Cleaning equipment and recommended maintenance

If you have your own in-house cleaning equipment, then you know how hard it is to maintain it. At Proimage Facility Solutions, we do it all the time, having a cleaning company and running cleaning equipment for multiple jobs every day.

Here is a rundown of the maintenance needed for the different kinds of flooring equipment you might use:

Floor Machines (Buffers) – These machines should be wiped down after each use. Lubricant should be sprayed on the handle adjustment assembly and adjustments made as needed. Workers should remove pad holders from the machine and store them individually. Finally, examine and replace damaged plugs as needed.

Wet Vacuums – These machines require flushing. Workers should also be trained to wipe down equipment after use and lubricate moving parts as needed. If the machine has a front mount squeegee, then this would require cleaning and proper storage after use. Staff should also examine and replace vacuum plugs as needed.

Autoscrubbers – When finished with these machines, workers should rinse dirty water tanks and valves. Distributors also recommend greasing the fittings if needed, as well as maintaining the batteries.

Extractors – Just like autoscrubbers, workers should rinse dirty water tanks and valves. With extractors, though, it is also important that filters are examined and replaced as needed. Staff should be trained to remove debris from the vacuum shoe and brush compartment, as well as examine and replace damaged plugs as needed.

Dry Vacuums – According to distributors, these machines require minimal care. Workers should be trained to replace vacuum bags often and clean out debris from the brush compartment. Distributors recommend frequently checking equipment filters, brush rollers, pads and strips, and replacing as necessary. Lastly, examine and replace damaged plugs as needed and check batteries of cordless equipment.

Burnishers – “If using cord electric machines, staff should examine cords and plugs for damage, blow out motor compartment on a regular basis, and examine and replace dust control shroud as needed,” says Rothstein. On battery equipment, staff should also be trained to examine, test, clean and fill batteries.

Bohlman comments that one of the most simple, and yet overlooked, preventative maintenance procedures is the flushing of the recovery and solution tanks in floor equipment.

“If not properly cleaned and flushed, the tanks can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold,” he says. “Battery maintenance is another aspect of cleaning equipment that is often overlooked. Running batteries dry or overfilling can both lead to their premature demise.”

– See more at: http://www.cleanlink.com/hs/article/Maintenance-Tips-for-Floor-Equipment–17201?source=CL-Homepage-4#sthash.viCkfzN2.dpuf