Scrubber Dryer Buying Guide: Features, Benefits and Tips
Maintaining a clean and safe workplace is essential for the success of any business. The first impression matters and one of the first things customers and clients notice is the hygiene level in your facility. It begins with keeping the floors clean, but very often, leaving high-traffic areas spotless and safe is easier said than done. What helps is having the right equipment.
Cleaning large floors quickly and having them ready for use in no time is not something manual cleaning can do. For commercial spaces and industrial applications, choose user-friendly scrubber dryers, as they offer a more effective and efficient cleaning solution. They’re specialised floor cleaning machines that perform scrubbing and drying, two essential tasks, in one pass.
They use a combination of water, detergents, and a rotary cleaning head with brushes or pads to remove dirt, stains, and contaminants from the surface, and a vacuum suction system that extracts moisture from it and leaves it dry. The key components are tanks for clean and dirty water, a squeegee attachment that collects the waste solution as the machine moves, and a control panel that enables the operator to manage the machine’s functions.
Different Types of Industrial Floor Scrubbers
- Walk-Behind – They’re moved by pushing and are ideal for cleaning spaces like schools, hospitals, and retail stores.
- Ride-On – They include a seat and a structure to accommodate and carry the operator and are suitable for large areas like warehouses, airports, and manufacturing facilities.
- Robotic – They use sensors and navigation systems to clean without manual input.
The Benefits of Using Floor Scrubbers
Increased Efficiency
The wide scrubbing path ensures efficient cleaning of various floors easily. You can choose the brushes or pads for the type of floor that needs to be cleaned to ensure a deep and thorough clean in less time compared to traditional mopping. These machines extract dirty water immediately and prevent germ spread from one area to another.
Flexibility
From interchangeable brushes to adjustable pressure settings, many different options allow you to tailor the machine to meet your specific cleaning needs. This flexibility maximises performance regardless of the facility’s layout or type of floor.
Enhanced Safety
Leaving floors wet and waiting for them to ‘’air dry’’ is never a good idea, even if you post slip hazard signs, as very often they block off walkways or working areas. Scrubber dryers dry floors immediately after scrubbing, making them safe and ready for immediate use. This can prevent accidents that may cause injuries to visitors and costly compensation to facility managers and owners.
Also, these machines work with virtually zero effort for operators, reducing work-related injuries. They’re built with ergonomic designs and simple controls. Most of them come with clear instructions and are designed to prevent common user errors, so training staff to use them can be simple and quick.
Cost-Effectiveness
They’re designed to use less water and detergent than traditional floor cleaning methods, reducing cleaning supply costs. Also, they reduce cleaning time, allowing staff to spend less time on floor maintenance and focus on other tasks. In a busy workplace, time is money, and the ability to complete cleaning tasks faster can lead to increased productivity.
Sustainability
As mentioned above, floor scrubbers use less water and detergent. Many of them clean effectively using low- or no-chemical detergents, reducing chemical waste and protecting the environment. Also, they’re built for longevity, featuring durable and repairable components that can be serviced.
Long-Term Investment
The initial cost may seem higher, but thanks to the substantial cost savings in labour, water and chemical usage, and the reduced risks of slips as well as work-related injuries, it pays off in the long run. If you’re not sure whether you can afford one or not, the good news is that there is a range of models to suit different budgets and cleaning needs, or you can hire before buying.
Tips for Selecting Your Scrubber Dryer
Consider the Facility Size
For a large, open facility, a ride-on machine can be an excellent choice as it can cover more ground in less time. For a smaller layout or a complex one with narrow hallways or ramps, a compact walk-behind model can work perfectly, as it allows for easier manoeuvrability.
Choose the Right Power Supply
Battery-powered, electric, or gas-operated, each one of these machines has its pros and cons depending on run time, mobility, and indoor use. Battery-powered models offer the most flexibility and are ideal for indoor areas where cords could be a hazard. Electric models are great for consistent power but are limited by cord length. Gas or propane options are better suited for large outdoor or ventilated spaces due to their extended run times and higher power output.
Final Thoughts
Clean and safe flooring is essential to the smooth operation of any workplace. Sweepers and scrubbers are ideal for keeping large spaces well-maintained and reducing slip risks in high-traffic areas. They offer a faster, more hygienic, and cost-effective alternative to manual floor cleaning.
To choose the right model for your business needs, identify the size of your facility and the floor types. Do your own research, compare prices, and always buy from a reputable supplier who is ready to help and give professional advice and assistance before and after making the purchase. Requesting a demo and seeing the machine in action can be very helpful, especially if you’re buying a scrubber dryer for the first time.
