Quick answer: A floor scrubber cleans hard floors by scrubbing and, on auto scrubbers, picking up the dirty water in one pass. A burnisher spins a pad at high speed to polish an already-finished floor to a shine; it does not deep clean. A carpet extractor sprays cleaning solution into carpet and vacuums it back out. Many facilities need more than one machine.
Machine types at a glance
| Machine | What it does | Floors |
|---|---|---|
| Orbital floor machine | Oscillating pad for scrubbing, stripping and some carpet cleaning, with low splash | Hard floors, tile and grout, some carpet |
| Cylindrical scrubber | Counter-rotating brushes scrub and sweep up debris | Textured tile, grout lines, uneven floors |
| Auto scrubber | Lays solution, scrubs and squeegees dirty water into a recovery tank | Large hard floor areas |
| Burnisher | High-speed pad (often 1,500+ RPM) polishes floor finish | Finished vinyl composition tile and similar floors |
| Carpet extractor | Sprays solution and extracts it with vacuum | Carpet and upholstery |
| Flood pumper / water extractor | Pumps large volumes of standing water | Water damage clean-up |
Scrubbers: rotary, orbital and cylindrical
Traditional rotary floor machines spin a single pad or brush at low speed. Orbital machines move the pad in small, fast circles, which reduces splash and makes them easier for new operators to control. Cylindrical machines use roller brushes that reach into grout lines and textured surfaces. Compact auto scrubbers combine scrubbing with water recovery, so the floor is left nearly dry and can be walked on sooner.
When you need a burnisher
Burnishing restores gloss on floors that have a polymer finish. It is a maintenance step done after the floor has been dust-mopped and cleaned. Burnishing a dirty floor grinds the dirt into the finish. Facilities such as retail stores, schools and hospitals often burnish regularly to keep a high shine between strip-and-recoat cycles.
Choosing a carpet extractor
- Tank size: Larger solution and recovery tanks mean fewer refills on big jobs.
- Pump pressure: Higher pressure helps with heavy soiling and upholstery tools.
- Water lift: Stronger vacuum recovers more water and shortens drying time.
- Brush or brushless: Self-contained extractors with a brushroll agitate fibers for deeper cleaning.
- Heat: Heated models help with greasy soiling where allowed for the carpet type.
Our vacuums and floor cleaners range includes orbital and multi-wash scrubbers, compact auto scrubbers, burnishers, carpet extractors, steam cleaners and flood pumpers.
Matching machine size to area
Machine width and tank capacity determine how much floor you can clean per hour. Narrow machines from 14 to 20 in. work well in corridors, restrooms and small shops. For large open areas, a wider machine or an auto scrubber saves labour time. Also consider storage space, doorway width and whether the machine needs to travel in elevators.
Operating tips
- Use the pad or brush color recommended for the task: stripping, scrubbing or polishing.
- Use chemicals compatible with the floor, the finish and the machine.
- Empty and rinse recovery tanks after each use to prevent odors and clogs.
- Check cords, plugs and squeegee blades before each shift.
Frequently asked questions
Can one machine clean both hard floors and carpet?
Some orbital machines can do both with different pads and attachments, and some extractors include hard floor tools. Dedicated machines usually give better results.
Is an auto scrubber worth it for a small business?
Compact auto scrubbers make sense when you clean the same hard floor daily, because they save mop-and-bucket time and leave the floor drier.
How often should a floor be burnished?
It depends on foot traffic and the finish. High-traffic areas may be burnished daily or weekly; follow the finish manufacturer’s guidance.
Tell us your floor types, area and cleaning frequency, and we will help you match the right machine.