Cleanliness Matters - For Your Health, Safety and Reputation

As people become more aware of the role cleanliness plays in health, companies have taken significant steps to improve sanitation protocols. Having a clean place to work, shop, eat, and do business is important - there is no industry where this is not prominent.

This pressure has caused many companies to look for other methods to provide the deep cleaning needed. Mops and buckets are no longer enough. Demands have increased, the requirement has increased, and the definition of ‘clean’ has changed. When looking for floor cleaning equipment to meet the needs of your facility, you have a lot of options to sift through. Do you need a push machine or a ride-on machine? Do you need a scrubber or a broom? What specific features do you need for your plant? We've taken the confusion away with these helpful buying tips for scrubbers and sweepers. This will help you make the right choice for your facility and staff.

Do You Need a Push or Ride-on Machine?

When you look at a push washer versus a ride-on washer, it may not seem like a big difference at first. Often, a significant portion of many facilities' cleaning budget comes from labour. In larger areas, a ride-on machine will be superior because it not only reduces the time it takes to clean the area, but it also reduces your labour costs. Push floor cleaning equipment is generally best suited for cleaning smaller areas or facilities, especially those that are difficult to manoeuvre with more cumbersome equipment. Its price is also lower than that of ride-on equipment, but this should not be the first and certainly not the only reason to buy it.

Using a pusher floor cleaning machine over a larger area will shorten the life of the equipment and you will not see the long-term effect of labour savings. A pusher machine also requires a certain amount of physical effort, which is difficult to sustain over a larger cleaning surface. Ride-on floor scrubbers are faster and therefore better for larger areas. Take time to assess the area to be cleaned and note your specific needs as to how this area can best be cleaned.

Choosing the Right Machine for the Job

There are many factors to consider when choosing the right machine for the job. Your needs other than those listed here can also strongly influence your purchasing decision, but the ones we have listed here are the areas that most people use to guide their choice of floor cleaning machine.

  • Size of the area to be cleaned: Look at the total square metres of the area to be cleaned. Larger areas are likely to be more cost-effective and efficient to clean with a ride-on machine, while smaller areas may be better cleaned with a pusher floor cleaning machine.
    • Up to 1500 square metres: DASS Global Gamma 38B - Compact and lightweight design provides easy use even in tight spaces. With its 20 litre clean water tank, it is ideal for markets and small warehouses.
    • 1500-2500 square metres: DASS Global Gamma 43B - It offers fast and effective cleaning with its powerful motor and large 38 litre clean water tank. It provides a comfortable working experience with its ergonomic design and easy operation.
    • 2500 square metres and above: DASS Global Gamma 50B - It is the model that addresses the largest cleaning areas. With its 61 litre clean water tank and powerful propulsion, it offers effortless cleaning even in large tanks.
    • 3000-4000 square metres: DASS Global SC70 - High performance model suitable for professional use. With its 70 litre clean water tank and powerful engine, it is ideal for high traffic markets and warehouses.
    • 4000 square metres and above: DASS Global SC110 - It is the model that appeals to the largest square metres. With its 100 litre clean water tank and powerful motor, it offers long-term cleaning even in large areas.
  • Smaller Areas: DASS Gama 32 E or B - It is the model that appeals to the largest square metres. With its 100 litre clean water tank and powerful motor, it offers long-term cleaning even in large areas.
  • See what is being cleaned: If you are dealing with light, bulky debris or heavy or wet debris, a street sweeper may be the best choice. Fine dust or dirt such as foot traffic, floor marks or grease is probably best removed with a floor cleaning machine.
  • Cleaning path dimensions: Evaluate important areas such as the width of the narrowest corridor, whether any of the corridors are dead ends (i.e., whether the machine needs to turn around), and the narrowest space (such as a doorway) the machine must pass through for cleaning or emptying.
  • Type of floor surface: You can choose the type of brush to be used with the washing and sweeping machines. This means you need to consider your floor surface and the dirt to be removed.

Labour Rate vs Machine Cost

Based on the labour savings typically achieved by using mechanised cleaning equipment, most facilities see a quick return on their investment. This is a good reference point to determine the best machine for your facility and factor this into your cleaning budget.

Maintenance

Every equipment requires maintenance to keep it running efficiently and effectively. However, this should be included in the purchase decision. It is best to entrust the maintenance and repair of the equipment to a single person or service team to ensure that the equipment remains in top condition and that any problems are quickly identified and dealt with quickly.

Finding the right machine for the job is important. You want something that will serve your needs and keep you under budget. We hope these tips will help you find the right floor cleaner for your facility.