The cold weather is about to start settling across much of the United States, which creates extra challenges for keeping floors clean. This is especially true in areas where salt, sand, and snow are tracked inside.
The best way to tackle these challenges is by properly maintaining your floor scrubber so that it continues to scrub efficiently and effectively. Let’s take a look at five steps you can take to keep your floor scrubber working its best, no matter what it’s like outside.
1. Maintain the squeegee
Regardless of whether it’s winter or summer, you need to take good care of your squeegee blade. A blade that’s badly worn or not properly aligned will cancel out all of the benefits of the floor scrubber because it will leave water and suspended debris on the floor.
We’ve heard of operators who carry a mop to pick up the water left by a floor scrubber. You shouldn’t have to do that! A high-quality, well-maintained and aligned squeegee blade will do all of the work for you.
Every time you install or adjust a squeegee:
- Set the angle so that the very edge of the blade touches the floor.
- Set the squeegee height so it has even pressure across the blade.
You’ll know immediately if the squeegee isn’t situated correctly. If the down pressure is too light, you’ll get skipping and streaking. If it’s too heavy, a thin film of water will remain on the floor. Over time, the squeegee will wear unevenly, which means not only that it won’t clean as well, but also that you’ll have to replace it sooner.
In winter, salt can make its way into the squeegee area and get caught in the back edge, causing streaking. Fortunately, it’s very easy to prevent this from happening.
After each use in winter:
- Remove the squeegee assembly, flip it over, and use a rag to clean the edges.
Removing the squeegee assembly from a Nilfisk scrubber is simple. Typically all you have to do is unscrew two thumb screws or pull on a color-coded handle. Refer to the maintenance instructions for your machine.
2. Sweep before scrubbing
If you have a sweeper, do a pre-sweep to pick up the salt before scrubbing. This will prevent salt from getting stuck in the squeegee or blocking the vacuum hoses.
3. Empty the machine before moving locations
If your scrubber will spend time outside, such as when you’re moving between locations, make sure there’s no water in the machine. If there is water and it freezes, it could damage the scrubber.
This is a common problem with the solution filter. If the water inside is allowed to freeze, the solution filter will crack, and the machine will leak.
4. Empty the debris tray
This is something you need to do in all seasons, but especially in winter when more debris tends to be tracked inside.
When the vacuum sucks up water, the suspended debris is diverted into the debris tray. If it’s not emptied regularly, it will become blocked, and the scrubber will stop picking up water. To prevent this, empty the debris tray after each use.
5. Keep the battery filled and charged
If your scrubber has a wet battery, make sure the battery is filled and charged.
Every cell needs to be filled with distilled water. To avoid overwatering, add just enough distilled water until it reaches the top of the lead plates. Do NOT fill all the way to the water cap. Depending on how often you use the scrubber, you may need to check the water level every 2 days. In any case, be sure to check it at least once a week.
In addition, keep the battery charged. Fully charged batteries are better able to withstand freezing temperatures than uncharged batteries.
As long as you follow the recommended maintenance procedures, your floor scrubber should continue to perform at peak capacity all year-round. If you have any questions about winter maintenance for your equipment, contact us at 800-486-8830 or service.request@nilfisk.com.
