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