Types of Commercial Cleaning Equipment

Performance is a critical factor in running a successful cleaning company. Cleaning companies are judged by clients on how well they perform at meticulously cleaning a facility. Quality cleaning equipment is a key factor in increasing the productivity and performance. There are three main types of equipment that are necessary in commercial cleaning. Auto scrubbers and floor machines are utilized to clean and maintain hard floors and keep them in optimum condition. Burnishers are used to polish floors and maintain floor finishes that act like a barrier to the tile. Vacuum cleaners are essential for cleaning carpeting, upholstery and drapes.

There are many different types of hard floor cleaning equipment. The two most popular types of machines are auto scrubbers and swing floor machines. Swing floor machines utilize and floor pads spinning in a cylindrical motion to agitate debris from the floors surface. This type of equipment requires the user to wet the floor first, agitate with the floor machine and then mop the dirty water up from the floor. Auto scrubbers turn this arduous task into a one step process. An auto scrubber is usually pushed by the user as it lays down the water, scrubs the floor then suctions up the water using a trailing squeegee. Auto scrubbers can cover large areas of flooring in relatively short time increasing worker productivity and the cleanliness of the floor. Auto scrubbers are commonly used in large convenient stores, hotels and large warehouses.

Burnishers are key to a successful floor maintenance program. Floors like VCT are coated with a floor finish which contains acrylic polymers that create a barrier between the floor and foot traffic. These acrylic floor finishes can be continuity buffed to a shine to make floors look cleaner. Burnishers spin a floor pad at high speeds up to 300 revolutions per minute melting the finish to crate a smooth surface and appealing shine. Two types of common burnishers are swing burnishers and walk behind units. Swing burnishers utilize electric cords while most walk behind pieces of equipment are battery powered. Spray buff chemicals are also sometimes sprayed on the floor before burnishing and chemically fill in micro scratches on the floor to produce a higher gloss shine.

Vacuum cleaners are the most common piece of cleaning equipment in a commercial cleaner’s arsenal. Vacuum cleaners are used for cleaning carpet areas, rugs and upholstery. There are many different types of vacuum cleaners including upright vacuum cleaners, backpack vacuums and canister vacs. The most common vacuum cleaner used by commercial cleaners is the backpack vacuum cleaner. The backpack vacuum cleaner is worn on the back of the unit like a backpack connected to a wand that sucks debris from the floor. Backpack vacuums are extremely maneuverable and great for cleaning around objects and in cubicles. Backpack vacuum cleaners are very powerful and can be used with an assortment of accessories. Commercial vacuum cleaners use larger motors than residential vacuums and usually come with a grounded plug and extra long cord.

Great vacuum cleaner information and vacuum reviews by Lee Harris can be found at http://www.monsterjanitorial.com. Lee Harris is an expert in the cleaning industry and can answer all your questions about cleaning equipment and cleaning including auto scrubbers, burnishers and floor machines.