How to Properly Use a Floor Cleaning Machine to Maximize its Cleaning Power

Manually cleaning the flooring of your business property creates inefficiency in time, labor and even in effectiveness when it comes to the actual cleaning. If your property is large and several people are required to clean its floors, then it’s time to invest in industrial floor cleaning and put your staff to work on more strategic business matters, such as production and revenues.

A commercial floor scrubber can help teams clean larger areas more consistently while reducing the physical strain of repeated mopping. The biggest gains come when operators are trained to prepare the machine, use the right pad or brush, and follow a repeatable cleaning path.

Before each cleaning shift, operators should check:

• Battery charge or power connection.
• Clean solution and recovery tanks.
• Brushes, pads, hoses, and squeegee condition.
• Wet floor signs and any obstacles in the cleaning area.

An automatic walk-behind floor scrubber can help in many ways. First, it provides an easy, swift way to clean a hard floor surface. There is no need for a mop, a bucket, or even a strong back anymore. Furthermore, larger spaces can be cleaned more efficiently, as if it were cleaned manually. In fact, a E26 walk-behind commercial floor scrubber can cover up to 23,000 square feet per hour.

While this machine is convenient, you should know how to use it properly to ensure efficient operation.

Preparation of Your Floor Cleaning Machine

You need to prepare your equipment and the area to be cleaned. First, fully charge the machine so that it can run nonstop for 2 to 4 hours. You may worry that it’s not enough time to cover the area, but if you prepare the floor, you will be able to clean about 50,000 to 70,000 square feet on full charge.

When preparing the work area, remove any furniture or other obstructions that can get in the way. Don’t forget to post warning signs to make sure that employees and customers are aware of the maintenance work going on. Dusting the area can help as well. This will remove anything that may damage your machine, such as trash collecting beneath the squeegee.

Before using the machine, you should also connect all the hoses and make sure that there are no leaks or damages. Using a faulty scrubber can ruin the flooring. The pad or brush you use should also match the type of flooring to avoid any damage or grout lines.

Charge and Inspect the Machine

Before each use, inspect the floor scrubber for loose hoses, worn brushes or pads, and any signs of leaks or damage. Make sure the battery is fully charged and the solution and recovery tanks are clean and properly installed. A quick inspection helps prevent equipment issues and ensures consistent cleaning performance.

Clear the Area and Post Wet Floor Signs

Remove loose debris, obstacles, and movable equipment from the cleaning area before operating the machine. Place wet floor signs around the work zone to alert employees and visitors that the surface may be slippery. Taking these precautions helps improve cleaning efficiency while reducing the risk of accidents.

 

How to Use a Floor Scrubber Correctly

Once you begin looking at floor scrubber options, buy the one that is best suited for the surface volume of your floors. When starting the actual task of cleaning your floors, start close to the wall and make a sweeping turn with every pass to pull up all of the cleaning solution. You may also want to divide the room in half to save time. For inaccessible spots, use a mop and a bucket, since the machine may not be able to clean those areas.

Even if you find the best floor scrubber, it will still not do the job if you don’t know how to use it right. So, make sure that your staff are taught all the preparation and cleaning techniques.

Use Overlapping Passes and Proper Turns

Operate the floor scrubber using slow, overlapping passes to ensure complete coverage and avoid streaks or missed areas. Turn the machine gradually at the end of each pass to maintain even cleaning and allow the squeegee to recover as much water as possible. Following a consistent cleaning pattern leaves floors cleaner, drier, and safer.

Choose the Right Floor Scrubber for Your Facility

Minuteman can help you choose the right automatic floor scrubber for your facility, cleaning schedule, and floor surface. Contact Minuteman or request a demo to compare walk-behind and rider floor scrubber options.

Contact Minuteman today with any questions about your new Automatic Floor Scrubber Machine. You can also request a quote here.

Sources:

What is a Floor Scrubber?, Wisegeek.com
How to Use a Floor Scrub, ehow.com