A walk behind scrubber is a floor cleaning machine that can be pushed around.It’s engineered to scrub, wash and dry hard floor surfaces all at once, so it’s significantly quicker and easier than mopping by hand. You can often find these machines in supermarkets, hospitals, schools and warehouses, locations where it is crucial to keep an expansive area clean. They are small in various sizes and are ideal for cleaning those tight or high-traffic places where a ride-on machine would be too big. It’s one of the machines that help keep those big, gleaming floors clean all day long.
What is a Walk Behind Scrubber?
A walk behind scrubber is an equipment that scrub and clean floor in one pass. It is called “walk behind” because the operator walks (stands) behind the machine, pushing or guiding it as it cleans. They are capable of handling the toughest assignments, ranging from lighting daily cleaning to tougher commercial and industrial applications.
Here’s how it works: In the scrubber, there’s a tank that holds clean water mixed with a bit of detergent. Rotating brushes or pads scrub the floor as you guide the machine. The dirty water is simultaneously sucked up into a different recovery tank, leaving the surface clean and dry. No puddles, no slippery slop just a floor that’s walkable quickly.
Walk behind scrubber sizes and styles. Some are neat and small enough to fit into narrow hallways or tight corners, the kind you’d find, say, in a convenience store or an office building. Others are larger and more powerful, to cover larger spaces like warehouses, shopping malls, or airport terminals.
An example in the real world: cleaners in a busy supermarket who have been manually mopping the floor every day for hours. Once they were on a walk behind scrubber and then cut their time in half, and did a better job. The shoppers didn’t have to dodge anything, and employees were free to focus on other tasks.
These machines are a lifesaver for anyone who has cleaning as responsibilities in the building. They are quicker, cost less and do a more even job than hands-on techniques. However, there are a few things that you must know when using the walk behind scrubber and which machine will work best for your floors.
Pros and Cons of This Floor Scrubber Style.
When determining if a walk behind scrubber is the best option, it is good to consider the pros and cons. There are clear benefits to these machines, but, like any tool, there are situations in which they are limited.
Pros
User-Friendly – The controls of these walk behind scrubbers are simple to operate. Even untrained staff can be trained to operate them in short order.
Deep Cleaning – Their scrub, vacuum, and dry capabilities can clean everything in just one pass. This makes floors cleaner than using conventional mops and the absorbency reduces slippery conditions and injuries.
Time Saver – In particular settings such as school or a clinic where you need to quickly clean up a room between classes or patient visits, these machines reduce that clean-up time to less time-consuming work.
Great for Small Areas – Compact walk-behind scrubber keep hallway, break rooms smaller guest and meeting room floors looking right with foot traffic you can’t control!
A Good Value for Small to Medium Spaces – If you’re cleaning an average size floor often, these machines have a great mix of affordability, power, and performance.
Cons
Physical Labor – Even easier than mopping, walk behind scrubbers still require pushing and tightening turns, particularly in larger environments or on incline.
Poor Coverage for Wide Spaces – If you are working in larger open spaces, like factory floors or even huge airport terminals, using a walk behind scrubber might seem tedious compared to the impact of a ride-on machine.
Overhead – First up, these machines are going to be pricey up front, especially good models. And you will have to purchase replacement parts such as brushes, pads and batteries over time.
Storage – This being that these machines are made small, but boy they are bulky therefore you’ll need somewhere you can store it away.
Long story short – A walk behind scrubber is highly recommended in the majority of cases, particularly if you operate out of a medium-sized facility and need frequent, deep cleaning. But be sure to match the machine to your cleaning environment for optimum results.
Is This the Right Floor Scrubber For Your Operation?
The right floor scrubber for you will depend on the size of your space, how frequently you clean and what type of dirt or traffic you are dealing with. A walk behind scrubber is most effective for medium-sized spaces that require routine cleaning, such as retail shops, schools, gyms, healthcare facilities, or office buildings.
If your team is working through long hallways, tight footprints or crowded rooms, this kind of machine keeps them mobile. It’s particularly useful in areas where a ride-on model would be too large or unwieldy. Walk behind scrubbers also offer greater maneuverability around walls, corners, and under shelving.
If your space is massive, like a warehouse, airport, or convention center, however, you may find that walk behind units are too slow. If so, a ride-on version could work for you, traveling over more ground quickly and saving your cleaning team the physical effort.
