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How to Get Grease, Oil, and Dirt Off Your Floors

overhead view of forklift on warehouse floor between shelves

When exploring cleaning detergents for floor scrubbers, it can be easy to get confused by all the products on the market. However, choosing the right product is essential, as chemicals are an important part of the cleaning process and must be properly matched both with the equipment and the type of job.

How are Cleaning Detergents for Floor Scrubbers Different?

As opposed to simply using water to clean floors, detergents are used in industrial floor scrubbers to specifically target the substances that can accumulate on floors. Floor scrubber detergents are designed to repel water and bind with soil to form an emulsion that helps lift and trap dirt, dust, grease and grime. But grease, oil, and dirt don’t all clean the same. The right chemical will remove unwanted materials while protecting the finish or coating on your industrial floor. It’s key that you pick cleaning detergents for floor scrubbers that are tailored to the particular surface you’ll be cleaning.

Understanding Chemical pH in Your Floor Cleaning Product

Commercial floor detergents can be categorized based on their chemical pH:

  • Neutral pH: This type of detergent is safe to be used on most surfaces and is also among the most environmentally friendly types. It’s most often used for general-purpose daily cleaning, and is not the best option for heavily soiled floors, including stubborn grease and oil marks.
  • Acidic: This type of detergent is designed to attack tougher stains and spills. Never use acidic cleaning detergents for floor scrubbers that are working on marble, travertine or limestone, as they can damage the surface. You should never put an acidic cleaner in a floor scrubber. It will damage the machine. We generally do not recommend acidic cleaners for daily cleaning.
  • Alkaline: This type of cleaner is well-suited for removing grease and oil, and is particularly effective at scrubbing heavy grease and oil build-up. Be sure to follow all safety and environmental protocols when using any alkaline product.

Before deciding on chemicals for floor scrubbing at your site, determine the type of surface that will be cleaned as well as what substances you need to remove; choosing the wrong products for either the flooring or the work that has to be done can mean an incomplete job or even damaged surfaces.

Detergent Options for Floor Scrubbers

Factory Cleaning Equipment offers a range of detergents and floor cleaning chemicals to suit any surface and job, including:

  • Super Citrus: This degreaser and general-purpose cleaner leaves behind no residue and is safe for both epoxy-coated floors and unfinished concrete.
  • Clean2O Green Cleaner: If you’re focused on environmentally friendly cleaning detergents for your facility’s floors, this is the best bet. This detergent is perfect for food-grade facilities as well as facilities with finished or coated floors, and it is particularly effective at cleaning carbon dust in manufacturing plants.
  • Bulldog Mat Cleaner: This neutral detergent is designed for facilities where skin comes in contact with the floor or surface being cleaned. It’s ideal for cleaning rubber gym mats, and can also be used on concrete floors without leaving harmful residue behind.
  • MaxForce: For stubborn grease and tire marks, you need a stronger chemical, such as this heavy-duty oil emulsifier. MaxForce is a good choice for medium-duty applications such as machine shops and auto/equipment service centers. Due to the solvent base, we don’t recommend using it on a coated or finished floor.
  • Formula Plus: Formula plus is our strongest degreaser. With a base of sodium hydroxide, this floor scrubber detergent can remove even the toughest stains, though users need to take precautions by using gloves and face/eye protection.

Whether you’re using a floor scrubber to clean a gym or a large factory, we understand that your facility has unique needs. Give us a call at 800-793-3790 and our floor cleaning experts will help you select the proper detergent and chemicals.

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