Keeping floors clean across a large commercial facility can be challenging with traditional cleaning methods alone. Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, offices, healthcare environments, schools, and other high-traffic properties often have significant amounts of hard flooring that require periodic deep cleaning.
A commercial floor scrubber rental can give facility teams access to professional-grade equipment without requiring the organization to purchase and maintain a machine of its own. For periodic projects, seasonal cleaning, or temporary equipment needs, renting may provide a practical way to expand a facility’s floor care capabilities.
Understanding the available equipment and planning the project properly can help organizations determine whether renting a floor scrubber makes sense for their needs.
What Is a Commercial Floor Scrubber?
A commercial floor scrubber is a machine designed to clean hard flooring more efficiently than traditional manual methods. Depending on the model, the machine can apply cleaning solution, agitate the floor using pads or brushes, and recover dirty water as it moves across the surface.
Walk-behind scrubbers are commonly used in smaller or more confined spaces, while larger ride-on models may be appropriate for expansive facilities.
Choosing a commercial floor scrubber rental should begin with understanding the area being cleaned. Square footage, flooring material, available maneuvering space, and the condition of the floor can all influence which machine is appropriate.
When Does Renting a Floor Scrubber Make Sense?
Purchasing equipment can make sense for facilities that use floor scrubbers frequently. However, ownership also introduces costs and responsibilities related to storage, maintenance, repairs, batteries, replacement parts, and employee training.
Renting can be more practical when a machine is only needed periodically.
For example, a facility may use a commercial floor scrubber rental for a seasonal deep clean, preparation for an event, post-construction cleaning, or a temporary increase in maintenance needs. Rental equipment can also provide additional capacity if a facility’s existing machine is being serviced or if a large project needs to be completed quickly.
Facility managers should compare anticipated usage with the ongoing responsibilities associated with equipment ownership when deciding between the two approaches.
Walk-Behind vs. Ride-On Floor Scrubbers
One important consideration is whether a walk-behind or ride-on machine is better suited to the facility.
Walk-behind scrubbers can provide maneuverability in areas such as hallways, smaller rooms, retail environments, and spaces with furniture or equipment. Their smaller footprint can make them easier to navigate in facilities where operators need to work around obstacles.
Ride-on machines may be more appropriate for large open spaces such as warehouses, manufacturing floors, distribution centers, or expansive commercial buildings. Allowing the operator to ride on the machine can make it possible to cover larger areas more efficiently.
A knowledgeable commercial floor scrubber rental provider can help determine which configuration fits the size and layout of a particular project.
Consider Your Flooring Before Choosing Equipment
Not every hard floor should be cleaned using the same equipment, pads, brushes, or cleaning solutions.
Commercial properties may contain concrete, tile, resilient flooring, or other surfaces, each of which can have specific maintenance requirements. Facility managers should review flooring manufacturer recommendations before selecting equipment or cleaning products.
The condition of the floor also matters. Routine scrubbing of a relatively well-maintained surface may require a different process than addressing significant soil buildup.
Resources from cleaning industry organizations such as ISSA can also help facility professionals learn more about cleaning equipment, processes, and industry practices.
Taking time to evaluate the flooring before reserving equipment can help teams select a commercial floor scrubber rental that is appropriate for the intended application.
Plan for the Size of the Cleaning Area
Square footage is another major factor when choosing a floor scrubber.
Using a small walk-behind machine to clean an extremely large warehouse could make the project unnecessarily time-consuming. On the other hand, a large ride-on scrubber may be difficult to operate efficiently in a smaller building with narrow corridors and frequent obstacles.
Facility managers should calculate the approximate area that needs to be cleaned and consider how much time is available to complete the work.
Machine width, tank capacity, battery runtime, maneuverability, and productivity can all influence how efficiently the project can be completed.
Matching the equipment to the space is one of the simplest ways to make a floor cleaning project more manageable.
Prepare Your Facility Before Cleaning
Proper preparation can help employees get more value from a commercial floor scrubber rental.
Before using the equipment, remove loose debris and move obstacles when possible. Facility teams should also identify heavily soiled areas that may require additional attention and review the appropriate cleaning products and machine settings.
Employees operating the equipment should understand the machine’s controls, setup, operation, and shutdown procedures. Following the equipment manufacturer’s instructions is important throughout the process.
Facility managers should also plan around normal operations. Cleaning during lower-traffic periods may make it easier to complete the project without disrupting employees, customers, or other building occupants.
Should You Rent Equipment or Hire a Professional?
Rental equipment gives facility teams the ability to perform floor cleaning internally, but it still requires available employees, proper equipment selection, project planning, and time.
For organizations with experienced maintenance teams, renting may provide exactly the additional capability they need. Other facilities may determine that outsourcing floor care is more practical.
A professional cleaning provider can manage the equipment, staffing, scheduling, and procedures required for the project. This can be particularly valuable for larger facilities or organizations without dedicated employees available for periodic floor maintenance.
Before choosing between professional service and commercial floor scrubber rental, consider the total scope of the project rather than equipment cost alone.
Develop a More Effective Floor Care Strategy
Commercial floors experience constant traffic, spills, tracked-in debris, and everyday wear. Maintaining them effectively requires a plan that accounts for routine cleaning as well as periodic deeper maintenance.
KleenMark works with businesses to develop commercial cleaning and floor care programs based on their facility requirements. From recurring janitorial services to specialized floor care, a coordinated maintenance strategy can help organizations manage their spaces more efficiently.
If you’re evaluating your current floor care program or determining whether equipment rental or professional cleaning is the right solution, contact KleenMark to discuss your facility and cleaning needs.