Why Now is the Time to Switch
Traditional mopping just can’t keep up with real-world cleaning needs. You’re pushing dirty water around, there’s no real down pressure to remove buildup, and the process is slow and labor-heavy. Winter brings salt and slush into facilities which makes now an even better time to use equipment that actually removes soil instead of spreading it.
Floor scrubbers apply clean solution, scrub with consistent down pressure, and immediately recover dirty water. That means cleaner floors with far less labor. When you factor in the time spent mopping large areas, the cost savings on labor alone make renting or buying a floor scrubber a smart move for any facility.
Hidden Cost of Mopping
Mopping may appear less expensive upfront, but over time it can increase costs due to labor, productivity, hygiene, and safety considerations. Large facilities require significant staff time to achieve consistent cleaning, and manual mopping can leave floors wet for several minutes, increasing slip hazards which has cost businesses $11 billion per year.
Traditional mopping often reuses water during a cleaning shift. If dirty water isn’t replaced frequently, soils and bacteria can be redistributed rather than removed, reducing overall hygiene. In contrast, floor scrubbers separate clean and recovery water, helping to prevent cross-contamination and improving cleanliness in high-traffic areas such as healthcare, food service, and commercial spaces.
Labor demands are also higher with mopping. Manual mopping involves repetitive bending, lifting, and wringing, which can be physically taxing and even cause injuries. Floor scrubbers allow a single operator to clean larger spaces more efficiently while reducing strain, ultimately saving time and reducing labor costs compared with traditional mopping methods.
While mops remain useful for small touch-ups or tight spaces, facilities that rely primarily on manual mopping face hidden costs in labor efficiency, floor hygiene, and safety that can be mitigated with floor scrubbers.
Floor Scrubbers vs Mopping
This table outlines how each perform in labor demand, efficiency, appearance, hygiene, and floor safety.
 Category |
 Scrubber |
 Mop |
|---|---|---|
| Labor | Clean large areas quickly with consistent results. | Labor-intensive and slow on large surfaces. |
| Hygiene | Uses separate clean solution and recovery tanks, so only fresh water hits the floor. | Often reuses dirty mop water, spreading grime instead of removing it. |
| Floor Appearance | Scrubs with consistent pressure and agitation to lift dirt from the surface. | Pushes dirt around and can leave streaks or dull film. |
| Safety | Vacuum-dry system leaves floors almost instantly dry, decreasing slip risks and downtime. | Floors stay wet much longer, increasing slip risks and downtime. |
| Results | Delivers consistent, repeatable cleaning results every time. | Results vary based on the operator and the condition of the mop. |
Long Term Impact
Facilities that switch to floor scrubbers typically report reduced labor time, cleaner floors, fewer slip hazards, and more predictable results. By removing more soil per pass and reducing manual strain on staff, scrubbers support a cleaning program that is easier to maintain consistently.
Conclusion
Floor scrubbers provide a higher level of cleanliness, reduce labor demands, improve hygiene, and offer consistent results across large or high-traffic spaces. While mops still work for small areas, scrubbers are the more efficient and reliable option for most commercial facilities. As floor care industry experts, we specialize in pairing the right cleaning equipment with the right application.
Our team can help you choose the right machine for your floors and budget. Contact us today!
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Testimonial about Renting from Bortek
“My Field Services Department recently utilized a Walk Behind scrubber from Bortek Industries’s Rental Fleet for a remediation job in Lancaster, PA. Bortek Industries provided me with a late model floor scrubber, appropriate cleaning chemicals for that unit, and knowledge to complete this job in a timely and efficient manner. They were easy to deal with, delivered the machine to my jobsite, and were able to adapt to my schedule change on short notice. This equipment performed at a high level and met all of my expectations. I would strongly recommend Bortek Industries for anyone in need of Industrial Floor Cleaning Equipment. I plan to use them for any and all future scrubber or sweeper needs.”
– Rick Dom, Account Executive, Environmental Recovery Corporation (Lancaster, PA)
