6 Signs You’re Using The Wrong Detergent With Your Floor Scrubber

Floor Scrubber Equipment Damage and Wear

Using the wrong or overly aggressive detergent can lead to long-term damage parts of your floor scrubbing equipment. For example, harsh chemicals could corrode metallic components or degrade rubber parts over time, leading to costly repairs. If you start to see signs of wear, corrosion, or other types of damage, it’s essential to check your detergent’s compatibility.

Protect your equipment – and save money on repairs – by choosing a detergent that is specifically formulated for your machine and cleaning needs.

Poor Cleaning Performance

If your floors still appear dirty or have visible streaks after using your scrubber, the detergent you’re using might not be effective at breaking down and removing the specific types of dirt, grime, or oils that are present on the floor surface. Different floor types (e.g., concrete vs. wood) and the amount of soil present require different detergent formulations, which means you may need to change your detergent, and select the right one designed for your specific cleaning needs.

Always double check your detergent’s label. All detergents will list proper usage instructions and you want to use the right one for your job’s needs.

Leftover Residue or Sticky or Slippery Floors

If your floors feel sticky or look smeared or hazy after cleaning, it could indicate that the detergent is leaving behind a residue that isn’t properly rinsing away. This can create a build-up over time, attracting more dirt and potentially making the floor slippery. This can occur when the detergent is incompatible with your floor scrubber’s settings.

Using the right detergent specifically designed for your machine can help ensure that surfaces are left clean and free from streaks and residue, and enhance your overall cleaning results.

Recurring microbial growth or foul odors

If you’re noticing microbial growth, recurring mildew, or unpleasant odors or stink, particularly in areas cleaned with the floor scrubber, the detergent might not be effectively removing the underlying soil which in turn can create the perfect environment for their microbes, bacteria and other foul-smelling things to grow and multiply.

Know your floor type to choose a detergent specifically designed for it. Certain floor types or more porous and retain debris and microbes on their rough services.

And to avoid smelly buildup inside your floor scrubber, or having it spread the stink to a new location, before storing it for its next use, empty and clean the recovery tank and debris tray, and leave the tank lids open to allow them to air dry; this helps to prevent mold and bacteria from developing inside.

Excessive Suds or Foam

While you can expect some foam when using a detergent, excessive foam or suds can be a red alert that you’re using too much detergent, the wrong type of detergent (e.g., one not designed for low-foaming applications with scrubbers), or that the detergent is not dissolving properly in the water. Excessive foam can also cause your machine to malfunction and damage the vacuum motor.

Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations for the appropriate detergent consistency to prevent these issues from occurring.

Increased Maintenance Needs

If you frequently need to service or repair your floor scrubber washer, your detergent may be the culprit. Incompatible detergents can lead to clogs, increased wear on components, plus other maintenance problems. It’s a classic triple threat: it increases downtime, impacts your machine’s operation, and increases operational costs.

By selecting the right detergent, you can reduce maintenance frequency and keep your pressure washer running smoothly.

When selecting the proper detergent for your cleaning needs, the following 3 steps should be used when looking at detergent options.

1. Type of cleaning task: Identify the surfaces and types of grime you need to clean.
2. Floor Scrubber specifications: Refer to your floor scrubber’s manual for compatible detergent types.
3. Environmental considerations: Choose eco-friendly options for your cleaning environment.

The best industrial cleaning detergents and degreasers are designed to break the bond between the debris and the surface, and can speed up the overall process, save you time and money, reduce the amount of water used, provide a much cleaner surface, and reduce the wear and tear on your pressure washer, extending its operational life.

Pacific Bay Equipment offers a wide selection of proven commercial and industrial cleaning solutions, from Detergents and Degreasers to Disinfectants and Parts Washer Detergents, that are the ideal solutions for your needs, will meet your cleaning requirements and will keep your machines running right.