Cleaning Equipment

Performance is a critical factor in running a successful cleaning company. Cleaning companies are judged by clients on how well they perform at meticulously cleaning a facility. Quality cleaning equipment is a key factor in increasing the productivity and performance. There are three main types of equipment that are necessary in commercial cleaning. Auto scrubbers and floor machines are utilized to clean and maintain hard floors and keep them in optimum condition. Burnishers are used to polish floors and maintain floor finishes that act like a barrier to the tile. Vacuum cleaners are essential for cleaning carpeting, upholstery and drapes.

There are many different types of hard floor cleaning equipment. The two most popular types of machines are auto scrubbers and swing floor machines. Swing floor machines utilize and floor pads spinning in a cylindrical motion to agitate debris from the floors surface. This type of equipment requires the user to wet the floor first, agitate with the floor machine and then mop the dirty water up from the floor. Auto scrubbers turn this arduous task into a one step process. An auto scrubber is usually pushed by the user as it lays down the water, scrubs the floor then suctions up the water using a trailing squeegee. Auto scrubbers can cover large areas of flooring in relatively short time increasing worker productivity and the cleanliness of the floor. Auto scrubbers are commonly used in large convenient stores, hotels and large warehouses.

Burnishers are key to a successful floor maintenance program. Floors like VCT are coated with a floor finish which contains acrylic polymers that create a barrier between the floor and foot traffic. These acrylic floor finishes can be continuity buffed to a shine to make floors look cleaner. Burnishers spin a floor pad at high speeds up to 300 revolutions per minute melting the finish to crate a smooth surface and appealing shine. Two types of common burnishers are swing burnishers and walk behind units. Swing burnishers utilize electric cords while most walk behind pieces of equipment are battery powered. Spray buff chemicals are also sometimes sprayed on the floor before burnishing and chemically fill in micro scratches on the floor to produce a higher gloss shine.

Vacuum cleaners are the most common piece of cleaning equipment is a commercial cleaner�s arsenal. Vacuum cleaners are used for cleaning carpeted areas, rugs and upholstery. There are many different types of vacuum cleaners including upright vacuum cleaners, backpack vacuums and canister vacs. The most common vacuum cleaner used by commercial cleaners is the backpack vacuum cleaner. The backpack vacuum cleaner is worn on the back like a backpack connected to a wand that sucks debris from the floor. Backpack vacuums are extremely maneuverable and great for cleaning around objects and in cubicles. Backpack vacuum cleaners are very powerful and can be used with an assortment of accessories. Commercial vacuum cleaners use large motors than residential vacuums and usually come with a grounded plug and extra long cord.

General Used Equipment Information

In today�s tough economy cleaning companies need to cut costs and save as much money as possible. With companies cutting back, building cleaning costs are one of the first areas to be looked at for saving money. Some companies are trying to cut out their cleaning company and replace them with internal labor. It is important for cleaning companies to stay competitive and offer the lowest contract price possible to build or retain there clients. A great way to cut operating costs is to but used cleaning equipment. BY purchasing cleaning equipment used the cleaning company can save up to eighty percent on major equipment purchases. Another reward to using good used equipment is the reduction in labor costs and better cleaning performance.

Cleaning equipment is a broad category that encompasses machines such as auto scrubbers, burnishers, floor machines and vacuum cleaners. Auto scrubber can clean floors ten times faster than utilizing a mop and do a much better job by constantly flushing the floor with clean water. Burnishers are a necessity for maintaining finished floors and maximizing their brilliance. A good lightweight backpack vacuum cleaner can make cubical and office cleaning an effortless task. By using these types of cleaning equipment a cleaning company can cut up to thirty percent in labor costs and still make maximum profits for their clients.

When purchasing used equipment there are a few things to look for. The most important criteria to look for when purchasing equipment is to make sure it is good repair and in cosmetically good condition. If a machine looks worn, damaged or rusty on the outside then chances are this is a reflection of its internal parts. When testing the unit listen for any loud noises especially around brush and vacuum motors. If you are purchasing cleaning equipment that contains batteries, check the installation date and have a specific gravity test performed to make sure they will hold a charge. Batteries are the most expensive wear item on an auto scrubber and can cost up to $1500 dollars to replace. A common area people overlook when purchasing janitorial equipment are the accessories. On older machines common accessories can be hard to find due to discontinuation and can be costly if not impossible to replace.

