need weekly maintenance to remove light scuffs and restore the luster of their finish. This process not only makes the floors shine, it also extends their life by preventing embedded dirt delaying the need to strip and recoat.
Buffing and/or burnishing machines eject a polishing agent onto the floor, use brushes to dislodge dirt, and a soft pad to polish the floor. They don't vacuum the liquid back up, so a thorough cleaning is required before buffing or burnishing. These machines are available in walk-behind and ride-on models.
The primary differences between buffing and burnishing are the speed of the machine and the type of pad used. Buffing generally uses a standard-speed machine (175-350 rpm) floor with a white or red pad. Burnishing uses a high-speed machine (1,200+ rpm) with a more aggressive pad, such as beige, gray, or hair impregnated. Burnishing generates slight heat, which can harden the floor finish to make it more durable and hold shine longer.
Strippers
Occasionally, it's necessary to completely strip a floor, removing all finish down to the substrate. For many facilities, this is a once-a-year process to remedy problems like excessive chipping, flaking, wear, stains, or embedded dirt that can't be fixed with normal cleaning.
Stripping requires a low-speed machine (175-350 rpm), stripping solution, and an aggressive floor pad, like brown or black or a brush.
Commercial clients want their floors to sparkle and shine. Meeting their expectations is important, but you must also watch out for your bottom line. Effective and efficient machinery is key to keeping up the appearance of hard floors without breaking the budget on labor costs.