What Cleaning Equipment Is My Facility Probably Overlooking?
Most facilities have the basics covered. You probably already have vacuums, mop buckets, microfiber, and perhaps an automatic floor scrubber. However, having the basic equipment does not necessarily mean your cleaning program is as efficient as it could be.
In fact, some of the most useful pieces of commercial cleaning equipment are often overlooked. These machines may not be used every day, but they can dramatically reduce labor, improve cleaning results, and help your team handle difficult jobs more effectively.
If your staff is spending too much time completing certain cleaning tasks manually, the problem may not be your cleaning process. Instead, you may simply be missing the right equipment.
A Wet/Dry Vacuum With a Front-Mounted Squeegee
A commercial wet/dry vacuum is common equipment. However, a wet/dry vacuum equipped with a front-mounted squeegee can be significantly more productive.
Instead of using a wand to recover large amounts of water, the operator can simply push the vacuum across the floor. The squeegee collects the water while the vacuum immediately recovers it.
This makes these machines particularly useful for:
- Recovering water after floor scrubbing
- Cleaning up large spills
- Restroom cleaning
- Flood and leak cleanup
- Locker rooms and kitchens
- Stripping and refinishing projects
Additionally, a large-capacity wet/dry vacuum can serve as backup equipment when an automatic scrubber is unavailable.
A Compact Automatic Floor Scrubber
Many facilities understand the benefits of automatic floor scrubbers but assume they only make sense for large hallways, warehouses, or open areas.
However, compact walk-behind scrubbers have changed that.
Smaller automatic scrubbers can replace traditional mop-and-bucket cleaning in areas where a full-size machine simply will not fit. Furthermore, they apply cleaning solution, agitate the floor, and recover the dirty water in a single process.
As a result, compact scrubbers can be excellent for:
- Restrooms
- Breakrooms
- Small retail spaces
- Classrooms
- Kitchens
- Narrow hallways
- Offices
- Entryways
If employees are still mopping thousands of square feet every day, a compact scrubber may provide one of the easiest opportunities to reduce cleaning labor.
A Commercial Carpet Extractor
Regular vacuuming removes loose soil, but eventually carpet needs deeper cleaning.
Unfortunately, many facilities wait until carpet becomes visibly dirty before scheduling extraction. Having access to a commercial carpet extractor allows your staff to address spills, traffic lanes, and embedded soil before they become larger problems.
Additionally, routine extraction can help maintain the appearance of carpet in high-traffic areas.
Facilities with significant amounts of carpet should consider whether owning an extractor makes more sense than continually renting equipment or outsourcing every deep-cleaning project.
A Backpack Vacuum
Traditional upright vacuums work extremely well in many applications. However, they are not always the fastest option.
A commercial backpack vacuum gives the operator considerably more freedom of movement. Instead of maneuvering a vacuum around desks, chairs, tables, and other obstacles, the operator carries the vacuum and works primarily with the wand.
This can make backpack vacuums particularly productive in:
- Offices
- Schools
- Churches
- Auditoriums
- Stairways
- Theaters
- Healthcare facilities
- Areas with significant furniture
They are also useful for above-floor cleaning when equipped with the appropriate attachments.
A Ride-On Sweeper
Warehouses and industrial facilities frequently overlook mechanical sweeping.
Instead, employees may spend hours using push brooms, blowers, or other manual methods to remove dust and debris from large floor areas.
A ride-on sweeper can dramatically increase productivity in these environments. The main broom collects debris while side brooms pull material away from walls, racks, and edges.
For large facilities, mechanical sweeping can also become the first step in a more efficient floor-care process. Sweep first to remove loose debris, and then scrub the floor to remove attached soil.
A Low-Speed Floor Machine
Automatic scrubbers have taken over many everyday floor-cleaning applications. Nevertheless, the traditional low-speed floor machine still deserves a place in many maintenance programs.
A quality 175 RPM floor machine can perform several different jobs depending on the pad, brush, and accessories being used.
Applications can include:
- Floor stripping
- Scrubbing
- Spray buffing
- Carpet bonnet cleaning
- Tile and grout cleaning
- Surface preparation
Because one machine can perform several specialized tasks, a low-speed scrubber can be an extremely versatile addition to a facility’s equipment inventory.
An Orbital Floor Machine
Orbital floor machines are another category that facilities sometimes overlook.
