Keeping a large industrial space clean is more than just a matter of keeping up appearances. Proper housekeeping can be an integral part of health and safety in a warehouse or manufacturing environment. Floor sweepers and scrubbers can play an essential role in keeping a worksite both functional and free of hazards.
The Right Equipment
Every location presents its own unique exposures, space limits, and other challenges, and the cleaning equipment you choose will need to reflect the reality of your working environment. Your business’s specific needs will dictate everything from the size of the machine to what special attachments or optional features you may need.
Size is the most obvious characteristic that will be determined by your worksite because having a large area to clean clearly requires larger industrial cleaning equipment. Though somewhat obvious, this is not a superficial consideration. When dirt, debris, and other hazards take longer to get cleaned up, they can pose more of a risk to health and safety. From that perspective, a machine that can cover more areas faster is an investment in the safety as well as the appearance of your workplace.
The type of floor cleaning machine you need will vary according to your environment as well. A basic manual sweeper may be enough to keep the floor of a small warehouse or suite of offices looking great. Some sweepers have a wet option that many people feel makes for better cleaning in some circumstances. If you have a very large space or need more thorough cleaning and sanitizing, you will probably be looking at either a large, powered sweeper or a scrubber. A ride-on scrubber that can both clean and dry your floor may optimize both cleanliness and safety. However, the right machine for you is the one that fits your space, your dirt, and your standards.
The Right Supplies
When selecting industrial cleaning equipment, the supplies needed to operate it can sometimes be treated as an afterthought, but they shouldn’t be overlooked. Do you need a sweeper with a high-grade filter, or is a more basic filter just fine for your situation? How difficult is it to change filters, brushes, and vacuum attachments, and how much will it cost to keep a reasonable amount of them on hand?
With a scrubber or wet sweeper, you may also want to look at efficiency and environmental impact. It may be worth it to you to pay a bit more for a floor scrubber that can minimize water and chemical consumption. A well-designed machine may make it possible to get your floor just as clean while using less toxic cleaners. The unique needs of your workspace and situation will determine your need for supplies as well as equipment.
The Right Instruction and Support
Getting the best out of your floor cleaning machine depends on getting the best out of the people operating it. For that reason, you have to think about what it will be like for your cleaning personnel to actually use this piece of equipment. Most sweepers today have been designed to make their operation and maintenance as simple as possible. However, that doesn’t mean you should take for granted that your employees will automatically know how to use them. Review all instruction manuals and controls thoroughly before you choose a machine, and then put the time and effort into training your employees.
Prioritizing easy-to-use machines with common-sense controls is one way to reduce mistakes and increase performance, but difficulties are still bound to arise from time to time. When those obstacles do appear, you and your maintenance personnel will need to reach out for help. The level of customer service and support you can expect from the manufacturer or distributor is the second part of ensuring good results from your cleaning equipment. Before purchasing a sweeper or scrubber, you should investigate the reputation of the equipment vendors, as well as the brands of machines they sell. Look for reviews, testimonials, and awards that indicate a distributor backs up its sales with quality customer service.
Your workspace may generate many types of debris, waste, dirt, or contaminants. Any of these have the potential to make working there not only unpleasant but possibly even dangerous. Professional-grade floor sweepers and scrubbers will make your industrial space, warehouse, or office a cleaner and safer place to be.
