Floor scrubbers are an increasingly popular — some would now say essential — piece of equipment for janitorial and maintenance staff, tackling a range of surfaces and soils and reducing labour hours. However, they are expensive, often costing thousands of dollars, and require stringent maintenance to ensure their lifespan is as long as it has the potential to be.

Failure to properly maintain them can lead to wasted time, money, labour, and other resources for management teams, even before things get bad enough to incur the high cost of replacement.

But if they are well-maintained, they will last longer, work better, and produce the quality results that are expected of it.

Janitorial Manager recently summarized for CleanLink 10 key steps users can take to ensure that floor scrubbers live up to their potential.

Daily or after every use:

1. Read the owner’s manual. Each machine will have specific maintenance and operation guidelines. Reading the manual may sound simple, but it’s a crucial first step.
2. Check the battery. Again, check the owner’s manual for the specifics, but also look for signs of battery corrosion or leakage.
3. Check pads, brushes, and squeegee. Worn-out or dirty parts aren’t going to work properly, so clean them after each use and replace them as needed.
4. Clean and check tanks, hoses, and filters. The same goes for tanks, hoses, and filters. Empty and clean the solution and recovery tanks after each use and make sure filters and hoses are clean and clear, as well as checking for any cracks or signs of wear.
5. Clean floor scrubbers. Give flor scrubbers a good wipe down to remove any dirt, grime, or other marks.
6. Recharge the battery. Different batteries have differing requirements and users may or may not need to recharge the battery after each use.

In addition to these daily tasks, Janitorial Manager recommends some monthly floor scrubber maintenance items to consider:

1. Lubricate hinges, wheels, chains, and pivot points using an approved lubricant.
2. Clean and deodorize tanks and supply lines, following the owner’s manual for the specific instructions. Dirty tanks can give off unpleasant odours.

Users can also extend the floor scrubber’s life by following some preparation and usage tips:

1. Clean the floor before using floor scrubbers with a quick sweep or dry mop to pull up any larger debris and dirt. Watch for any sharp edges or loose tiles that could damage the equipment.
2. Be easy on the machine. A floor scrubber does plenty of hard work already; don’t make its life harder.

Ultimately, the bottom line is to keep cleaning tools and equipment clean in order for them to work better, last longer, and prevent unexpected costs.

Source: Janitorial Manager/CleanLink