Floor scrubbers make it easy to thoroughly clean hundreds or even thousands of square feet of flooring in a fraction of the time it would take by hand and they leave surfaces cleaner and shinier. To get the cleanest floors in the least amount of time, you’ll want to choose the right scrubber. Picking the ideal commercial floor scrubber for the job depends on a number of factors including, size of the facility, maneuverability needs and aisle width.

Here’s how to find the heavy-duty floor scrubber that will be most effective in your space.

What is a floor scrubber?

A floor scrubber is an upright, walk-behind or ride-on piece of equipment used to clean large areas of flooring. Scrubbers dispense cleaning solution and clean water while in motion and scrub the surface with a pad or brush. They then vacuum up any leftover debris, dirt, and liquid to be safely stored in a tank. Floor scrubbers also dry the floor as they clean.

Floor scrubbers are meant to clean floors of light debris. If you need to clean heavier debris, consider a floor sweeper (meant for outdoor surfaces) or a combination sweeper scrubber.

Types of floor scrubbers: walk-behind and ride-on

The two main types of floor scrubber for commercial and industrial purposes are walk-behind and ride-on models.

Walk-behind floor scrubbers

Walk-behind floor scrubbers are used in small and medium spaces such as restaurants, construction sites and office buildings. Some models are capable of cleaning up to 50,000 square feet per hour. They’re typically cheaper to buy or rent than ride-on models and they work better in tight spaces. The potential downsides are increased labor costs and worker fatigue.

Ride-on floor scrubbers

Ride-on floor scrubbers are ideal for large spaces such as warehouses, hospitals and airports. They have larger tanks than walk-behind scrubbers and get the job done faster. Some industrial floor scrubbers can clean more than 100,000 square feet of floor each hour. The downside: These machines are large and more difficult to maneuver than walk-behind floor scrubbers. They also cost more, but they can save you money on labor.

Considerations when choosing a floor scrubber

Before choosing a floor scrubber, consider exactly where the machine will go, what you’ll be removing from the floor and the best power source for your application.

Cleaning path: Bigger isn’t always better

The cleaning path is how many inches of floor the machine cleans with each pass. In general, larger cleaning paths are the most efficient and cost effective. However, machines with a larger cleaning path can be more difficult to maneuver and may not fit in your space. To avoid getting stuck, make sure:

• The cleaning path is narrower than the narrowest area you’ll be cleaning
• The machine can fit through your doorways and elevator
• The machine is small enough to be able to turn around in any dead-end spaces

The best machine is the biggest one that fits your space and has the turning radius you need to maneuver around corners.

Scrub deck type: Cylindrical vs. disc

If you plan to remove any debris, choose a floor scrubber with a cylindrical scrub deck. These use two cylindrical scrubbers that rotate at high speed, removing dirt and debris from the floor and funneling it to a collection point between the scrubbers. Cylindrical scrub decks can handle larger pieces of debris and are suitable for uneven or concrete floors since their bristles reach into cracks and uneven sections.

For smooth floors with no debris, use a disk floor scrubber. These scrubbers use rotating disks to clean the floor. They’re cheaper to buy than cylindrical floor scrubbers, but they don’t collect debris.

Power type: Battery, electric, propane and hybrid

Battery-powered floor scrubbers are popular because they don’t emit fumes, don’t require cables or an electrical outlet as electric scrubbers do and are quieter than scrubbers with a combustion engine. The tradeoff is their limited run time. You’ll have to recharge them every two to four hours, so they’re best for small or medium spaces.

Scrubbers with a combustion engine run on propane (most common), gas or diesel and have unlimited run time with refueling. However, because the engine releases fumes, they must be used outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.

Hybrid floor scrubbers give you increased run time while reducing fuel costs, but there aren’t many models available.

A commercial or industrial scrubber makes quick work of cleaning floors that could take hours to clean otherwise, and reduces drying time, which minimizes the hazards posed by wet floors. The time saved in labor could even pay for the equipment.

Looking for a floor scrubber or floor polisher? Browse our selection of surface preparation equipment.