As the economy suffers from recessions today, cleaning business companies must continue to think of how they can cut back on their expenses. One area where companies can save money is on what they spend for building cleaning. Some cut down on their expenses by not availing the services of cleaning companies anymore and just their internal labor. Thus, cleaning companies must stay competitive by offering the lowest price to their clients to get ahead in the game. One good way of cutting down on operations is to make use of used cleaning tools. By purchasing second- hand cleaning equipment, the company can save as much as 80 percent on major purchases on equipment. By using used equipment that are still in good condition, you get to reduce your labor costs and you can also provide a better cleaning service.
This kind of business requires you to have equipments such as auto scrubbers which can clean the floors 10 times faster than mops. Auto scrubbers also are those that continue to flush clean water to the floor thus do the job better. Another equipment which is a must- have are the burnishers which can maintain and maximize the brilliance of finished floors.
There are important reminders in buying used equipment. The criteria that is most important to remember is to ensure that at least the outside of the machine looks good. If in the outside, it already looks damaged, rusty or worn then it is more likely the case too for the internal parts.
Listen to units such as vacuum motors and brush and see if there are loud noises. For equipment with batteries, look at the battery’s installation date. Have someone perform a gravity test to ensure how long the battery can hold charge. Batteries are expensive wear and tear items. They can cost your around $1500 for replacement. Also, check the accessories when buying used janitorial equipment. Old machines can have hard- to- find or possibly irreplaceable accessories because of discontinuation.
To make sure that your are buying units still good qualities, there are three questions to raise. First, inquire about the warranty of the machine since this can make you save a lot of money. Repairs can actually cost you a thousand dollars that is why warranties are considered very useful. Second, where did the previous owner used to use to the machine. This is so you can know how wear the machines must be since most of the time, machines are traded in because of excessive wear and have been used for a long period of time. And the last, how was the cleaning equipment utilized? For example, was the floor machine or the auto scrubber used in stripping floors? Stripping floors can make the old wax block lines inside the vent holes of the motor. Generally, the best way to see if the used equipment is still okay is too look at its cosmetic condition and the noise that it creates. Also, it is advisable to ask for a second opinion from another technician.
Floor Machines Used in Cleaning
Floor machines are one indispensable machine for cleaning businesses. They are used in refinishing floors and scrubbing the floors. They are generally known as swing machines though they vary in sizes, shapes and even speeds. Floor machine units can have speeds ranging from a 100 RPM to even up to 400 RPM. To ensure the delivery of quality service, make sure that the right floor machine type is used for the appropriate job and that the speed matches its application.
The major parts of a floor machines are the pad driver, the handle and the base. The pad driver securely holds the floor pads with the machine. The handle, which is connected to the back base, houses the switch lever so you can easily switch the machine off or on. The machine operator is given two handles to ensure the security of his grip to the machine all the time. The motor housing or the base is usually connected to a pad driver but is sometimes connected to planetary gears which can increase the pad driver’s rotation or decrease it as well thus making the floor machine more suitable to be used in various cleaning tasks. Furthermore, a power cord that provides power to the machines is attached to the handle’s top. It usually can be from 50 to 70 feet long.
Floor machines have different uses and one of which is in floor scrubbing. In floor scrubbing, floor machines are used along with floor pads or scrubbing brushes. Floor pad have different colors and each color varies in its coarseness. Usually, the dark- colored ones are the more aggressive floor pads and they give deeper scrubs. On the other hand, the bristles of the scrubbing brushes have different stiffness. You adjust the type of bristles to the type of floor being cleaned. Stiffer bristles are used for tile and concrete floors while softer bristles are used for terrazzo and VCT floors.
The machine speed has to be considered when you are tasked to do different jobs and when you deal with various types of floors. For example, if you are working with striping floors, then use a machine with a lower speed. If you are working with floors that are gently polished or burnished, then use a machine with a higher speed together with floor pads that are light in color.
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