How to choose the best industrial floor scrubber or sweeper

The first decision to make is whether you want a walk-behind or a ride-on floor scrubber. The biggest factor here is how much floor needs to be cleaned. Walk-behind floor scrubbers are great for small to medium areas. For large areas like warehouses, you’re better off with a ride-on option. 

Walk-behind floor-cleaning machines are less expensive and weigh less than ride-on scrubbers, but they can be difficult to manoeuvre around obstacles and tight corners. Ride-on floor scrubbers are larger and heavier, but they’re easier to move around since the machine does the grunt work. They also offer more suction than walk-behind floor scrubbers. 

Both types of floor scrubbers require an operator, which means you should consider labour in your decision. A walk-behind floor scrubber might cost less upfront, but if it takes someone a lot longer to clean the necessary area, you might end up coughing those savings back up pretty quickly. 

Absolutely. In fact, robotic floor-scrubbing machines have been around for years. The early designs were only capable of cleaning hard floors, but today’s robotic floor scrubbers can clean lots of different surfaces, including carpet and tiles. 

These handy machines use artificial intelligence to clean floors without supervision. And no operator means no labour costs. Robotic floor cleaners also get the job done more quickly than manual options. They can even adjust their cleaning schedules based on how often they’re used, ensuring floors are always spick and span, even in busy areas.

Which floor scrubber is best for you is totally dependent on what you need it to do. There are several important factors to consider before making a decision:

• Scrubber or sweeper? Think about the type of mess that needs to be cleaned up. Is it just dust and debris? Then a sweeper is a great choice. But if there’s dirt, grease and fine dust? You’re going to need water and detergent, so a floor scrubber is a better option. 
• How big is the area? Walk-behind floor scrubbers are great for smaller floors. But if you’re dealing with a large area, a ride-on scrubber is more practical. 
• What type of flooring? Floor scrubbers and sweepers can be used on all sorts of surfaces. However, different surfaces require different types of brushes. Discover the best brush for your floors in this blog post.
• How much do you want to spend? Consider the upfront cost as well as the ongoing expenses. When switching to mechanical cleaning equipment, most companies see a quick return on investment thanks to the savings on labour costs. 
• How much maintenance is required? Every machine requires maintenance to keep it working safely and efficiently. Check out these handy tips and tricks for ways to keep your industrial floor scrubber or sweeper working at its best.

TVH supplies parts for all makes and models of floor scrubbers and sweepers. A wide range of brushes and other spare parts and accessories can be found in our catalogue ‘Replacement parts for scrubbers & sweepers’ (REF 40905935). If you’d like help finding the right parts for your machine, please contact us.