Before investing in a new machine for cleaning your commercial space, it's important to understand whether you need a floor maintainer vs. floor polisher. A buffer does various types of maintenance, while a burnisher is used mainly for polishing. In many cases, it is wise to use a buffer to clean a floor first or remove the previous polish before repolishing it with a burnisher. Avoid burnishing a dirty floor as that can cause dirt to get trapped under the polish, making it very difficult to remove.

One of the biggest differences between a floor burnisher vs. buffer is the speed at which the machine spins. Buffers spin between 150 and 330 rotations per minute (RPMs) and commercial burnishers spin between 1000 and 3000 RPMs. While buffers can polish floors, burnishers will do this task faster and more efficiently because of their high RPMs. The technique is also different when using a burnisher vs. buffer. Burnishers are operated forward and backward, like a vacuum, while buffering machines need to be guided in a side-to-side motion.

While both tools are essential in floor care, a burnisher focuses on polishing for shine, whereas a buffer provides a wider range of cleaning and maintenance functions. Both can be used by your cleaning staff with relatively little training. Experts at Nilfisk can help you determine which is right for your business needs. We have over 100 years of experience in the cleaning equipment industry, specializing in floor machines for industrial and commercial spaces. 

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