Another consideration is how frequently the floor is soiled. If that’s a high-traffic area being constantly walked back and forth across, you’ll want a beastly machine that can withstand heavy use. Some walk-behind scrubbers are designed for light daily cleaning while others are capable of handling more heavy-duty work. Closely inspect the specifications, including tank size, battery life and the amount of brush pressure the machine exerts.
Here’s a word to the wise from the facilities manager of a busy community center: We started out with a ride-on scrubber, but it just kept bumping into tables and walls. We were able to control way more with the walk behind scrubber. Now we’re cleaning faster and haven’t had a scratch or a spill since.
So check your space and your team’s needs before you buy scrubber.
Tips on Choosing the Right Walk Behind Floor Scrubber.
When choosing the correct walk-behind floor scrubber, it’s not as simple as identifying the machine with the most power. It’s all about finding the features that match your space, your cleaning needs and your budget. Here is some practical advice to help you make a smart decision.
Know Your Floor Size and Layout: Use a tape measure to determine the number of square feet you clean frequently. If you have a smaller space or a lot of furniture, you need a smaller scrubber with a small turning radius. Bigger open spaces allow for a wider cleaning path and a larger tank so you refill less.
Think About Power Source: Battery or Corded? Corded models are typically less expensive and can last as long as necessary, but the cord restricts movement. Battery-powered models provide added freedom and at least one less tripping hazard, and this can be especially helpful in traffic-heavy locations, such as schools, offices and auditoriums. And just look at the battery life, some of these extended hands-on devices can run for 4 hours on a single charge.
Check Brush Type and Pressure: For smooth surfaces such as vinyl or sealed concrete, a pad driver or light brush is typically all that’s needed. For textured tile or in cases where floors are crusted up with grime, opt for a scrubber with more brush pressure, or consider cylindrical brushes.
Look for Large Water Tank Capacities: Bigger solution and recovery tanks also make a big difference – fewer trips to the sink to refill and empty means you’ll be more productive. This can make all the difference if your family has a big space to clean in a short amount of time. Just be sure the machine is still easy to push with a comfortable empty.
Consider Maintenance: Some scrubbers are more challenging to maintain and clean. Search for models with removable tanks or ones with easily accessible parts. Machines with fewer electronic controls could also be more repairable if something goes wrong.
If you can, ask the supplier to bring the machine to your location and allow some of your staff to use it. This can give you a better sense for how it performs within your real environment.
Real-world tip: Janitors at a clinic that purchased its first ride-on scrubber failed to accommodate it in the doorways. They took it back and substituted a compact walk behind scrubber, which was faster and less frustrating to clean every day.
Become a Mingnuo scrubber dealer.
If you’re considering becoming a dealer for Mingnuo walk behind scrubbers, it could be a great fit especially if you’re already working the cleaning equipment or janitorial supply sector. Mingnuo is a professional factory to produce industrial and commercial cleaning equipment, such as floor scrubbers:walk behind ride on. Their products are found in malls, schools, hotels and even factories, so there is constant demand across certain industries.
Before you jump in, consider these:
Know the Brand and Lines of Scrubbers: Get to know other scrubbers from Mingnuo. They come in different sizes, functions, and power options. Understanding the distinctions also enables you to direct customers to the proper unit for their cleaning requirements and space limitations.
Review Dealer Requirements: Mingnuo could require some qualifications such as a business license, warehouse or service team for repairs. A minimum initial order is also required by some dealers. Contact their sales team or official website to find out what you need in your area.
Develop a Local Market Approach: Success as a contractor is not all about possessing the machines–it’s about solving cleaning issues for your clients. Think about your local market. Are there a lot of schools? Hotels? Supermarkets? As certain sectors canvas for distance learning tech how do we determine which sectors would gain the most from Mingnuo equipment and try and address them with custom advice and support?
Provide After-Sales Service: People don’t just buy the machine, they want training, parts and service. If you can offer quick, helpful support, you’ll get word-of-mouth advertising and keep their business. No, you don’t have to be an srubber technician, but it doesn’t hurt to have your own tech on speed dial or a partner service business.
Start Small, Then Grow: One dealer began by stocking only two models from Mingnuo, which he displayed at local trade shows. They were supplying machines to five local hospitals and various commercial cleaners within a year. They did so by knowing the product, and by focusing on educating customers not just selling to them.
Invest in Unparalleled Cleaning Efficiency With a Walk Behind Scrubber at Mingnuo!
