How to Use a Commercial Floor Scrubber

We’ve shown thousands of companies and janitorial teams how to use a commercial floor scrubber over the years, as the #1 online provider for all your industrial floor care needs. Over the years, though, there were a few common mistakes we saw operators make that either:

1. Held them back from maximum cleaning efficiency and performance
2. Caused damage to their machine, their floor, or both at the same time

We wanted to put together this in-depth guide on how to use a floor scrubber machine to help you avoid those same pitfalls and make the most of your investment in a commercial floor scrubber machine.

So, read along below and learn all about commercial floor scrubbing. And if you haven’t already, connect with our experts at SweepScrub for one-on-one support picking the perfect machine for your facility! 

Key Takeaways 

• Sweep or vacuum loose debris before the scrubber touches the floor.
• Match your brush type and cleaning solution to the floor material.
• Overlap passes by 2-3 inches so you don’t leave behind dirty strips.
• Drain and rinse both tanks after every use (no exceptions).
• Store with tank lids open to avoid odor/bacteria buildup.
• Get all the equipment and supplies you need at SweepScrub.

Different Types of Commercial Floor Scrubbers 

Obviously, not every facility needs the same floor scrubber. There are quite a few different styles on the market these days. You can tailor your equipment to your exact facility size and layout. 

Go ahead and skip to our guide on how to use a commercial floor scrubber if we’ve already helped you find the right equipment for your needs. Otherwise, here’s a quick overview of what’s available and which specific scrubber fits your company’s cleaning requirements.

Walk-Behind Models

A commercial walk-behind floor scrubber is better for tighter, smaller layouts where maneuverability matters. The operator simply steers the machine as most are self-propelled (though not all). 

Cleaning paths can be anywhere from 10” all the way up to 32” or more. These are more affordable than their ride-on counterparts and can clean at rates of 15,000-24,000 sq. ft. per hour. 

Ride-On Models

You’ll want to find an industrial ride-on floor scrubber for sale if you have a massive, sprawling layout that would be exhausting to walk. The operator sits on the machine and steers it, keeping them from getting tired, so there’s no compromise on cleaning performance.

This is worth the investment once your floor area climbs past 20,000 sq. ft. Cleaning paths can exceed 40”, and these machines tend to have higher-capacity tanks so there are fewer stops to dump and refill. 

All the Components and Specs You Should Know

Every floor scrubber has the same core components for the most part:

• Solution tank: For clean water and cleaning chemicals.
• Recovery tank: For dirty water collected from the floor.
• Scrub brushes or pads: These agitate the cleaning solution into the floor. Disk brushes are best for flat surfaces. Cylindrical brushes are better for uneven floors. 
• Squeegee assembly: Wipes the floor behind the scrub head to leave it clean and dry.
• Vacuum motor: This pulls the dirty water into the recovery tank.
• Down pressure: Measured in lbs and dictates how aggressively you scrub. More is not always better. 

Find the Perfect Commercial Floor Scrubbing Solution

Whether you’re looking for a commercial walk behind floor scrubber for smaller spaces or an industrial ride on floor scrubber for sale to make quick work of sprawling square footage, SweepScrub has you covered. 

We’ve curated a selection of the best machines from the most trusted brands in the industry, ranging from Tennant to Nilfisk, Advance, Clarke, and more. If it’s in our catalog, you can rest assured you’re getting a quality machine that will offer consistent performance for years to come.

You can also trust us to provide a personalized recommendation based on your unique needs and your specific budget. Don’t play the guessing game - get in touch today for one-on-one assistance. In the meantime, let’s get into how to use a commercial floor scrubber below.

How to Use a Commercial Floor Scrubber 

Now, it’s time we walked you through how to operate a floor scrubber so you can make the most of this investment in your cleaning productivity and performance. From essential safety gear to best practices on technique, storage, and more, here’s how to use a commercial floor scrubber.

Preparing the Area 

Your scrubber is going to do most of the heavy lifting, but there are a few things you need to do yourself before you even plug it in. This includes:

• Moving physical obstacles out of the space so you have unobstructed access to the floor
• Posting wet floor signs around the work area
• Wearing slip-resistant shoes, chemical-resistant gloves, and any other PPE

Then you’ll need to do a dry sweep of the entire floor. Otherwise, a scrubber would grind particles into the door and cause damage. Small pebbles and loose hardware could damage your floor scrubber, too.

Whether you invest in a separate floor sweeper machine or choose to use a floor sweeper scrubber that handles dry and wet in a single pass is up to you.

Getting Your Scrubber Ready 

Confirm your scrubber’s battery is charged enough to handle the task at hand. Or, that your power cord reaches. 

Then fill the solution tank with clean water. Add your detergent next (per the recommended dilution ratio). DO NOT eyeball it. You will end up either not adding enough and get subpar results, or you’ll overdo it and leave behind a film on the floor (or damage the flooring itself).

