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Studies show that labor represents 90 percent or more of the total cost of floor
cleaning.* This means that a cost-efficient cleaning program will employ the
most productive equipment available, so that workers – the largest share of the total
cost to clean – can be more productive. But what makes a floor-cleaning machine
“productive,” and how do you evaluate floor-cleaning machines for productivity?
Today's automated floor-cleaning equipment includes efficiency features that
can lead to greater productivity, such as longer cleaning times between dump and-
fill cycles, faster ride-on and self-propelled equipment, wider cleaning
paths, and the ability to perform multiple operations with one machine, to list
just a few. Determining which floor-cleaning equipment will deliver the highest
productivity per application and, in turn, decrease overall cleaning time and
costs, requires careful consideration. Also, Bortek offers high-quality brands to replace Tennant sweepers, Tennant scrubbers, and Tennant floor cleaners. |
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There are many floor-cleaning machine features designed to increase worker productivity, decrease overall cleaning time and, as a result, reduce the total
cost to clean. Here is an overview of equipment features available today that
contribute to cleaning efficiency:
• Choice of cleaning path widths – By matching the size of the machine to exact
needs, you minimize your investment while maximizing productivity. The
difference in the purchase price between a 17-inch and a 20-inch walk-behind
floor machine can be as little $50 to $100. The charts that follow show the
time and cost savings that can be achieved by using scrubbers and vacuums
with wider cleaning paths. |
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• Easy equipment changes – Slide-out decks for edge cleaning and easy-to-swap
brush and cylindrical decks allow your workers to clean different
surfaces with one machine and spend minimal time changing out accessories,
etc. Machines that offer “tools-free” maintenance allow operators to make any
needed adjustments quickly and easily, as do user-friendly controls that are
easy to understand and operate. |
• Onboard battery chargers – Many battery-powered auto-scrubbers, burnishers
and carpet extractors can be ordered or even come standard with onboard
battery chargers. This means that operators don't have to return a machine to
a battery-charging station, but can recharge machine batteries almost
anywhere. Gel-battery powered equipment offers increased safety and
convenience because there is no potential for battery acid spills or noxious
gas emissions during charging that can occur with conventional batteries. |
• Reduced sound levels – Today's low-decibel cleaning equipment, from
canister vacuums with hospital-quiet operation to ride-on scrubbers with
built-in sound attenuation, enables your operators to clean during business
hours and without the fatigue and irritation that noise can cause. |
• Reduced water usage – Some of today's floor-cleaning machines are specially
designed to minimize water usage, providing a big productivity boost for a
modest investment. Water-saving designs increase cleaning efficiency by: 1)
reducing the number of dump-and-fill cycles required to clean a particular
area, which in turn increases the amount of time operators can spend
productively cleaning; and 2) reducing the drying time needed before workers
can return an area to service. (Some automatic scrubber and extractor models
let you choose between low-moisture and deep-cleaning modes so you can
increase water usage just in especially soiled areas.) |
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• Larger water and solution tanks – Equipment with higher-capacity tanks can
also increase your productive cleaning time between dump-and-fill cycles.
However, there is a trade-off because larger tanks usually mean larger
equipment, and you will generally want to select the smallest machine
suitable for your application. Small machines are more maneuverable
and lighter weight, allowing operators to work faster and with less
fatigue. |
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With ride-on scrubbers or sweeper/extractors, you can increase
productivity by 400 percent compared to conventional walk-behind
machines. Typically, the additional cost of a ride-on vs. a walk-behind
model can be recouped from labor savings in about three months. This is
due to productivity gains of as much as 64 percent for ride-on sweepers
and scrubbers over walk-behind machines. |
Self-propelled walk-behind equipment can increase productivity over manual “push” equipment, because the machines “assist” the operator with forward
motion. Both ride-on and self-propelled equipment can reduce operator fatigue,
enabling workers to get more cleaning done per shift. |
Also consider that a 24-inch ride-on scrubber designed to clean narrower aisles
and fit through a 32-inch doorway with room to spare results in a productivity
increase of more than 200 percent over a walk-behind scrubber. |
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• Extractors – Extractors that can loosen soil, apply cleaning solution, and
extract soil, solution and moisture all in one cleaning pass eliminate the need
for your workers to perform a variety of tasks, making carpet cleaning faster
and your overall cleaning operation more productive and cost efficient. To
gain even more productivity, you can select a carpet extractor that can double
as a small hard-floor scrubber. |
• “Touchless” cleaning machines – A new kind of multipurpose cleaning
machine, touchless cleaning machines wash, scrub, disinfect and blow-dry
surfaces and fixtures using a cold-water cleaning solution. The result is
increased sanitation and faster cleaning, especially in settings requiring high
levels of disinfection such as restrooms and even hospital operating rooms. |
• Sweeper/extractors – A sweeper/extractor eliminates the need to vacuum carpets
before extracting. Choose equipment that leaves floors almost dry. This reduces
drying time significantly and allows you to extract whenever your floors need it.
See chart. |
• Wet and dry recovery – This is a labor-saving feature available on some tank
vacuums that allows workers to recover water (from a broken pipe on the floor,
for example), and then use the same vacuum to pick up dry dirt that has accumulated. |
• Burnishers – Look for burnishers that can collect dust and burnish your floor's
surface in one pass, which will cut your total cleaning time dramatically. |
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In addition to reviewing all equipment features for maximum efficiency and cost
savings, you'll want to think about these important factors, too: |
• Minimal equipment maintenance requirements – Floor-cleaning equipment
will last longer if machines are easy to clean and maintain. For example, gel battery-
powered equipment is easier to maintain than equipment using wet acid
batteries, because sealed gel batteries don't need added water, can't leak,
and will not emit noxious fumes during charging. |
• Availability of on-site training – To eliminate downtime in the cleaning
processes, consider whether an equipment dealer would provide new
equipment training. |
• Availability of equipment maintenance and repairs – To keep equipment
running – all the time – ensure that there is a source for parts and service nearby. |
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Once you've selected the floor-cleaning equipment features and performance
you need – and the equipment model or models you'd like to purchase – you
will likely need an economic justification before your purchase is approved.
This is an area where a floor-cleaning professional, such as your JanSan supplier
or equipment dealer, can and should help. |
An equipment sales representative can compare your current cleaning
operation with the proposed new system, calculating the time savings and
increased productivity that the new equipment will yield. This can be expressed
in terms of minutes and hours saved per week per exact square footage, as well
as the percentage of total time savings. This analysis should figure in total labor
costs, the new equipment purchase cost, and the estimated equipment
maintenance costs over the life of the machine. Most importantly, your
consultant should be able to tell you the total lifetime cost to clean with the
new equipment. A complete productivity analysis will give you a clear picture
of annual dollar savings and total savings spread out over the period it takes to
pay back the investment.
Your increased cleaning efficiency makes the purchase of a new machine much
more economical when you calculate the "payback" from savings in labor costs
and how these savings offset the cost of purchasing the new equipment. A high
return on investment and considerable savings in time and labor dollars are the
things that executives look for in justifying the purchase of new equipment.
Arming your cleaning team with the most efficient and cost-effective floor cleaning
equipment will enable you and staff to win the daily battle against dirt,
dust, grime and germs. It will also lead to the highest level of floor-cleaning
productivity – and cost efficiency – for your business.
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