When you need more cleaning performance without more labor, Mingnuo walk behind scrubbers have you covered. These machines are all about speed cleaning dirty floors with clever features to make daily maintenance less of a burden. Whether you need them for your hotel, your chain of stores, or in your public facilities, you can trust that Mingnuo floor scrubbers will perform to your highest expectations — every time.
Mingnuo stands out due to their emphasis on practicability. Their tow behind models are user-friendly for those who have not used one before. The controls are easy to use, and the machines glide across surfaces such as tile, vinyl and concrete. water-saver built in and extra-strong suction that has the floors dry immediately after the cleaning - no waing around or caution signs needed.
For only so much time between visits, these scrubbers can cover more floor space in less time than mops or basic machines. With a lot Less means your team can do a lot more with a lot less and get better results. Win-win, both for speed and quality.
This is an experience a mid-size shopping mall facility manager said they had: Three months ago we switched to a Mingnuo walk behind scrubber. The 40% reduction of cleaning, not to mention the floors have never been cleaner. Even during holiday traffic, we keep the place spotless for no overtime.
So if your cleaning crew is hampered by outmoded technology and can’t keep up, consider investing in something more powerful. The Mingnuo walk behind scrubber is designed to clean up your real-world floor messes. Making it less of a chore.
Making the Most of Your New Walk Behind Floor Scrubber.
Once you have your new walk behind floor scrubber, the next step is to learn how to get the best performance possible from it. A quality machine can save hours and ensure spotless floors but only if it’s used and cared for properly. Here’s a quick guide to help you and your team get the most out of what you put into?
Properly Train Your Team: Most walk behind scrubbers are intuitive, but don’t forget training. Spend time teaching your staff how to fill the water tank, select the correct brush or pad, adjust the pressure, and empty the dirty water. It’s only an hour or two, and the time you spend is an investment that can help you avoid mistakes that would damage the floor or the machine.
Give Floor Tiles a Good Scrub with the Right Solution: Make sure you use the right cleaning solution for your machine and type of floors. Excessive detergent can lead to sticky residue; the wrong kind may damage the floor. Use manufacturer's recommended mixing ratio. A few scrubbers also operate with environmentally friendly or low-foam solutions in order to reduce waste.
Clean in a Pattern: By working in a back and forth motion, much like you mow a lawn, you can avoid missing areas or repeating an area. Begin on one side of the room and move in a straight line across it. Overlap each run just a bit to ensure the floor is evenly cleaned.
Empty and Rinse Tanks After Use: You don’t want to leave dirty water sitting in the recovery tank. It can begin to stink and clog the system. Wash out both the clean water and dirty water tanks after each shift. It only takes a few minutes but will keep the machine running smoothly and eliminate any bad odors.
Check and Service the Machine: Weekly Inspect the brushes, squeegees and filters on the machine every week. Change out worn parts early, if a squeegee blade’s messed up, you’re gonna get streaks on the ground. Also look at battery levels and charging time if you have a battery-powered model.
Pro Tip: A school janitor once told us that he had made his scrubber last months longer by just rinsing out the dirty water tank each day. It only takes five minutes at the end of a shift, but it saves us going down at a busy week.
Our Beginner’s Guide on Walk Behind Floor Scrubbers.
At this point you should have a pretty good understanding of what a walk behind floor scrubber is, how it works, and why it can be a wise investment for your different cleaning applications. These machines save time on labor and get the job done faster and better, whether you are scrubbing a retail floor or school hallways. They are not only a convenience but in many, many operations a tool you can’t live without.
But, like any tool, it ultimately depends on how you use it. Read along and you’ll discover that choosing the right model, training your team and maintaining it isn’t hard to do to keep your machine up and your floors protected.
If you are shopping for one for your business, take time to think about the type of space you are cleaning, how frequently you clean and what your team needs to do their job more effectively. If you’re a current walk behind scrubber user, the advice we’ve shared will help you get the most from your machine.
Thanks for hanging with this guide. Whether you are buying your first scrubber or replacing an old one, you are already one step closer to cleaner, safer, better-looking floors.
Table of Contents
- What is a Walk Behind Scrubber?
- Is This the Right Floor Scrubber For Your Operation?
- Tips on Choosing the Right Walk Behind Floor Scrubber.
- Become a Mingnuo scrubber dealer.
- Invest in Unparalleled Cleaning Efficiency With a Walk Behind Scrubber at Mingnuo!
- Making the Most of Your New Walk Behind Floor Scrubber.
- Our Beginner’s Guide on Walk Behind Floor Scrubbers.