There are a few environments as filthy as industrial floors. All of the dirt and filth on the bottom of our shoes are tracked all over the floor. When someone walks through your building after visiting a nasty restroom, that restroom gunk is now all over your floor.
In order to maintain a hygienic environment in your building, it is almost a necessity to have industrial floor sweepers and floor scrubbers. Industrial floor sweepers and scrubbers are the most effective way to remove all of the grime that naturally settles on the floor of your warehouse or industrial environment, far more effectively than a good ol’ broom and mop, but with at a fraction of the effort of doing it manually.
When you are ready to invest in industrial floor sweepers or scrubbers to keep your floors sparkling, there are several important factors that you should consider to make the most of your money:
- Consider the area that you need to navigate.
When purchasing industrial floor sweepers or scrubbers, it’s natural to consider the largest area that you’ll be cleaning, and use that to determine the appropriate sized machine. However, this is a mistake. Instead, consider the entire area that needs to be cleaned so that you find a machine that can be operated in hallways and offices, as well as your main area. While using a smaller model for the large spaces might take a little bit longer, being able to use your machine throughout your entire building will save a lot of time and effort and will be more effective for keeping your entire building clean. After all, if your main area is spotless but all the secondary areas are cleaned by hand, it’s only a matter of time before the gunk from those areas makes its way back throughout the building. - Measure the width of your doors.
Most industrial floor sweepers and scrubbers are designed to be the width of a wheelchair; this means that any building that is handicap-accessible will have large enough doorways to fit your machine through. However, if your building is older and the doors are skinnier than regulation, you may have a serious issues getting a standard-sized floor cleaner through.
Before you sign the dotted line on the new floor cleaner, make sure to do a quick measure of your doorways and to ensure that it fits through. Don’t worry if you have weird-size doors; most industrial floor cleaner manufacturers offer narrower solutions just for people like you. - Consider access to power.
Unlike your standard vacuum, most industrial floor sweepers and scrubbers are battery operated, so you are not restricted to what you can reach while being connected to the wall. However, their batteries will need to be re-charged, and some of them require more power than a standard outlet offers. Make sure you understand the charging needs for your machine before you buy it, and make sure that you can provide that for it.
Also, because the batteries are large and can get really warm when charged, it’s not a good idea to plan a charge it in utility closet or small, unventilated space. The manufacturer of your floor cleaning machine can give you the exact requirements, to make sure that you can meet them. - Don’t forget about storage!
While you will find that your floor scrubbing machine is your best friend, it doesn’t do much in the way of interior decor. Not to mention, if you don’t have a concealed place for it when not in use, it could be a hazard when unauthorized personnel are around. Your industrial floor cleaning equipment do a heck of a lot more than the standard broom or mop, but they take up a lot of my room. Make sure to consider a safe and secure place for
it before buying it. - Consider the people who are using your floor machinery.
One-third of all large machinery breakdowns are a result of being used improperly. Make sure that anyone who does operate your machinery is properly task trained on safe and effective use of it, for their safety and for the sake of your expensive investment.
Do you have any other suggestions for choosing industrial floor cleaning equipment? Please share in the comments!