Pros & Cons of Walk-Behind vs Riding Floor Scrubbers

For anyone responsible for commercial floor care maintenance, a floor scrubber is one of the most important pieces of equipment in their arsenal. Investing in a floor scrubber is an ideal way to get away from the old mop/bucket routine, thereby improving cleaning results and efficiency. Other benefits include reducing worker fatigue and saving dollars in what is undeniably the most expensive factor relating to regular floor cleaning maintenance – wages paid to those doing the job. Using a floor scrubber, whether it's a walk-behind or ride-on model, is also more hygienic than cleaning floors the old fashioned way, and much less back-breaking for those completing the task. In addition, there are some floor cleaning jobs that are just too large and time consuming to complete by hand, without the use of floor cleaning equipment. Even for small jobs, however, using a floor scrubber makes sense when considering all the benefits mentioned above.

Types of Floor Scrubbers

There are essentially two types of floor scrubbers – ride-on (or stand-on) and walk-behind. Both have their pros and cons, and the final determination regarding which type you choose to purchase and use will depend on your particular needs. Basic factors to consider include:

• Size and configuration of the area(s) you'll be scrubbing
• Your budget
• The type(s) of surfaces you'll generally be cleaning
• How much traffic the floors you'll be maintaining typically see in a day
• Whether your cleaning operations will take place primarily indoors or outside

Riding vs Walk-Behind Scrubbers

For the budget minded, walk-behind floor scrubbers are typically less expensive to purchase than riding models. They're also generally less expensive to maintain. Riding and stand-on scrubbers, however, provide added productivity because the user is able to travel at faster speeds, thereby covering more area than with the walk-behind alternative. This added productivity translates into lower operating costs and, with decreased operator fatigue as an additional benefit, allows the ability of the operator to scrub for longer periods.

One positive aspect of walk-behind scrubbers is their maneuverability in overcoming certain obstacles in a building such as ramps or inclines, tight corners, individual offices and narrow doorways that would be unable to accommodate a large machine.

While minimizing operator fatigue is a primary benefit cited for using a riding floor scrubber, it should be noted that some users have found that stand-on riders that require the operator to stand in one place for long periods can actually be more fatiguing than walking behind a scrubber.

If cost is the major concern, a walk-behind scrubber is usually the best choice. If you'll be cleaning expansive areas, however, going with a rider would probably be worth the extra expense.