Floor Cleaning Machines

By Dylan Mazeika

A floor waxing machine is an essential piece of equipment for any contractor who works with hard floors and other surfaces. They add the perfect touch of shine to an already beautiful floor, and make your work that much more presentable when your clients see the finished product. But what type of wax should you use with a floor waxing machine, and how can you ensure that your equipment does the best job?

The answer is simple: by finding the right combination for your specific application. Here's how.

Best wax for a floor waxing machine

Most of the floor wax you find on the market today is made with a combination of beeswax and carnauba, but many brands have additional substances to create better aesthetic appeal. For example, a number of high-end brands of floor wax add silicone for a higher shine and better manageability.

In many cases, manufacturers will recommend specific types of wax for their floor waxing machines. This recommendation is often to get you to buy their brand of wax, much like a recipe that calls for a specific brand of chocolate syrup. However, you can run into problems if you use a completely different style of wax than is called for. So when comparing machines, it may be a benefit to look at those that will accept more than just a single brand of wax.

Popular waxes include: 365, Sierra, Pledge, DuraSeal, Trewax, Simoniz, and SC Johnson. Expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $25 per gallon for larger quantities and $8 to $10 for 28- to 32-ounce bottles.

Time and cost-saving features

Floor waxing machines save countless hours of manual labor through rotating brushes or pads that quickly scrub, polish, or buff a floor. They accommodate a range of attachments for different floors, often enabling you to use the same machine on a number of different surfaces.

Popular models on the low end of the spectrum, like Viper and Oreck, can cost around $800. Fancier models, like those manufactured by Dayton or Global, will set you back between $2,500 to $5,200 and up.

The levels of functionality and performance you can expect to get from a waxing machine will largely be determined by the number of brushes. A two-brush polisher seems to be a standard choice for many businesses as it offers lightweight operation and can easily be maneuvered in small areas, like aisles or around displays. One example is the dual purpose floor polisher/scrubber, which performs two unique jobs that also complement one another and are often required in tandem to keep your facility looking great.

In contrast, industrial- and commercial-use machines provide a substantially higher level of performance but, like a lawn mower or tractor, also require routine maintenance and a dedicated space for storage.

When comparing models, be on the lookout for these specific features:

• Horsepower and RPMs (300 to 1,300 RPM is standard)
• Polishing width (typically ranging between 13 inches and 20 inches)
• Automatic adjustment of pressure and leveling
• Low- to no-noise operation
• Long cable length or extended battery life (70 to 80 feet for cords minimum)
• Optional front wheel that can be inserted for easy transport

Want more information on choosing a floor cleaning machine? Read our floor cleaning machine Buyer's Guide.