| One of the first add-on services most | | | | times, unlike the slow speed buffer.Pad |
| cleaning contractors want to add to | | | | and Brushes: Pads are the most popular |
| their janitorial service is floor care - | | | | choice when using your hard floor |
| stripping and waxing, burnishing, and | | | | machine. Manufacturers use a color-coded |
| buffing. In order to perform these | | | | system to help you identify the type of |
| services, you must use the right | | | | pad you need to use. Colors may vary by |
| equipment for the job.The following is a | | | | manufacturer, but the darker colors are |
| list of the most commonly used equipment | | | | more aggressive, with black being the |
| that cleaning contractors use in floor | | | | most aggressive. The lighter colors are |
| care. Equipment is either electric, | | | | less aggressive, with white being the |
| battery-operated, or propane. Most | | | | least aggressive.Be sure to use the |
| cleaning contractors will use electric | | | | right pad for the job (Note - colors |
| equipment in smaller cleaning accounts | | | | vary by manufacturer):* White Pad: Light |
| and office buildings. Propane equipment | | | | dry polishing or light spray buffing for |
| is most often used on large floor areas | | | | high gloss.* Aqua Pad: Ideal for |
| such as those in retail stores and | | | | high-frequency, high gloss burnishing |
| grocery stores.Slow Speed Buffer (also | | | | programs on softer floor finishes.* |
| known as a side-by-side or swing | | | | Ultra Champagne Pad: Designed for low to |
| machine). Slow speed machines are used | | | | moderate burnishing programs on harder |
| for a variety of tasks including | | | | floor finishes.* Natural Hair Pad: |
| stripping floors, scrubbing floors, | | | | Natural hair and synthetic fiber pad |
| sanding wood floors, and carpet cleaning | | | | works well on a wide variety of floor |
| using cotton bonnets. They come in sizes | | | | finishes and traffic conditions.* Green |
| ranging from 13" (for use in tight | | | | Scrubbing: Ideal for heavy-duty |
| areas) to 20", and have a speed ranging | | | | scrubbing or light stripping* Black |
| from 175 rpm to 300 rpm. You can also | | | | Stripping: For heavy duty |
| add a solution tank to a slow speed | | | | stripping.Brushes are a great |
| machine. This allows chemical to be | | | | alternative to pads when choosing what |
| applied through the drive unit. Some | | | | to use for stripping, scrubbing, or |
| machines come with rear wheels that flip | | | | polishing. They are more expensive |
| up so it can stand directly on the brush | | | | initially, but will out-last pads 10 to |
| or pad, and fold-down handles that make | | | | 1.Copyright 2006 The Janitorial |
| it easier to transport.High Speed Buffer | | | | StoreSteve Hanson is co-founding member |
| Burnisher. High speed machines are used | | | | of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online |
| for spray buffing, dry buffing, and | | | | community for owners and managers of |
| burnishing hard floors, and are usually | | | | cleaning companies who want to build a |
| 17 - 28" in diameter. They have a speed | | | | more profitable and successful cleaning |
| ranging from 1000 rpm to 2700 rpm. These | | | | business. For more information check out |
| machines are used in floor care programs | | | | our Cleaning to Perfection Hard Floor |
| designed to keep that glossy look that | | | | Care Program Training Program. Sign up |
| makes floors look so great. High speeds | | | | for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at and |
| have rear wheels that are fixed and | | | | receive a Free Gift. |
| remain in contact with the floor at all | | | | |