If You Can Brush It Off, Don't Scrub It. When to Choose a Sweeper VS. a Commercial Floor Scrubber

Take a walk inside any size warehouse—shopping center, or manufacturing plant and watch the floors take a beating every day as dust, debris, spills—and stains constantly batter them. What many facility managers are tempted to use is the most aggressive cleaning method to hand. But, don't scrub it, if you can brush it off, that's a time, money and equipment wear saver. So when you need the best tools for the best job your most valuable instrument is keeping them at peak performance. We at Nantong Mingnuo Electric Technology Co., Ltd. offer floor scrubber sweeper solutions and we know that if you can grasp the difference between sweeping and scrubbing then you can actually reduce your cleaning costs by half and double the life of your floor.

The Dry Truth: When a Sweeper Is Your Best Friend

The easiest thing of all is to take this rule and only sweep up dry things. These materials do not need water or detergents to remove them, they are simply removed by the vacuum system. All that's needed is to pick them up and store them. A special sweeper tool or a floor scrubber sweeper hybrid in "sweep" mode—is the solution to this problem.

It is much more effective to use a battery road sweeper (or indoor sweeper) to remove dry debris than to try scrubbing the material. Why? When water is added to dry dust, it becomes mud. The mud blocks filters, renders squeegees ineffective and turns an easy 5 minute sweep into a messy hour-long scrub and multiple tank refills and longer drying time. Furthermore, many warehouse floors—especially those that are coated with epoxy or polished concrete, are at risk of damage from increased exposure to water. A sweeper gets rid of abrasive particles that help to wear down the flooring surface—and they help you save money.

The battery road sweeper is the best for large outdoor sites such as parking lots, access roads or distribution yards. It is able to traverse large areas in a short amount of time and gathers leaves, gravel and litter in its hopper without leaving behind any wastewater. With zero emission and quiet performance, Mingnuo's electric sweepers are perfect for early morning or night routes, as noise restrictions may be in place.

The Wet Necessity: When Scrubbing Is Non-Negotiable

So, here's a list of the disasters that you can't brush off. Oil stains, hydraulic fluid leaks, food spills, tire marks and embedded grime will need the power of a commercial floor scrubber. These contaminants are attached to the floor surface, and require chemical action in addition to mechanical brushing or pad pressure to lift and remove.

A commercial floor scrubber has a highly controlled water to detergent ratio, uses brushes or pads to agitate the surface and can then vacuum the dirt solution into a recovery tank. Capable of cleaning 5,000 to 10,000 square feet an hour, it leaves the floor dry and safe for use. The models of floor scrubber sweeper include a dual sweep and wet scrub function, providing the ultimate in versatility when your facility has to deal with dirt and debris of both types on the same sweep day.

Mingnuo commercial floor scrubber models are CE approved and designed for heavy duty use, and feature models for both walk-behind and ride-on floor scrubbing. These machines are subjected to corrosive cleaning chemicals—and can be used continuously in industrial environments—as part of our integrated production process with welding to painting.

The Hybrid Solution: The Floor Scrubber and Sweeper Combo

If your facility has a combination of both dry and wet messes, what will you do? If you're running a sweeper—you don't want to have to run a scrubber as well, as this will require more time and equipment. This all-in-one solution is found in floor scrubber sweeper hybrid.

These hybrid use collect loose dirt and dust in a storage bin, wash the area with a detergent solution, and finally dry the floor with squeegees. This comprehensive solution is ideal for places such as distribution centers, automotive workshops and food processing facilities where dust and liquids are together. You avoid the damage that can result from scrubbing over debris, and you don't have to pre-sweep before scrubbing.

Over 100 patents back our technology and Mingnuo has a variety of battery road sweeper and commercial floor scrubber machines, as well as hybrid machines. We are ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001 and OHSAS18001 certified, and have customers in over 50 countries.

Conclusion: Choose Wisely, Clean Efficiently

The core principal to keeping floor clean is pretty straight forward: Sweeper When Dry. Mop when Stuck. If you have both, a floor scrubber and sweeper hybrid can go a long way. Match the job with the right equipment and your team will work more efficiently, while saving on water, chemicals and time.

Since 2004, we've been producing intelligent battery road sweeper and commercial floor scrubber solutions at Mingnuo. Our worldwide service network and dedication to innovation mean we're at the ready to offer you the right machine for any corner of your facility. Smartest cleaning is not about doing more, it's about doing better.