Choosing the Right Brush, Pad, or Broom for Your Scrubber or Sweeper

Cleaning your floors is something that you want to be done right the first time. For your floor-cleaning machine, choosing the right brush, pad, or broom for the surface is essential if you want the job done properly. The right brush, pad, or broom will also help to get the job done faster and the cost savings accrued from these productivity gains can be substantial. However, we have found that many people aren’t sure what type of brush, pad, or broom they should be using for the surface that is being cleaned, so we came up with this guide to help out. Our range includes pads for stripping, scrubbing, spray buffing, polishing, crystallization, and burnisher.

Click here for a downloadable version of this page that can be printed for your reference. Shop all brushes, pads, and brooms for your sweepers and scrubbers here!

(Please note that these are suggestions, and the wrong choice can easily damage your floor. If you aren’t sure which brush, pad, or broom type you should be using, connect with a sales representative and test it in an inconspicuous area.)

Disc            
Brush Type Super-Grit (SS) Tough-Grit (S) Midi-Grit (C) Light-Grit (PS) Poly (P) Nylon (N)
Floors / Agressiveness Very Hard Hard Medium Hard Medium Medium Soft Soft
Anti-Slip Tile     X X    
Ceramic Tile   X X X X  
Concrete X X X X    
Concrete Tile   X X X X  
Epoxy Floor     X X X  
Granite       X X  
Linoleum     X X X  
Marble       X X  
Polyolefin       X X  
Resillient       X X  
Stone Carpet     X X    
Terra Cotta     X X X  
Terrazzo     X X X  
Vinyl   X X X X X
Cylindrical        
Brush Type Tough-Grit (S) Midi-Grit (C) Light-Grit (PS) Nylon (N)
Floors / Agressiveness Hard Medium Hard Medium Soft Soft
Anti-Slip Tile   X X X
Ceramic Tile   X X  
Concrete X X X  
Concrete Tile X X X  
Epoxy Floor     X X
Granite     X X
Linoleum     X X
Marble   X X X
Polyolefin     X X
Resillient     X X
Stone Carpet   X X X
Terra Cotta   X X  
Terrazzo   X X  
Vinyl   X X X
Pad Guide              
Color Guide Super Black (BB) Black (B) Brown (BR) Green (G) Blue (BL) Red (R) White (W)
Floors / Agressiveness Very High High High Medium Medium Medium Soft Soft Medium Polish
Anti-Slip Tile       X X X  
Ceramic Tile X X X X X X  
Concrete X X X X X X  
Concrete Tile X X X X X X  
Epoxy Floor         X X  
Granite         X X X
Linoleum     X X X X X
Marble           X X
Polyolefin           X  
Resillient         X X  
Stone Carpet       X X X  
Terra Cotta       X X X  
Terrazzo     X X X X X
Vinyl   X X X X X X
Recommended RPM range for scrubbing pads is 175 – 350 RPM, and should be used wet.
Pad Type Black Red White Yellow Green
Floors / Agressiveness 100 grit 300 grit 800 grit 1500 grit 3000 grit
Ceramic Tiles       X X
Concrete X X X X X
Granite       X X
Marble X X X X X
Terrazzo   X X X X
Vinyl / Plastic     X X X
Twister pads are also available for the EDGE machines. The RPM range is 175-2000.
Side Broom    
Broom Type Poly / Steel Poly
Floors / Agressiveness Hard Medium
Anti-Slip Tile X X
Astro Turf   X
Carpet   X
Ceramic Tile X X
Concrete X X
Concrete Tiles X X
Epoxy Floor   X
Granite X X
Linoleum   X
Marble X X
Polyolefin   X
Resillient   X
Stone Carpet X X
Terra Cotta   X
Terrazzo X X
Vinyl   X
Sweeper Broom            
Broom Type Poly / Steel (S) Natural / Steel (US) Union Mix (U) Polypropylene (P) Nylon (N) Full Nylon (NN)
Floors / Agressiveness Hard Medium Hard Medium Medium Soft Soft Very Soft
Anti-Slip Tile     X X X  
Astro Turf         X X
Carpet           X
Ceramic Tile X X X X X  
Concrete X X X X    
Concrete Tile X X X X X  
Epoxy Floor   X X X    
Granite X X X X    
Linoleum     X X X  
Marble   X X X    
Polyolefin   X X X X  
Resillient   X X X X  
Stone Carpet     X X X  
Terra Cotta   X X X X  
Terrazzo   X X X X  
Vinyl     X X X