Maintenance tips & tricks for your industrial floor scrubber or industrial floor sweeper

03 September 2019

Your industrial floor scrubber or sweeper keeps your workplace clean and safe. So it’s important to care for your machine with proper maintenance. This helps it live a longer life and saves you time and money in the process. Want to get the most out of your scrubber or sweeper for longer? Follow these tips and tricks to keep your machine working at its best.

BEFORE EVERY USE

Check the charge status of your battery.
Make sure the battery of your sweeper or scrubber is fully charged before you start working. This means you start the job with your machine at its maximum energy level - much like fuelling your own energy with a cup of coffee before a shift. It sets you up to perform at your best. If your battery isn’t fully charged? Reload it.
Check the scrubbing brush or pad.
If your scrubbing brush or pad is worn, you’re not going to end up with the clean and shiny floors that you’re aiming for. But you can make the job easier by checking the wear on your scrubbing brush or pad before you begin. If they aren’t in good condition, replace them. Not sure which type of brush or floor pad you need? Take a look at this blog post for information on brushes and this post for pads.
Check the condition of your squeegee blade.
You need your squeegee blade to be robust in order to fulfil its duties. A worn-out squeegee blade makes cleaning the floors harder than it needs to be. The good news? Squeegee blades are always wiping in the same direction, so if yours is worn out, you can easily turn it around to get more life out of it. This means you don’t have to buy a new one every time.
Make sure the recovery tank is empty and the screen is clean.
The quicker you can get the job done properly, the better. So, don’t start cleaning while there is still water in the recovery tank of your industrial floor scrubber. Leftover water means your tank will fill up much faster and you’ll soon have to stop work to empty it. Save time on the job by making sure it’s empty before you begin. And while you’re at it, check that the screen is clean and ready for use.
Check the scrubbing head skirt.
If your scrubbing head skirt is damaged, there’s a good chance you’ll run into trouble on the job. But it’s easy to avoid this problem completely! Check it before you begin. Take a look to see if the scrubbing brush is worn out—if it is, you need to replace it. Not sure which scrubbing brush to buy? Check out the extensive range on offer at TVH; we’ve made it easy to find the right part for your machine.
Fill the solution tank.
You can’t clean a floor with dirty water. It’s better to begin fresh every time. Make sure you fill your solution tank with clean water (60° max), and only use cleaning agents that have been approved for industrial scrubbing. Get the solution right before you begin and cleaning those floors will be a piece of cake.

AFTER EACH USE

Empty and clean the recovery tank.
Now it’s time to get rid of all that dirt you’ve just cleaned off the floors. Make sure your machine is turned off before you empty the recovery tank. Then, straighten the pipe so you can remove the cover. Finally, keep the pipe in a drain while you empty the tank. Be sure your recovery tank is clean and empty before storing your floor scrubber and it will be ready and waiting for you next time.
Empty and rinse the solution tank.
Drain the tank of any leftover cleaning solution and then rinse it thoroughly. Be sure that no residue remains so that you avoid any long-term issues with build-up, and to avoid tainting the clean water you’ll put in the next time you use your machine.
Remove and clean the solution tank filter.
You should always clean the filter when cleaning your solution tank. This gets rid of any dirt and stops it causing problems with the system. Cleaning the filter is as easy as rinsing it with pure water. You’ll be done in minutes and your scrubber will be ready to go the next time you need it.
Remove and clean the brush or pad.
Your brush or pad wasn’t worn out before you started cleaning, but what condition is it in now? Be sure to check. If it looks worn out, replace the brush or pad so that your machine is ready for its next shift. Is the brush or pad still looking good? Simply give it a thorough clean so that yesterday’s dirt doesn’t end up on tomorrow’s floors.
Clean the squeegee blade.
To clean your squeegee blade, rinse it thoroughly with water and make sure you remove all the dirt. Is it worn out? Turn it over if you’ve only worn one side of the squeegee blade. But if it’s been worn on both sides, replace it with a new one.
Clean the machine.
Your industrial floor scrubber will benefit from a good scrub down after its shift. You’ll need an all-purpose cleaner and a damp cloth, and then simply clean the machine all over. Do the job properly and you’ll get off to a quick start the next time you clean the floors.
Recharge the battery.
Every time your machine has been used for 30 minutes or more, you need to recharge the battery. This will mean your scrubber is ready to go the next time you need it. Does your machine use a deep-cycle battery? Then also make sure its water level is correct.

And you’re done. It’s that easy! Simply follow these maintenance tips to keep your industrial floor scrubber or sweeper in optimal condition for longer.

All spare parts and accessories for your scrubber or sweeper can be found in our catalogue “Replacement parts for scrubbers & sweepers” (REF 40905935).

Interested in parts for industrial floor scrubbers or sweepers? Then don’t forget to read these articles: