If you’re considering purchasing a new piece of floor cleaning equipment for your warehouse or building, you’ve probably come across these similar sound names:
Industrial floor sweeper, scrubber, sweeper-scrubber and scrubber-sweeper.
And your first thought was probably “Aren’t they all the same thing?”
While the names may be similar, each of these floor cleaning machines have different designs, offer unique features, and serve different purposes.
In the following article, we’ll showcase these floor cleaning machines and highlight their similarities, differences, key features and unique purposes so you can determine which one best suits your building’s particular needs.
What Is An Industrial Floor Sweeper?
Outfitted with one or multiple brushes, industrial floor sweepers provide a more efficient and effective floor cleaning solution for settings such as machine shops and factories where large piles of dust and debris are a concern.
Available in both ride-on and walk-behind models of various sizes, these LP or battery-operated machines use their built-in motorized brushes to collect dirt, dust and debris from floors without the use of water or chemicals.
In addition to saving time and money cleaning floors with push brooms and other antiquated cleaning methods, many of these machines also feature operator-controlled brush speeds and specialized filters to minimize dust clouds and reduce airborne contaminants. These are especially beneficial to industrial settings that must comply with OSHA Silica Dust Exposure Regulations.
What Is An Industrial Floor Scrubber?
Several key elements set industrial floor scrubbers apart from floor sweepers.
While they are outfitted with one or more motorized brushes, floor scrubbers also dispense a detergent-based solution to provide a deep clean for a variety of floor surfaces.
After the solution is applied to the floors and the brushes have scrubbed the surface, it then finishes the cleaning process by removing any remaining liquids via the built-in vacuum system with squeegee.
While floor sweepers are available in ride-on and self-propelled models that are most commonly used in factories, machines shops and warehouses, floor scrubbers are available in a variety of sizes and designs. Since this is the case, floor scrubbers are used in a variety of commercial settings and industrial settings depending on their size and specifications.
Smaller commercial settings such as convenience stores, yoga studios and restaurants can benefit from mini floor scrubbers that resemble a vacuum cleaner. These compact floor scrubbers are ideal for cleaning everything from polished floors to tile to rubberized surfaces.
Larger, walk-behind scrubbers are perfect for cleaning floors in commercial businesses such as grocery stores, retail stores, schools, hospitals and fitness centers. These scrubbers are also popular in auto dealerships and garages for cleaning up fluid spills, tire marks, grease and grime.
Ride-on floor scrubbers are popular with both commercial and industrial settings. These scrubbers are often used in environments that see a lot of foot traffic such as sports stadiums or warehouses to clean up spills and skid marks from pallet jacks and forklifts.
In addition to these operator-based models, floor scrubbers are also available in innovative robotic models, too. Using state-of-the-art technology, these autonomous robotic floor scrubbers can be easily programmed to clean specific areas at certain times to reduce workflow disruptions and improve productivity in a variety of settings.
What Is An Industrial Floor Sweeper-Scrubber?
Like its name implies, a warehouse sweeper-scrubber provides both cleaning services in one machine.
This combination cleaner is ideal for industrial settings like manufacturing facilities that encounter both lots of dust and debris along with grime, dirt and other issues that require the deep solution-based cleaning.
First, the sweeper is activated to collect dust and debris from the floor surface. This is done to minimize the risk of producing dust clouds filled with airborne contaminants. It also prevents the cleaning solution from creating sludge from the dust and clogging the vacuum hose with debris.
After a thorough sweeping, the operator then engages the scrubbing system to remove grime from the floor and vacuum up the solution.
Unlike stand-alone floor sweepers and scrubbers, this machine is typically available in propane, gas or diesel options.
This dual-purpose alternative is ideal for facilities that require both cleaners but are limited in space or resources.
What Is An Industrial Floor Scrubber-Sweeper?
Finally, there is the scrubber-sweeper option. Another combination floor cleaner, this machine sweeps and scrubs at the same time.
Common used in large settings such as parking garages and airplane hangers with surfaces soiled by grime, oil, fluids and other contaminants, industrial scrubber-sweepers employ a heavy-duty cylindrical brush, solution dispensing/vacuuming system and extra-large solution and recovery tanks to provide and more effective and efficient cleaning experience.
Similar to sweeper-scrubbers, most floor scrubber-sweepers are available in propane, gas and diesel options.
Which Industrial Floor Sweeper Or Scrubber Is Right For You?
Although these machines have similar names and offer some of the same features, they’re uniquely designed to serve a specific purpose for different environments.
Now that you have a better understanding of these commercial and industrial floor cleaners, it’s time to determine which one is best suited for your facility.
A mini floor scrubber might be the best option for your small commercial site? Or maybe you need a ride-on floor sweeper to collect metal shavings from your machine shop?
Whatever the case may be, Factory Cleaning Equipment offers you a variety of brand-name industrial floor sweepers, scrubbers, sweeper-scrubbers and scrubber-sweepers to meet your needs and budget.
Still not sure which floor sweeper or scrubber is the right choice for you? That’s ok! We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have to help you find the right cleaning solution. You can also check out our FAQ page for more information!
Contact us today to learn more about our industrial floor cleaning equipment.