Install the correct brush/pad for your floor type (more on that later on) and inspect the squeegee blades. nicked/warped blades will leave behind water streaks. 

Guide the Machine With Overlapping Passes

Actually figuring out how to use a commercial floor scrubber is the easy part. You let the machine do the heavy lifting. Especially if it’s self-propelled. You just guide it in the right direction. Walk at a steady pace and overlap each pass by 2-3 inches for complete coverage.

We’ve found that working the perimeter first is best for large, open areas. Then, you can fill in the center with straight line passes. 

Best Practices for Pressure and Speed 

It’s better to start with lower down pressure so you don’t cause more harm to the floor than good. For example, VCT or linoleum are delicate - and you’ll strip their finish off if you press too hard. You can ramp up as needed based on the results you’re seeing.

Slow and steady wins the race for the most part. It gives the brush more contact time with heavily soiled floors. Faster passes are fine if you’re just doing routine maintenance, though. 

Managing Water Flow 

Your solution flow rate should match the soil level on your flooring. You need more water and chemical support for grease-laden warehouse floors or nasty kitchen floors. But a daily pass through an office lobby obviously doesn’t need as much. 

Watch out for wet floors behind the squeegee. That usually indicates you’re putting down too much water. OR that the squeegee or vacuum system isn’t working properly.

Another pro tip: watch out for foam building up in the recovery tank. That usually means too much detergent has been mixed in (or that you are due to clean the interior of the tank). 

Emptying the Recovery Tank, Refilling the Solution Tank

You obviously want to work as efficiently as possible. But don’t wank for the float shut-off to trigger. We recommend emptying the recovery tank once it gets around 75% full. This keeps the vacuum system working better and prevents dirty water from backing into the motor.

Richard Bodo over at Windsor Industries, a really respected floor care company, has said himself that “leaving solution in the tank will gum up filters and affect performance.”1 

Always rinse the recovery tank with clean water after dumping it!

Adjusting Your Technique (and Brush/Solution) For the Type of Floor

Part of learning how to use a commercial floor scrubber is recognizing that different surfaces need their own unique care. Here are some adjustments you’d want to make depending on the flooring:

• Concrete and epoxy: The most forgiving flooring type to clean. You can be pretty aggressive with a stiff-bristle brush, higher pressure, and an alkaline degreaser if you’re dealing with oil and grease buildup.
• VCT and linoleum: The opposite end of the spectrum - you must be gentle, as anything too harsh will strip away the wax layer on top of the floor. Soft pad, neutral pH cleaner, and low pressure. 
• Polished concrete and terrazzo: Go easy here with a soft pad, minimal solution, and neutral pH. Too much water can damage the polish on the floor.
• Ceramic tile: Middle-of-the-road. This flooring takes medium pressure and standard brushes. The real challenge is grout lines, which are notorious for trapping dirt. Look into the best tile floor cleaning machine.

Finishing Touches and Floor Scrubber Storage

We see so many of our customers cut corners after finishing the job at hand. This is where it can really cost you, though. Paul Lewandowski, Equipment Product Manager at Betco Chemical Corporation, puts it really well:

“Dirt and soil always collect in these areas and a neglected squeegee will very quickly cause problems with the ability of the machine to leave a clean and dry floor.”2

Brushes and pads are pulled off and rinsed after every session. Completely drain both tanks and wipe down the housing. Store the machine with lids open to let moisture evaporate overnight. Plug the charger in. These final steps go a long way. 

Advanced Tips on Using a Floor Scrubber Machine 

Now that you know how to use a floor scrubber machine in general, these are a few parting tips we want to leave you with to help you make the most of your equipment:

• Pre-spray heavily soiled areas and let the chemical dwell for at least 3-5 minutes before scrubbing. 
• Break massive commercial facilities into smaller cleaning zones and handle one at a time rather than trying to work across the whole layout at once.
• Be sure to replace brushes and pads on a regular basis, as they lose performance well before they look worn.
• End your route near a drain or dump station so you don’t have to wheel your full recovery tank across freshly cleaned floors.

And there you have it - how to use a commercial floor scrubber! Be sure to get in touch with our world-class customer service team if you still have any questions about using your equipment or are looking to upgrade to a better machine for your facility. 

Related Resources on Commercial Floor Scrubbing 

How to clean concrete floors | Warehouse floor cleaning | Best way to clean linoleum floors

References

1. Bodo, Richard "Bo." Director of Business Development, Windsor Industries. Quoted in "Maintenance Tips for Commercial Floor Cleaning Equipment," CleanLink.
2. Lewandowski, Paul. Equipment Product Manager, Betco Chemical Corporation. Quoted in "Maintenance Tips for Commercial Floor Cleaning Equipment," CleanLink.