Unlike a traditional rotary machine, an orbital machine uses a different cleaning motion that can make it effective for several specialized applications.
Depending on the machine, pad, and floor surface, orbital equipment may be used for deep scrubbing, floor finish removal, grout cleaning, and other restorative floor-care procedures.
Furthermore, orbital machines can sometimes reduce the amount of chemical and water required for certain floor-care projects.
Specialty Tools for Equipment You Already Own
Before purchasing another machine, take a closer look at the equipment already sitting in your janitorial closet.
You may be able to significantly increase its usefulness simply by adding the right accessories.
For example, a carpet extractor may accept an upholstery tool for cleaning furniture. A wet/dry vacuum may accept a front-mounted squeegee. Certain floor machines can use specialized brushes, pad drivers, solution tanks, or dust-control accessories.
Therefore, one of the best questions to ask is not simply, “What machine are we missing?”
It is also, “Are we using everything our existing machines can do?”
Look for the Jobs Your Staff Hates Doing
One of the easiest ways to identify overlooked cleaning equipment is to talk to the people actually doing the work.
Ask your cleaning staff which jobs take the longest, require the most physical effort, or consistently produce disappointing results.
If employees repeatedly mention the same task, there may be an equipment solution available.
For example, manually cleaning a large hard-floor area may point toward an automatic scrubber. Constantly sweeping warehouse aisles may indicate the need for a sweeper. Difficult restroom floor cleaning could justify a compact scrubber. Meanwhile, repeatedly renting carpet equipment may indicate that purchasing an extractor makes more sense.
The goal is not to purchase equipment simply because it is available. Instead, the goal is to identify where equipment can eliminate unnecessary labor and improve results.
The Right Equipment Can Reduce Your Overall Cleaning Costs
Commercial cleaning equipment requires an upfront investment. However, labor is often one of the largest expenses in a facility’s cleaning program.
Therefore, productivity matters.
If a machine allows an employee to complete a two-hour cleaning task in 45 minutes, that time savings happens every time the job is performed. Over months and years, those savings can become substantial.
Additionally, better equipment can help facilities standardize cleaning procedures, reduce operator fatigue, improve consistency, and potentially extend the life of flooring and other surfaces.
Before adding more chemicals or increasing labor hours, take a closer look at the equipment your team is using. The solution to a difficult cleaning problem may simply be a machine or accessory you have been overlooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What commercial cleaning equipment should every facility have?
The answer depends on the size and type of facility. However, most facilities need quality vacuums, wet pickup equipment, basic floor-care equipment, and appropriate tools for their specific flooring. Larger facilities can often benefit significantly from automatic scrubbers, sweepers, carpet extractors, and other mechanized equipment.
When should I replace mopping with an automatic scrubber?
If employees are routinely mopping large hard-floor areas, it is worth comparing the labor required with the productivity of an automatic scrubber. Compact scrubbers also make mechanized cleaning practical in many smaller spaces.
Do I need both a floor sweeper and a floor scrubber?
Possibly. Sweepers remove loose dirt, dust, and debris, while scrubbers use solution and agitation to remove attached soil. Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and other large buildings can benefit from using both processes.
Is refurbished commercial cleaning equipment worth considering?
Yes. Professionally refurbished equipment can be a cost-effective way to add capabilities to a cleaning program without purchasing every machine new. However, the condition of the machine, refurbishment process, replacement parts, and warranty should all be considered.
How do I know which cleaning equipment would save my facility the most labor?
Start by identifying your most time-consuming repetitive cleaning tasks. Then compare the current process with the productivity of equipment designed for that application. The best investment is usually not the biggest machine—it is the equipment that solves a recurring labor or cleaning problem.
Find the Right Cleaning Equipment for Your Facility
Every facility is different. A school, warehouse, healthcare facility, church, office building, and manufacturing plant will each have different cleaning challenges.
At ChemSource Direct, we can help evaluate the way you are currently cleaning and identify equipment that could make the process faster and more effective. From automatic scrubbers and sweepers to carpet extractors, wet/dry vacuums, floor machines, and specialty cleaning equipment, we offer both new and refurbished commercial cleaning equipment.
If you are not sure what your facility is overlooking, give ChemSource Direct a call. Sometimes one piece of equipment can completely change the way a difficult cleaning job gets done.