How to Choose the Right Floor Machine for Your Facility's Needs

Cleanliness is important for any business, whether you own a restaurant or a retail store. Constant foot traffic can track in dirt, allergens, and other unsightly debris that can detract from your business and give customers a bad impression of your facilities. Not only do clean floors show you take pride in your business, but they also convey you take safety and sanitation seriously.

For many businesses, a mop and bucket simply can’t provide the deep cleaning they need. Floor machines provide a much more efficient way to ensure your floors stay spotless. However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which type of floor machine best fits your needs.

To take some of the confusion out of the process, here are some helpful tips to help you find the right floor machine for your business.

The first thing to consider when choosing a floor machine is the type of flooring you’ll be cleaning. Each type of flooring has unique cleaning requirements that should factor into your decision. Choosing the wrong type of floor machine for your floor could cause damage, or at the least, won’t get your floors clean enough.

Some of the most common types of flooring include:

• Carpeting: Carpeting should be vacuumed regularly to remove dust and particles that can damage the fibers. For businesses with minimal foot traffic, twice a week should be sufficient. For busier facilities, like hotels, carpets should be vacuumed daily. Carpet should also be washed regularly with a powered carpet cleaner or extractor.

• Hardwood: Hardwood can be challenging to clean because it’s porous, and too much moisture can cause permanent damage. It’s important to use a floor scrubber that’s designed for hardwood, like the Minuteman Port A Scrub 12. Regular sweeping will also help keep your floors cleaner in between deep cleanings.

• Vinyl and Laminate: Like hardwood floors, vinyl and laminate can become damaged by excessive water. Regular sweeping and light scrubbing is the best way to keep these types of flooring in good shape.

• Tile: Many commercial floor tiles are made of vinyl composition tile that should be cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner. Although other types of tile can be cleaned with harsher products, their grout can’t. Since grout often isn’t level with the tile, it’s important to choose a cleaning brush or tool that can reach both. We offer a variety of scrubbers and accessories specifically designed for cleaning tile and grout.

• Concrete: Concrete needs a scrubber with stiff brushes to help remove grit and grime. It’s also best to seal concrete floors to prevent them from being stained by liquids or dirt particles.

The next consideration is the size of the area you’re cleaning. Different types of floor machines have different coverage capabilities, so you’ll want to choose a machine that’s sufficient for your needs. Here are some typical coverage widths:

• Walk-behind floor scrubbers: 20 inches

• Ride-on floor scrubbers: 42 inches

• Burnishers: 20 inches

• Backpack & standup vacuum: 10-12 inches

• Rolling vacuum: 12-14 inches

• Large push (walk-behind) vacuum: anywhere from 14-36 inches

• Portable/spotter carpet cleaners: 4-12 inches

• Tank/box carpet cleaners: 12-18 inches

• Self-contained carpet cleaners: 12-24 inches

• Truck mounts: 12-24 inches

It’s important to note that the coverage area will also depend on the model and type of accessory you’re using.

After considering the type of flooring you have and how much surface area you’ll need to clean, think about which type of cleaning you’ll be doing. Do you have hard floors that will need to be scrubbed and polished? Or carpet that will require vacuuming and periodic cleaning? This will help you narrow down which type of floor machine you need.

• Sweepers help you remove dirt, dust, and debris from hard or soft floors.

• Scrubbers remove dirt and debris that’s accumulated on hard surfaces.

• Burnishers bring out the shiny, lustrous finish of your hard floors.

• Vacuums remove dirt and debris from carpets.

• Carpet cleaners/extractors remove deep soils from carpets.

Floor machine power is usually measured in horsepower (HP) or amps. When shopping for a floor machine, it’s important to think about how much power you need because this will ensure your machine will be able to maintain your flooring effectively and efficiently. The more powerful a machine is, the better (and quicker) it will be able to remove heavy-duty dirt and stains.

You’ll also want to consider the weight of the machine. The heavier the floor machine, the harder it is to maneuver and operate—especially for long periods of time. Lighter machines are easier to move and operate, but they may not be as powerful. The easier a machine is to maneuver, the better its operator will be able to clean hard-to-reach areas. Larger, heavier machines will have trouble effectively cleaning around obstacles or in tight spaces.

Durability is always an important factor to consider when shopping for a floor machine. The more durable a machine is, the longer its use life and the fewer repairs or replacements you’ll need. Durable machines are generally made of higher-quality materials and have robust, sturdy frames and components that can handle heavy use.

However, even the most durable machine will require maintenance to keep it performing well. Machines that have low maintenance requirements are easier and less time-consuming to keep in good working condition, while machines with higher maintenance requirements often require more frequent repairs to keep them running.

Lastly, you’ll want to think about your budget. How much do you want to spend on your initial investment? If you want to take it a step further, you can also factor in your return on investment over time. For example, if you currently hire a cleaning crew to maintain your floors, would it be more cost effective to purchase a floor machine and do the maintenance in-house?

Keep in mind that machines that are more expensive may have more advanced features, higher power, and more durability, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best option for your budget or cleaning needs. On the flip side, less expensive machines may be more affordable upfront, but they may not have the cleaning power you need—and you may end up spending more money on frequent repairs.

Find the Perfect Floor Machine for Your Needs

Hopefully, this has given you a better idea of which type of floor machine would be best for your facility. At Bay Area Floor Machine, we offer a wide variety of high-quality autoscrubbers, vacuums, burnishers, carpet cleaners, sweepers, and truckmounts—as well as accessories and commercial-grade disinfectants and cleaning solutions. We also provide repair services! If you’re still not sure which floor machine you need, we’re always happy to offer recommendations. Call us today at (408) 971-1230 or stop by our shop!