Things to consider when selecting floor pads

Floor care, in particular, can negatively impact time and budget if done incorrectly. Fortunately, by selecting floor pads with enhanced durability, cleaning staff can improve productivity and minimise waste. The durability of the floor pads can also directly affect your labor costs. Additionally, floor pad durability plays a significant role in your facility’s sustainability program.

It is the facility manager’s responsibility to ensure that the floors are well maintained and within budget constraints. Selecting a durable, high performing floor pad that is engineered for a specific maintenance task to deliver optimal results will save money in the long term by reducing labor costs and eliminating the need to use multiple products to achieve the same results. High performance and durability can be achieved by selecting floor pads manufactured with fibers that are coated throughout to last longer and produce the most consistent, high-quality results.

High performance equates to efficient, more productive cleaning which may help reduce labor costs. For scheduled maintenance, such as scrub and recoats, the Scotch-Brite™ Surface Preparation Pad Plus removes floor finish two times faster than floor mop pads – even with multiple uses – so it keeps working longer and doesn’t require a backer pad. For daily maintenance, the Scotch-Brite™ Clean & Shine Pad removes black marks three times faster and lasts longer than traditional cleaning pads. It also creates a dustless polish, further reducing labor time and costs by reducing or even eliminating the need to burnish.

Both the Scotch-Brite™ Surface Preparation Pad Plus and the Scotch-Brite™ Clean & Shine Pad are effective with the use of water or a neutral cleaner – removing the need for harsh chemicals. In addition, the products recently received Green Seal® Certification of Environmental Innovation under the GS-20 standard. This certification recognizes products that significantly improve performance and durability while extending the useful life of the floor pad and reducing solid waste generation.

Wear and tear are inevitable, so once a facility manager identifies an effective product, it’s equally important to consistently assess its efficacy. For floor pads specifically, there are three key considerations to determine if a product has reached the end of its life span, including:
 

1. Product Performance Indicators – When using floor pads for specific tasks such as stripping and scrubbing, the overall performance of the product can provide insights into whether it is working or not. A pad that needs replacing will often no longer function as intended, resulting in substandard performance on the floor. Depending on the product, this type of visual clue will determine if the pad needs to be replaced in its entirety or can be flipped over.
2. Visual Inspections – The visual appearance of the pad itself can also be an easy way to confirm its effectiveness. For example, some pads on the market come with a spray-coated outer layer that is a different color than the primary cleaning surface. Once the spray coating is scrubbed down, it provides the cleaning staff with an easy visual indication that it’s time to replace the pad.
3. Overall Care – General maintenance of floor pads can also help determine if they need to be changed. As the staff goes through the routine process of rinsing and cleaning a pad after a job, they can quickly determine if residual dirt and debris are impacting effectiveness.

It’s likely that facility managers will continue to face increases in labor and product costs. Luckily, by choosing durable products and replacing at the appropriate time, and recognizing the importance of ongoing maintenance, facility managers can ensure the overall quality of a job while simultaneously maximizing their return on investment.

Find the right floor pad for your facility using our floor pad selector tool.