What Are Automatic Floor Scrubbers?

Studies indicate that labor constitutes 90% or more of the cost inherent in floor scrubbing. Automatic floor scrubbers provide an alternative that minimizes the inherent labor cost and lends a uniform quality to the work itself.

Up until the mid-20th century, people relied on manual scrubbers like cloth mops to clean floors. Early floor scrubbers operated in much the same way as a push lawnmower. A receptacle contained soap and water that was distributed to a set of rotary brushes that carefully buffed the cleaning solution onto floors to provide a greater sparkle and level of sanitation. These early scrubbers provided a number of benefits over manual cleaning.

Automation not only minimized labor costs but also helped reduce fatigue. With traditional cleaning implements, workers were required to apply a great amount of physical force for long periods of time, often having to get on their hands and knees for detail work. The process by which automatic floor scrubbers worked meant floors dried quicker, allowing workers to finish their other work more efficiently.

Today, the market for floor scrubbers has evolved beyond the basic devices. Both push and riding scrubbers are available, each offering their own benefits and suited for different spaces. Many scrubbers have begun to implement the value of other automated cleaning devices, simulated the effect of polishers and buffers into their repertoire, making them a more effective, all-in-one cleaning device.