What Is A Floor Scrubber? Beginner’s Guide To Commercial Scrubbers

Quick Summary:

A commercial floor scrubber is a powerful machine designed to clean large floor areas faster and more thoroughly than mops or brooms. They’re a time-saving solution used in a range of industries to ensure the facility is up to cleanliness standards while reducing manual labor costs.

This beginner’s guide goes beyond answering the question, “what is a floor scrubber?” It details the most common types of commercial scrubbers, where and why they’re used, and the cost savings they can offer your business over manual cleaning. 

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What Is a Floor Scrubber?

Floor scrubbers — not to be confused with floor sweepers or buffers (though, we sell those too!) — are cleaning machines that remove dirt, grime, and spills from hard floor surfaces.

They use rotating brushes, pads, and water or detergent to get a deep clean, followed by a vacuum system that dries the floors as it cleans to improve safety. They’re efficient cleaning tools in commercial settings like warehouses, hospitals, and retail stores where cleanliness is essential, but the floor space is too large to clean manually.

How Does a Floor Scrubber Work?

Most commercial scrubbers follow a simple 3-step cleaning process:

1. Dispense: The scrubber sprays water (with or without a cleaning detergent) onto the floor. 
2. Scrub: Pads or rotating brushes agitate dirt and grime, breaking it loose from the surface.
3. Vacuum: A suction motor vacuums the dirty water and debris into a recovery tank. A squeegee, which is attached to the back of the machine, gathers up any remaining liquid, leaving the floor dry.

Types of Commercial Floor Scrubbers

There are two main types of commercial floor scrubbers: walk-behind scrubbers and ride-on scrubbers. 

Walk-Behind Scrubbers

Walk-behind floor scrubbers are operated by pushing the machine from behind. They’re most common in medium-sized settings like schools, clinics, or retail stores because they can navigate through narrow aisles and obstacles. 

Plus, they’re easy to store and cost less upfront than sit-down riders. 

Ride-On Scrubbers

These types of commercial floor scrubbers are operated from a seated position and drive similar to a small vehicle. They’re designed for large open areas like warehouses, airports, malls because they have larger tanks and cover wider cleaning paths. 

They’re an ergonomic choice for operators working long shifts or having to cover large surface areas. 

Common Floor Scrubber Engine Types

In addition to different models, floor scrubbers are powered by different sources. Each offers specific benefits and limitations based on where and how they’re used:

Need a floor scrubber for your warehouse or distribution facility? Check out the top floors scrubbers in 2025.

Commercial Floor Scrubber Benefits

Aside from obvious manual labor savings, commercial floor scrubbers can offer better efficiency, hygiene, and consistency than manual cleaning methods. There are some of the top benefits you can benefit from when switching to a floor scrubber:

1. Time Efficiency: can clean large areas in a fraction of the time–4-8x faster than manual methods. 
2. Increased Hygiene: can remove dirt, oils, and bacteria from floors more effectively than mops.
3. Increased Safety: dries the floors as it cleans, reducing the risk of slip-and-fall accidents.
4. Consistency: maintains uniform cleaning pressure and water distribution to even, streak-free finishes.

“We cut our cleaning time in half by switching to a walk-behind scrubber — it’s a no-brainer for any facility over 10,000 square feet.”

— Mario Gutierrez, Warehouse Supervisor

Who Needs a Commercial Floor Scrubber?

These deep cleaning machines are extremely versatile and can be used in a range of industries. Here are some of the most common use cases for each type of facility:

How To Choose The Right Type of Floor Scrubber

When it comes to choosing the right type of commercial floor scrubber, there are a few main considerations:

1. Facility Size

What’s the square footage of your facility? Small facilities don’t have the same needs as large 25,000+ square foot environments. As a general rule of thumb, walk-behind scrubbers do best in small-to-medium sized facilities under 25,000 square feet. Ride-on scrubbers are best for facilities with 25,000+ square feet.

2. Cleaning Environment

Consider the environment your scrubber will be working in. Are there several obstacles or obstructions? Are you working indoors, outdoors, or both? Is it a noise sensitive area? These considerations can help you narrow down the right power source. 

3. Run-Time

The last thing to think about (aside from your budget) are your run time requirements. Corded or battery-powered units work great for short shifts, but might not be a good investment for full 4-6 hours shifts. 

Asking the right questions can help narrow down your options so you can invest in the best cleaning machine for your needs. 

Is A Commercial Floor Scrubber Right For You?

Contemplating if a commercial floor scrubber is a good fit for your needs? Here are some signs you’ve probably outgrown your manual cleaning habits:

• You clean the floors 5+ days a week
• Your facility is over 10,000 sq ft
• You’re paying staff overtime to clean
• Your floors are still dirty after mopping
• You want to improve employee safety or morale

If two or more of the statements above reflect your current situation, a commercial floor scrubber may be a smart investment. 

ScrubberShop connects you to the top suppliers of floor scrubbers in your area. Compare quotes from verified dealers and multiple models side-by-side for free.