What does a scrubber do?

A scrubber is a professional cleaning machine that thoroughly cleans floors by means of rotary brushes and water. The machine dispenses detergent, scrubs the floor with brushes or pads, and immediately vacuums back up the dirty water. This provides a deeper clean than traditional mopping and leaves floors dry faster. Scrubbers come in a variety of designs, from compact walk-behind models to large ride-on machines for industrial use.

What is a scrubber and why is it indispensable?

A scrubber combines several cleaning steps in one operation. The machine applies water and detergent to the floor, scrubs with rotating brushes or pads, and immediately vacuums back up the dirty water. This process provides a professional floor cleaning which is much more thorough than manual mopping.

For businesses, scrubbers are important because they ensure hygienic work environments. Dirty floors can create slippery, greasy surfaces that cause accidents. Regular scrubbing prevents floors from becoming dirty, slippery or rough.

The machine also saves significant time. Where manual mopping can take hours, a scrubber cleans large areas in a fraction of the time. This makes them useful for offices, stores, hospitals, schools and industrial facilities.

How exactly does a scrubber work?

The scrubber operation consists of four main steps that take place simultaneously. Water and detergent are pumped from the clean water tank and spread evenly over the floor. Rotating brushes or pads then scrub the dirt from the floor surface.

During scrubbing, a powerful motor sucks up dirty water directly through a squeegee at the back of the machine. This dirty water is collected in a separate dirty water tank. The combination of mechanical action and direct suction ensures that floors are dry within minutes.

Modern scrubbers have adjustable water flow, so you can adjust the amount of water to the type of floor and dirt. Brushes are interchangeable, allowing you to use different brush types for specific floor types such as tile, vinyl, wood or stone.

What is the difference between a regular and industrial scrubber?

A industrial scrubber is distinguished by its rugged construction and larger capacity. Whereas standard scrubbers are suitable for offices and smaller spaces, industrial models are designed for heavy loads and continuous use in factories, warehouses and distribution centers.

Industrial machines often have travel function, allowing operators to work comfortably over large areas. They feature more powerful motors, more durable components and advanced battery systems for longer working hours without recharging.

What benefits does a scrubber offer to your business?

The most important scrubber benefits are time savings and better cleaning results. A scrubber cleans 5 to 10 times faster than manual mopping, significantly reducing cleaning efforts. Employees can spend their time on other tasks.

Hygiene improves because scrubbers clean deeper than traditional methods. They remove stubborn dirt, grease and bacteria more effectively. This is especially important in healthcare facilities, kitchens and manufacturing environments with strict hygiene standards.

The professional appearance of clean floors exudes reliability to customers and visitors. Well-maintained floors contribute to a positive corporate image. In addition, floors last longer because regular scrubbing prevents wear from accumulated dirt.

Safety increases because scrubbers eliminate slippery, greasy surfaces that cause slip hazards. This reduces the risk of workplace accidents.

How do you choose the right scrubber for your situation?

The choice depends on the floor space that you need to clean regularly. For areas up to 500 sq. ft. a walk-behind scrubber is sufficient. Larger areas over 1,000 sq. ft. require a ride-on machine for efficient work.

Consider the type of soiling and frequency of use. Light daily cleaning requires different specifications than weekly deep cleaning of industrial floors. For heavy soiling, you need more powerful motors and more robust brushes.

Pay attention to battery technology. Lead-acid batteries are budget-friendly but require monthly maintenance with demineralized water. Gel batteries are maintenance-free but have a higher purchase price. Lithium batteries offer the most flexibility because you can interrupt the charge cycle for in-between recharges.

Consider practical aspects such as passage through doors, machine storage and parts availability. Well-known brands such as Tennant, Nilfisk, Hako and Fimap offer reliable service and parts supply.

Key points about scrubbers summarized

What does a scrubber do? The device combines water addition, mechanical scrubbing and vacuuming in one pass for thorough floor cleaning. This process is much more effective than traditional mopping and makes floors dry faster.

The choice between different types depends on surface area, degree of contamination and budget. Walking models are suitable for smaller areas, while driving machines are needed for large industrial surfaces.

Investing in a professional scrubber for your business provides time savings, better hygiene and a more professional appearance. It contributes to safer working environments by preventing slippery surfaces.

At Metech, we help you make the right choice from our extensive selection of new and used scrubbers. We offer on-site demonstrations so you can test the machine in your own situation before making a decision. Contact us for advice.