Floor cleaning machines are application-specific — if you want to clean floors or carpets a certain way, there's likely a machine for that project. With a variety of sizes and power options available, you can find the appropriate machine to wash, scrub, or restore just about any floor surface.

Hard floor cleaning machines
Compact floor machines (or swing machines) are the most common equipment for cleaning and polishing hard floors like wood, tile, and smooth concrete. These low-speed machines easily and safely navigate through narrow paths and around furniture to sweep away loose dirt and leave the floors looking shiny.

Scrubbers use high-powered brushes to clean textured hard floor surfaces and keep them dry. Scrubbers are generally easy to use and maintain, and allow you to easily swap out scrub heads for different-sized jobs.

To remove scuffmarks and light scratches, burnishers can produce a glossy finish and remove dust after the job. These fast and quiet machines are available in different speeds based on your floor's dimensions.

Other hard floor cleaning machines

• Sweepers — Gas-powered vacuums for large outdoor cleaning projects (parking lots, sports stadiums)
• Scarifiers — Equipment that uses multiple brushes to remove thick, stubborn grease and oil deposits (common in kitchens), or residual glue (left behind after carpet removal)
• Safety buoys — Battery-operated devices with a built-in fan to help dry floors and alert passers by that the floors are being serviced

Soft floor cleaning machines
Proper carpet and rug cleaning requires three levels of maintenance:

1. Preventative maintenance — Typical day-to-day cleaning
2. Interim maintenance — More comprehensive, deep-surface cleaning
3. Restorative maintenance — Cleaning embedded dirt deep in the carpet fibers

Commercial vacuums are the best approach to preventative maintenance. These devices remove loose dirt, dust, and soil from carpets, and range from standard upright models to wide area and ride-on versions for the largest carpeted areas. Specialty vacuums like quiet, lightweight backpack vacuums that are easy to carry around, or large-capacity wet-dry vacuums that quickly clean up spills and leaks, offer more specialized solutions.

For interim or restorative maintenance, carpet extractors use a hot- or cold-water power wash to break down heavy dirt and grime deep in the carpet fibers, and then extract and contain the dirty fluids. Extractors also clean the edges of soft floors and allow you to program different cleaning jobs into the machine's memory. You can purchase portable extractors for spot cleaning, or walk behind or ride-on extractors for larger carpet-cleaning jobs. An additional carpet dryer can provide ventilation and help speed up the drying process.

Specialty floor cleaning machines
If you have expensive floors or carpets, you'll want to keep them looking new and protect the value of the materials. Specialty floor cleaning machines handle sensitive cleaning jobs or multi-process functions. This category of machines includes:

• Floor restoration machines — Floor strippers remove an old finish, floor sanders rub down rough or splintered areas, and floor applicators put on a new finish
• Touchless cleaning systems — Deep cleans and deodorizes dirty or contaminated areas (like restrooms or operating rooms) so the user doesn't have to touch germ-covered surfaces
• Stone and marble polishers — Gently cleans and restores high-quality floor surfaces requiring special care
• Critical filter vacuums — Contains hazardous materials and prevents dust and debris from entering the air

If you can't decide which floor cleaning machine is the best fit, you can find many useful resources online. Industry associations like ISSA, for example, provide helpful tools on their web site with background information on specific companies and equipment, product reviews, and online product demonstrations.