The Evolution Of Autoscrubbers - Key Features

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Today's automatic scrubbers offer a variety of features and benefits to satisfy diverse cleaning applications, including:

• Greener: This applies to the types of chemicals used, as well as chemical and water usage. Today’s machines use less water and chemical, especially cylindrical brush systems.
• Safer: These machines are now safer for both the operator and others in the facility in which the machine is being used. Some of today’s automatic scrubbers have easy-access digital controls and greater visibility than older models, allowing users of varying heights to operate them. More machines are also fitted with solenoid technology to control water flow. In the past, water could continue to flow from these machines even when turned off, which was wasteful and increased the chances of a slip-and-fall accident. Now, water flows only when the machine is in use.
• Easier to service: A key advance in some floor machines is that they are now easier to service; operators can even handle many minor repair issues themselves.
• Manufactured with fewer parts: Some machines have fewer mechanical parts now and that reducing the number of parts has also reduced the overall cost of ownership of some automatic scrubbers.

Check back next week for Part III in this series to learn about future trends of automatic scrubbers.

The Evolution Of Autoscrubbers

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Before the invention of autoscrubbers, floors in airports, train stations and other large facilities were dust mopped and then cleaned using mops and buckets. It was slow, tedious work, and the results were often less than satisfactory.

Automatic scrubbers were first introduced during the mid-1950s. They looked like push lawn mowers containing a well for water and detergent, which the machine sprayed on the floor using jets. A set of rotary pads or brushes worked the combination into the floor, effectively removing soils.

While the equipment certainly did not clean and dry the floors all in one pass, as autoscrubbers do today, these early machines were a very big advance in floorcare technology. They used less water and less detergent and were overall more effective at cleaning floors than the old manual method. Floors also dried faster after cleaning. And, best of all, these machines improved worker productivity and morale tremendously.

Today’s Machines

By the 1970s, cleaning professionals had widely accepted these machines as a far more efficient and effective way to clean floors, and manufacturers had made significant advances in automatic scrubber technology.

In time, virtually all autoscrubbers shared the following three basic features:

• A solution tank and water delivery system
• A scrubbing system, which could be either rotary pads or, in recent years, cylindrical brushes
• A moisture recovery system to vacuum up water/solution and soils into a recovery tank.

Most of today’s machines now offer a fourth feature: A drive system that propels the autoscrubber forward, backward, left and right. When it comes to floor machines, greater mobility and maneuverability are typically high on the “want list” of floorcare technicians.

However, greater mobility is not the only advance in automatic scrubber technology. Check back next week to learn what other key features automatic scrubbers offer.

Using Automatic Scrubbers To Remove Grit And Soil

This article was originally published in CleanLink.

Automatic scrubbers can be used on floors in many different ways as they are designed to reduce time and effort spent on floor care, while increasing performance and productivity. When used in a green cleaning program they are effective because they apply consistent, clean, solution to the floor, mechanically agitate the dirt, and then the dirt and solution are physically removed with a vacuum system. This is typically done in one pass. Even with the advancements in mopping technology, this process cannot be duplicated with a mop and bucket.

Be sure to size the unit appropriately to the area being cleaned and the surfaces the unit will be required to maintain. Cylindrical style brushes are far and away the most versatile, cost effective and results producing option available today for any green cleaning operation. Add water/solution savings and less abrasion to floor surfaces and this will be your best starting point. Additionally, you should only purchase sealed/maintenance free batteries.

The major advantage to automatic scrubbers is the remove of dirt and grit from floors and they do it very quickly. This makes them the perfect daily floor cleaning tool. When you add in the fact that when adjusted and used properly, most styles and models leave the floor instantly dry, reducing the risks of someone slipping, it becomes apparent why they truly are the best practice for daily floor cleaning in any green program.

The squeegee is the business end of any unit and therefore it is very important to remove dry debris, grit and soil from the floors. When storing the unit after use it is extremely necessary to remove the squeegee bar, clean and inspect the blades and store the squeegee on a shelf and not on the machine. This tip will ensure the squeegee is capable of producing the results the entire unit was purchased for.