Good deals on cleaning equipment can be found in many places. The most common place to buy used equipment is from a local janitorial supply shop. Buying a machine from a local dealer is usually the most reliable way to purchase equipment but can be more costly than other sources. The item can usually be viewed and tested, and the dealer will sometimes warranty their machines. If you are mechanically inclined the best deals are found on the internet at larger online supply houses and online auctions. Large online dealers usually have a larger stock due to increased sales and a higher percentage of trade-ins. Online auctions are by far the cheapest source, but make sure to factor the freight into the price of the machine.

When buying cleaning equipment there are three important questions to ask that will insure that you are purchasing a quality unit. What type of warranty does the machine have? Repairs on equipment can be costly and a good warranty can go a log way and could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs. Where was the machine previously used? Be cautious if the machine was operated by a commercial cleaning company. These machines are typically used for extended periods of time and are usually traded in for excessive wear. What type of application was the piece of cleaning equipment used for? A good example of extreme use is utilizing an auto scrubber or floor machine for stripping floors. Striping floors is a messy task and old floor wax can block internal lines and build up on motor vent holes. Overall the best indication of a good machine is good cosmetic condition and low operating noise but it is also good to get a second opinion by a third party technician.

Cleaning Equipment - Auto Scrubbers

Cleaning a large commercial can be an arduous task. The traditional method of cleaning and scrubbing hard floors was to use a mop, bucket and lots of man power. Since the nineteen sixties many types of cleaning equipment have been introduced to take the man power out of the equation. With commercial buildings such as department stores and warehouses getting larger there has been a demand for new types of cleaning equipment to aid in keeping the flooring in pristine condition. One major type of cleaning equipment that has been introduced to accomplish this tank is the auto scrubber.

The auto scrubber works on three basic principles. These principles are, wet the floor, scrub the floor and then suck the dirty water up off the floor. Advances in auto scrubber technology have made I possible that floors can be cleaned in a fraction of the time reducing man hours and producing a cleaner floor. There are many auto scrubber manufacturers in the world and most auto scrubbers work the same way and have almost the same design. Most auto scrubbers have a brush or bad that rotates and agitates dirt from the flooring surface. A solution line allows water to pour onto or around the moving brushes to help remove soil and dirt. A squeegee trails behind the auto scrubber and is attached to a vacuum motor that sucks the water from the surface. Auto scrubbers usually come with two tanks, one for clean water or a detergent solution and one that recovers the dirty water. The first tank is commonly known as a solution tank and the dirty water tank is known as the recovery tank. Most auto scrubbers are battery operated to alleviate the use of cords that can hinder the range.

There are many sizes of auto scrubbers which are usually measured by their cleaning path. The cleaning path is gauged by the diameter of the scrubbing brush. Common auto scrubbers range in size from 17 inches al the way up to 40 inches. Most smaller units are man powered and use human strength to propel the cleaning unit along. Larger auto scrubber utilize a wheel drive system that uses a transaxle or motor that propels the unit up to three miles per hour. Some larger units can weigh in excess of 1000 pounds making these drive units a necessity. Larger auto scrubbers known as ride on auto scrubbers have a seat where the rider sits and is driven much like a car. These large ride on units are commonly used in areas measuring over 30,000 square feet and can clean an area that would have taken 10 people to clean in the past.

Auto scrubbers can vary in price from the lower thousands to thirty thousand dollars. Electric units are the least expensive of all the scrubbers and the most inexpensive to repair. These types of auto scrubbers are great for small areas but are limited by the length of the power cord. Battery auto scrubbers usually start in the two thousand dollar range and run on deep cell batteries. Batteries can be very costly to replace in these units and can cost about half the original machine price. Being as costly as these units are they can easily pay for themselves quickly by reducing labor costs and increasing the level of cleaning performance. Emerging technology in cleaning equipment is constantly enhancing the performance and size of these machines.

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