Since the economy continues to be very tough at present, it has become ever more necessary for cleaning business owners to think of ways on how they can cut down on their costs and various expenses. With companies cutting back, building cleaning costs are one of the first areas to be looked at for saving money. Some companies are trying to cut out their cleaning company and replace them with internal labor. It is important for cleaning companies to stay competitive and offer the lowest contract price possible to build or retain there clients. A great way to cut operating costs is to but used cleaning equipment. By purchasing cleaning equipment used, the cleaning company can save up to eighty percent on major equipment purchases. Another reward to using good used equipment is the reduction in labor costs and better cleaning performance.
There are several cleaning equipments your cleaning business is required to have like auto scrubbers, burnishers, floor machines and vacuum cleaners. Auto scrubbers can clean floors ten times faster than utilizing a mop and do a much better job by constantly flushing the floor with clean water. Burnishers are a necessity for maintaining finished floors and maximizing their brilliance.
When purchasing used equipment there are a few things to look for. The most important criteria to look for when purchasing equipment is to make sure it is good repair and in cosmetically good condition. If a machine looks worn, damaged or rusty on the outside then chances are this is a reflection of its internal parts.
When testing the unit listen for any loud noises especially around brush and vacuum motors. If you are purchasing cleaning equipment that contains batteries, check the installation date and have a specific gravity test performed to make sure they will hold a charge. Batteries are the most expensive wear item on an auto scrubber and can cost up to $1500 dollars to replace. A common area people overlook when purchasing janitorial equipment are the accessories. On older machines common accessories can be hard to find due to discontinuation and can be costly if not impossible to replace.
When buying cleaning equipment there are three important questions to ask that will insure that you are purchasing a quality unit. What type of warranty does the machine have? Repairs on equipment can be costly and a good warranty can go a long way and could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs. Where was the machine previously used?
These machines are typically used for extended periods of time and are usually traded in for excessive wear. What type of application was the piece of cleaning equipment used for? A good example of extreme use is utilizing an auto scrubber or floor machine for stripping floors. Striping floors is a messy task and old floor wax can block internal lines and build up on motor vent holes. Overall the best indication of a good machine is good cosmetic condition and low operating noise but it is also good to get a second opinion by a third party technician.
Floor Machines for your Cleaning Equipment
One of the most important machines when it comes to cleaning businesses include floor machines. Floor machines are mainly used for scrubbing floors, refinishing floors and low speed buffing. When operating a cleaning company it is important to use the right cleaning equipment for every application. Floor machines come in many shapes and sizes but are generally known as swing machines. These units range in speeds from one hundred RPM to larger units that can spin as high as four hundred RPM. It is important to use the right type of floor machine for the job you are doing and match the speed to the application in order to ensure quality of work and service to your clients and customers.
Floor machines consist of three major parts, the pad driver, the motor housing or base, and the handle. The pad driver is a round disc that holds floor pads securely to the machine. The base of the unit houses a motor usually ranging from one to three horsepower. The motor usually connects directly to the pad driver but in some instances is connected by a belt of planetary gear systems. Planetary gear systems are sometimes used to increase or decrease the rotation of the pad driver making the machine suitable for a wide variety of cleaning tasks. The handle on the floor machine connects to the back of the base and houses a switch lever at the top so that the user can turn the machine on and off easily. Two handles are provided for the machine operator so that a secure grip can be kept on the machine at all times. The power cord attaches to the top of the handle to provide power to the unit. Power cords usually range in length from fifty to seventy five feet.
The floor machine is an important piece of cleaning equipment because it can be used for many jobs. The first and most common use for this type of unit is floor scrubbing. When scrubbing floors the floor machine is used in conjunction with either a floor pad or scrubbing brush. Floor pads come in many colors which vary in coarseness with the color of the pad. Generally the darker colored floor pads are more aggressive and will provide a deeper scrub. Floor machine cleaning brushes can vary in the stiffness of the bristles and can be changed depending on the floor it is being used on. A stiffer bristled brush is suited for concrete and tile floors whereas a soft bristle brush is more commonly used on VCT and terrazzo floors.
The speed of the machine is of great importance when working with different types of flooring and performing different tasks. For stripping floors or removing old floor finish or wax a lower speed machine is generally used. Some higher speed floor machines can be used to gently polish or burnish floors when used in conjunction with a lighter colored floor pad.
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