Automatic scrubbers can be used on floors in many different ways as they are designed to reduce time and effort spent on floor care, while increasing performance and productivity. When used in a Green cleaning program they are effective because they apply consistent, clean, solution to the floor, mechanically agitate the dirt, and then the dirt and solution are physically removed with a vacuum system. This is typically done in one pass. Even with the advancements in mopping technology, this process cannot be duplicated with a mop and bucket.
Be sure to size the unit appropriately to the area being cleaned and the surfaces the unit will be required to maintain. Cylindrical style brushes are far and away the most versatile, cost effective and results producing option available today for any Green cleaning operation. Add water/solution savings and less abrasion to floor surfaces and this will be your best starting point. Additionally, you should only purchase sealed/maintenance free batteries.
The major advantage to automatic scrubbers is the remove of dirt and grit from floors and they do it very quickly. This makes them the perfect daily floor cleaning tool. When you add in the fact that when adjusted and used properly, most styles and models leave the floor instantly dry, reducing the risks of someone slipping, it becomes apparent why they truly are the best practice for daily floor cleaning in any Green program.
The squeegee is the business end of any unit and therefore it is very important to remove dry debris, grit and soil from the floors. When storing the unit after use it is extremely necessary to remove the squeegee bar, clean & inspect the blades and store the squeegee on a shelf and not on the machine. This tip will ensure the squeegee is capable of producing the results the entire unit was purchased for.
- See more at: http://cleanlink.com/cleanlinkminute/details/Using-Automatic-Scrubbers-To-Remove-Grit-And-Soil--38435#sthash.5kKNxmPS.dpu

Automatic scrubbers can be used on floors in many different ways as they are designed to reduce time and effort spent on floor care, while increasing performance and productivity. When used in a Green cleaning program they are effective because they apply consistent, clean, solution to the floor, mechanically agitate the dirt, and then the dirt and solution are physically removed with a vacuum system. This is typically done in one pass. Even with the advancements in mopping technology, this process cannot be duplicated with a mop and bucket.
Be sure to size the unit appropriately to the area being cleaned and the surfaces the unit will be required to maintain. Cylindrical style brushes are far and away the most versatile, cost effective and results producing option available today for any Green cleaning operation. Add water/solution savings and less abrasion to floor surfaces and this will be your best starting point. Additionally, you should only purchase sealed/maintenance free batteries.
The major advantage to automatic scrubbers is the remove of dirt and grit from floors and they do it very quickly. This makes them the perfect daily floor cleaning tool. When you add in the fact that when adjusted and used properly, most styles and models leave the floor instantly dry, reducing the risks of someone slipping, it becomes apparent why they truly are the best practice for daily floor cleaning in any Green program.
The squeegee is the business end of any unit and therefore it is very important to remove dry debris, grit and soil from the floors. When storing the unit after use it is extremely necessary to remove the squeegee bar, clean & inspect the blades and store the squeegee on a shelf and not on the machine. This tip will ensure the squeegee is capable of producing the results the entire unit was purchased for.
- See more at: http://cleanlink.com/cleanlinkminute/details/Using-Automatic-Scrubbers-To-Remove-Grit-And-Soil--38435#sthash.5kKNxmPS.dpu

Advance SC400™ Walk-Behind Scrubber Provides a Highly Productive, Cost-Efficient Solution for Small-Area Cleaning

Advance introduces the SC400™ walk-behind automatic scrubber, designed to bridge the gap between labor-intensive mops and buckets and high-priced, large automatic scrubbers. Featuring a compact size and 6-gallon solution/recovery tank, the SC400 enhances productivity for small-area cleaning, including gas stations, schools and healthcare facilities.

The SC400 maximizes cleaning productivity with a unique center-pivot squeegee system. Employing a gas spring for optimal blade pressure, the squeegee system can effectively pick up solution in both forward and reverse in just one pass—leaving the floors clean, dry and ready for foot traffic faster than alternative solutions. The machine also features fully variable solution control settings, which allows operators to clean for over one hour on a single tank.

Additional benefits include:

• Simple operation with little to no training required via one-touch operation.
• Compact, highly maneuverable design allows cleaning in space-restricted areas.
• Low operating sound level of only 67 dB A meets LEED-EB and GS-42 noise standards and makes daytime cleaning or cleaning of noise-sensitive areas viable.
• Sustainable cleaning is guaranteed with minimal water and detergent use and maintenance-free gel batteries.

The SC400 is ideal for a wide range of applications, including but not limited to schools and universities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, grocery, retail outlets, convenience stores and restaurants.

Efficient Daily Cleaning

The Advance SC750™ REV™ is the most recent addition to the company’s line of innovative REV scrubber solutions. Designed with enhanced cleaning performance, including a wide, 28-inch scrub path and fast scrubbing capabilities, the SC750 REV allows operators to efficiently complete their diverse daily cleaning applications.

