A scrubber dryer, commonly referred to as a floor scrubber, is a versatile machine designed to perform three key tasks essential for thorough floor cleaning and maintenance. Firstly, it applies a cleaning solution to the floor; secondly, it scrubs the surface to agitate the solution; and thirdly, it vacuums up the dirty liquid.
This process ensures that floors stay clean, dry, and safe for use. With exceptional cleaning capabilities, user-friendly controls, and easy maneuverability, floor scrubber dryers are regarded as the most efficient and effective solution for maintaining floor cleanliness in any facility. They are especially suited for high-traffic areas where wet floors can pose safety risks, such as hospitals, airports, schools, and shopping malls.
For an extensive help guide and a more in-depth look at the different types of scrubber dryer floor cleaning machines, which can assist in identifying the best choice for particular applications, please check out our article on the various kinds of floor scrubber dryers.
A clarification of terminology is essential for precision. Commonly used terms include floor scrubber, floor polisher, and floor burnisher. These are all single-purpose machines equipped with a motorized brush system and a handle that houses the operating controls. The motorised brush systems in these machines can vary in rotating speeds, measured in RPM.
Machines with lower RPM are typically utilized for heavy-duty scrubbing and sanding, while those with higher RPM focus on polishing and burnishing floors to achieve a high-shine finish. It's important to note that a scrubber dryer machine also has the additional capability to dispense cleaning solution onto the floor and extract waste through vacuum suction.
Scrubber dryers are manufactured globally and come in a range of shapes and sizes. They can be powered by a mains cable - See Mains Cable Scrubber Dryers or be battery-operated with no mains connection, - See Battery Operated Scrubber Dryers including compact and mid-sized walk-behind models, as well as ride-on options. To find the best scrubber dryer for your floor cleaning requirements, please consult the article on choosing the right scrubber dryer.
The graphic below provides an overview of the primary functions commonly found on most scrubber dryers, along with the process by which they operate.
Scrubber dryers were designed to offer a more efficient solution for cleaning floors. Without this equipment, floor cleaning can become quite labor-intensive, often requiring multiple cleaning tools or relying on manual methods like mopping with a bucket. To achieve results similar to those produced by a scrubber dryer, one would typically need a rotary floor scrubber with a solution tank to apply the cleaning liquid, followed by surface agitation.
Afterwards, a separate wet vacuum would be necessary to remove the contaminated wastewater. This situation requires the use of two different machines, which can lead to potential hazards, such as tangled power cords, as well as the inconvenience of having to refill, empty, and store both pieces of equipment.
Combination Scrubber Dryer Vs Manual Mop and Bucket
Cleaning floors using the traditional mop and bucket method is not only a physically demanding task, but it is also ineffective for achieving a thorough deep clean. The process begins with fresh water and your chosen cleaning solution in a bucket, into which you dip your mop. However, the main drawback of this method is that once you complete your initial pass and wring out the mop into the solution bucket, the dirty water from the used mop contaminates the cleaning solution. Consequently, you end up applying soiled cleaning solution back onto the floor.
This cycle continues, causing the originally clean solution in the bucket to become increasingly dirty with each wring of the mop head. Essentially, you are merely redistributing dirty water across the floor surface. Additionally, manual mopping necessitates that the cleaned area be closed off until it dries, which can vary based on the facility's environment. In colder, poorly ventilated conditions, it may take a considerable amount of time for the floor to dry completely and become safe to walk on.
This is where a combination floor cleaning scrubber dryer truly shines. It features two separate tanks: one for the cleaning solution and the other for collecting the dirty waste liquid. In most machines, an electronically controlled valve opens when activated by the operator, allowing the cleaning solution to flow onto the floor.
This solution is then scrubbed by a powerful motorised system, utilising a brush or colour-coded floor cleaning pads to thoroughly agitate and cleanse the surface. Following the rotating brush, a rubber squeegee blade vacuum system effectively picks up the soiled cleaning solution, which is collected in the waste recovery tank. The wastewater can then be disposed of, often using a waste liquid dump hose. This method ensures that only a clean solution is spread on the floor, while waste liquid is extracted, leaving floors genuinely clean, dry, and safe
Installing and utilising a scrubber dryer in a venue offers numerous advantages beyond simply achieving a thorough and professional clean of the floor surfaces.
Enhanced Safety: Scrubber dryers ensure that floors are dry almost immediately after cleaning, significantly reducing the risk of slips in busy areas. Cleaned spaces can be reopened much more quickly than those that have been mopped.
Increased Efficiency: A scrubber dryer machine cleans floors 75% faster than traditional mopping methods. By scrubbing and drying in one pass, staff can clean surfaces more quickly and efficiently compared to conventional techniques. This efficiency allows operators to devote their valuable time to other cleaning tasks.
Enhanced Ergonomics: Manually cleaning with a mop and bucket requires significant time and effort. It's labor-intensive, and there's a genuine risk of overexerting staff. Prolonged mopping every day can cause physical strain, particularly on the back. In contrast, a scrubber dryer offers a more ergonomic solution, allowing individuals to maintain a natural upright posture while the machine handles the heavy workload.
Cost-Effective: Scrubber dryers minimise the need for extra drying time, staff, and cleaning supplies, which can lead to savings on labor and consumable costs in the long run.
Sustainability: These machines often consume less water, cleaning solutions, and cleaning materials, making them an eco-friendly choice for commercial cleaning, particularly in larger spaces.
Cleaning Results: While safety is crucial, first impressions matter too. A spotless floor gives venue users confidence that the building and its environment are being maintained to a high standard.
Did you know?
Using a scrubber dryer to clean your floors can greatly lower the chances of slips and trips in the workplace.
- Slips and falls are the top cause of injuries at work.
- Approximately 90% of these incidents result in broken bones.
- The industry incurs costs of about £500 million each year due to these accidents.
- A spill the size of a 50p coin can cover an area of up to 2m² when just mopped.
While a mopped floor remains slippery and hazardous for approximately seven minutes during drying, a scrubber dryer eliminates this danger by almost instantly drying the surface after cleaning.
Using a scrubber dryer for professional floor cleaning and maintenance provides many benefits. At MK Floortec, we have decades of experience in providing the ideal scrubber dryer to meet your cleaning requirements. Our extensive selection features models from top manufacturers such as Numatic, Nilfisk, Viper, Ghibli & Wirbel. Contact Us to discuss your floor cleaning needs, and our team will be more than happy to assist you.
Here are examples of the benefits and remarkable outcomes achieved through various types of scrubber dryers during our on-site product demonstrations.
