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