Your floor scrubber utilizes either a cylindrical or disc cleaning system, working in tandem with your cleaning solution to remove dirt and grime from the floor. Disc (rotary) systems can use pads or brushes, while cylindrical systems rely solely on brushes.

Choosing the right brush or pad is crucial for effective cleaning and can significantly impact maintenance costs. Using too soft a pad or brush can lead to insufficient cleaning, requiring multiple passes and increasing labor time—and by extension, your costs. And using an overly aggressive pad or brush can damage the floor, leading to premature refinishing, further expenses, and potential disruptions to productivity.

Finding the Right Brush or Pad

With so many options available, determining the best brush or pad for your specific environment can be challenging. Each brush and pad type offers different properties, and to complicate matters, each manufacturer (OEM) offers its own range of products.

You’ll need to replace brushes and pads regularly, so it’s important to understand the basics.

Pads

Pads are ideal for smooth surfaces like vinyl, terrazzo, and polished concrete. They work with disc scrubbing systems using a pad driver to hold the pad in place. Each color indicates the pad's level of abrasiveness:

• White: Gentle, removes light soil and scuffs.
• Red: Medium-duty, ideal for daily cleaning and light scrubbing.
• Blue: Heavy-duty, suitable for more aggressive scrubbing and may remove some coatings.
• Green: Very aggressive, often used to prepare floors for recoating.
• Black: Most aggressive, designed for stripping finishes from floors.

Disk Brushes

For uneven surfaces, brushes outperform pads, as their bristles reach into cracks and crevices. Brushes are also more durable on slip-resistant (grit-impregnated) flooring, which can tear pads apart. Below are the most common types of disc brushes and their applications:

• Nylon: Soft, used for light-duty cleaning.
• Polypropylene: A versatile, medium-duty option for general cleaning.
• Light Grit: Bristles are infused with fine grit, providing an abrasive effect for heavy-duty scrubbing.
• Heavy Grit: Larger, grittier bristles for the most aggressive scrubbing and floor stripping.

Cylindrical brushes

Cylindrical cleaning systems handle both scrubbing and light debris removal. The opposing rotation of the cylindrical brushes lifts dust and particles off the floor and deposits them in a recovery tray. The material choices for cylindrical brushes mirror those of disc brushes:

• Nylon: Soft and ideal for lighter soils.
• Polypropylene: Great for general-purpose cleaning.
• Light Grit: Provides abrasion for tougher dirt and grime.
• Heavy Grit: Aggressive enough to strip floor coatings.

Monitoring Performance

To determine if you’re using the correct pad or brush, pay attention to the cleaning results:

• If dirt remains after a pass, you may need a more aggressive option or a replacement pad/brush.
• If you notice scratches or gouges, the pad or brush might be too aggressive, or the pressure could be set too high.

Encourage your operators to monitor performance during cleaning and report any issues promptly.

We’re Here to Help!

Selecting the right brush or pad may seem complex, but our team of floor cleaning expertsnalong with our account managers in Michigan and Northern Indiana, are ready to assist. Contact us today for advice tailored to your needs. We offer a comprehensive range of brushes, pads, and floor cleaning equipment, backed by trained service technicians and a well-stocked parts inventory. Whether you need ongoing support or immediate assistance, we’ve got you covered with quick, reliable service.