Floor Cleaning Machines

By Dylan Mazeika

Investing in a small floor scrubber for commercial or residential use can be a worthwhile purchase and save money and time in having an area professionally cleaned. Conventional ways of cleaning floors included soap, water and mops, but today's industrial-strength scrubbers can clean kitchen tiles, hallways, gymnasiums floors, bathrooms, and a limitless range of other surfaces in a fraction of the time.

There are several types and styles of floor scrubbers to choose from, such as walk-behind floor scrubbers, riding scrubbers, and high-speed scrubbers. While all are designed for long-term use, the model you select should directly address the specifics of your facility to provide the most cost-effective solution.

Here are a few of the primary considerations and basic features.

Advantages of using a small floor scrubber

One of the biggest benefits of small floor scrubbers, similarly known as "small-profile scrubbers" is their versatility and ability to clean several types of areas. They're also far more affordable than larger commercial models - available from $200 to $600 for a small scrubber, as opposed to an average of $5,500 for popular commercial models.

Whether you want to clean a medium-sized bathroom floor or just polish up a narrow hallway, a small floor scrubber is your best choice, offering several advantages over manual cleaning equipment that include:

• Quick, efficient cleaning process
• Little or no additional cleaning equipment required
• Quiet motor offering optional no-noise or low-noise operation
• Easy to use; no extensive training or learning necessary

Considerations when selecting floor scrubbers

You'll start by selecting from several different sizes of floor scrubbers including small-frame, push scrubbers, mid-size, walk-behind scrubbers and rider scrubbers. The size you choose will depend on your storage space and the size of the area you will be cleaning. In general, narrower spaces may require a simple walk-behind design, like those manufactured by Oreck or Mastercraft, while wider spaces may demand a rider scrubber to make your cleaning strategy more efficient like those produced by Global.

When comparing small floor scrubbers, be on the lookout for:

Battery or cable powered - Cord should be as long as possible (70 to 80 feet) and the battery should provide at least 2 to 3 hours of cleaning.

Compact radius - As opposed to a larger model which is designed for volume over details, smaller radius will allow you to scrub hard to reach areas like stairwells, baseboard, walls, ceilings, columns, paving stones, trains, and buses, not to mention the many nooks and crannies often found in commercial kitchens and other areas with extensive machinery.

Weight and size - If you or your employees will be transporting the scrubber either in vehicles or just around the building, weight and size definitely factor in. Common models measure about 40 inches long by 10 inches wide (some a little less) and weigh in at a feather-light 5 lbs.