The SC750 delivers increased cleaning productivity in comparison with 20-inch floor machines through the following benefits:

• Chemical-free floor finish removal without hazardous chemicals and slippery floors allows users to reduce labor hours during floor restoration by up to 90 percent
• 40 percent more scrub path productivity with dual 14-inch scrub pads provides increased floor surface coverage
• Up to 210 minutes of continuous scrubbing in the low moisture setting lets operators stay on the floor longer with minimal interruptions
• 170 pounds of maximum down pressure delivers increased speed for quick room turnaround

Developed from the exclusive Advance REV technology, the SC750 REV features Random Orbital Scrubbing technology which delivers dual-action scrubbing with a combination of high-speed ¼-inch orbital micro-scrubbing and low-speed rotational macro-scrubbing. Attacking dirt and floor finish from multiple directions, REV leaves a smooth, swirl-free, scrubbed surface in a single pass. Better scrubbing performance, a more uniform result and opportunity for reduced water and chemical usage, REV delivers an ideal cleaning solution for facility floor maintenance and restoration.

Check out a video of the SC750 REV in action:

Advance SC450™ Automatic Scrubber Provides a Reliable, Cost-Efficient Solution for Daily Scrubbing

The Advance SC450™ is a battery-operated automatic scrubber designed for daily scrubbing demands. With dependable performance, high productivity and low maintenance, the SC450 provides a cost-efficient solution for contract cleaning in applications ranging from hospitals and schools to manufacturing facilities and warehouses.

Designed with the operator in mind, this contract-grade machine features simple and intuitive controls to ensure easy training. A unique two-button control panel allows users to quickly switch between scrub and vacuum functions, while the vacuum motor, brushes and water automatically shut off when the tank is full or when the machine is in neutral.

The SC450 provides the following benefits:

• Effortless operation with simple, intuitive controls.
• Easy maintenance enables operators to quickly access all machine components.
• Meets sustainable cleaning objectives, providing 68 dB A for daytime cleaning, minimal water and detergent use and maintenance-free AGM batteries.

Flexible Cleaning: Cleaning Performance for Specific Areas

It’s well known that high-traffic areas such as entryways and lobbies get particularly dirty. Some of today’s latest scrubbers allow operators to temporarily increase cleaning aggressiveness for specific problem areas. For instance, Advance’s EcoFlex™ System includes a “burst of power” button that automatically increases detergent, solution flow and brush pressure for 60 seconds in order to deliver greater scrubbing power for heavily soiled areas. This helps to eliminate time- and labor-intensive double-scrubbing that can be required if using a single-mode (low-flow or water-only) scrubber.

Now that we have discussed how advanced automatic scrubbers can provide flexible cleaning for your facility, try one out for yourself! Visit http://www.advance-us.com to learn more or contact us info@advance-us.com with any questions.

Flexible Cleaning: Detergent Usage

In addition to switching between detergent cleaning and water-only cleaning, advanced automatic scrubbers have the ability to change detergents while scrubbing. This allows operators to easily match the correct detergent use to the specific cleaning application at hand.

Scrubbers that provide separate onboard tanks for water and detergent eliminate the task of premixing solution and the need to “dump” unused solution. This saves water and chemicals, in addition to minimizing waste-stream contribution. Refillable cleaning-fluid tanks allow a user to easily swap one detergent for another or to clean with water only, no matter where the machine is in the facility.

Next week, we will discuss the importance of dilution ratios.

Improve Indoor Air Quality with Green Floor Cleaning Equipment

Floor cleaning equipment with green cleaning capabilities can contribute directly to indoor air quality/indoor environment quality (IAQ/IEQ). Facility owners can employ floor cleaning vacuums, carpet extractors and scrubbers with sealed gel batteries:

Vacuum Cleaners: The LEED-EB (Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings) requirements specify that vacuum cleaners are capable of capturing 96% of particulates 0.3 microns in size and meet the requirements of the Carpet & Rug Institute Seal of Approval Program. CRI-certified vacuums release no more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter into the surrounding air.

Carpet Extractors: Carpet extractors with green cleaning capabilities significantly reduce drying time and help prevent mold. They also minimize the use of water and detergent while cleaning. Per LEED-EBOM, carpet extractors should be CRI-Seal of Approval certified.

Sealed Gel Batteries: Automatic scrubbers that meet green cleaning requirements utilize environmentally-preferable gel batteries or maintenance-free AGM batteries. These batteries are completely sealed to eliminate acid spills that can occur with wet-acid batteries. This design also minimizes vapor emissions during charging, and, if equipped with an on-board charger, allow non-hazardous charging anywhere in a facility.

With the above types of green floor cleaning equipment, facility owners can ensure they are complying with green cleaning standards, while maximizing cleaning efficiency.