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Rotary floor polishers and scrubbing machines.

If you've just bought a single-disc rotary floor polisher/scrubbing machine, it follows that you would like to use it with ease and safety. This page aims to tell you of the do's and don'ts of using these machines, which if operated incorrectly can be a real handful - and even dangerous due to their weight. Used correctly, these machines are simple to operate and use, requiring minimal effort to produce outstanding results on a great variety of floor surfaces and coverings.

 

 

 

 

The following paragraphs on safety are particularly important if you borrow or hire a machine. Although reputable hire firms will always check their machines before going out, it only takes a couple of minutes to do this yourself and your safety is paramount - if in doubt, check with the people you hired the machine from or take it back.

 

If you have just purchased the machine, still run the checks - it's better to be safe than sorry. When you're satisfied that all is well, you can use the machine in the knowledge that you can safely produce great results almost effortlessly with a little practice - and that's what it's all about!

 

Once mastered, these machines will make floor polishing and care a real pleasure and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're adding years of life to your flooring - as well as keeping it looking great!

A typical lightweight domestic three-brush rotary floor polisher by Karcher.

Guidelines for safe operation

 

 

Before using the machine-

1. Check mains cable and plug for wear or damage.

2. Check handle, controls and housing for visible damage.

3. Check brush or pad drive for wear or damage.

4. Check that the machine (hire machines particularly) has a valid P.A.T. (electrical test) sticker.

If you're not satisfied with any of the above are in good working order, don't use the machine - contact your dealer or hire company.

To commence operation.

1. With the handle locked in upright position, lie the machine on its back on the floor.

2. Fit the brush or pad drive.

3. If using a pad, check the condition is satisfactory and fit centrally onto the pad drive.

4. Return the machine to its upright position

5. Plug the machine into wall socket now - not before.

6. Lower the handle to a comfortable height (about waist height) and lock into place.

7. Lift handle slightly to balance machine centrally on brush or pad before switching on.

8. Switch on, adjusting handle height gently to move to left or right as required.

During operation.

1.Always work backwards from the farthest point of the area to be cleaned or polished.

2. The machine will move from left to right and back again with the application of gentle upwards or downwards pressure on the handle. Remember - Lower handle to go Left, Raise to go Right. (Single disc machines only - twin, triple and roller brush machines are much easier to handle.)

3. Check the brush or pad regularly for condition - if removal is needed unplug the machine first.

4. Never run over the mains cable, allow it to become stretched or tangled or trail it between the legs or over your shoulder.

At the end of operation.

1. Return the handle to upright position.

2. Unplug the machine and lie it on its back.

3. Remove the brush or pad - and clean it!

4. Clean the machine off with a dry or barely damp cloth.

5. Clean and rewind the power cable checking for damage as you clean it.

6. Put machine away.

Remember - always store the machine in an upright position and never leave it standing on brush, pad or drive board!

A professional series floor polisher from Numatic International.

 

A quick word about machine hire. Although most hire firms hire out floor polishing machines, very few know about which floor pads to use for which operation, or the correct r.p.m. Of the machine to use.

 

Here, as a rule of thumb, are the pads you should use for any given task - and the r.p.m. Of the machine you should use. Pads are colour coded, but go by what the DO, rather than what colour they are, together with the machine speed to be used with them, as some manufacturers do use different colours. If your hire shop don’t know about the following - go elsewhere!

 

 

 

 

Lastly, practice makes perfect. I've seen the experts literally dance waltzes with these machines - but they have had years of experience. Start slowly, be gentle and you'll soon get the hang of it - and have the shiniest, cleanest floors around! Lastly, always read the operator's manual first. You would be amazed at the number of people who don't bother. Don't be one of them!

These guidelines apply to the smaller, lighter three-brush polishers also, though these are of course much easier to operate, being about as difficult to use as a hover mower! I would always advise that if you haven't used a single-disc machine before, give yourself plenty of room to start with until you are totally familiar with the fact that raising and lowering the handle slightly will cause the machine to sweep to left and right - so there's no need for great physical effort to move the machine once running. Also remember that commercial machines are all fitted with auto-stop handle switches - if you let go of the handle, the machine will stop at once, not go running off like some berserk robot!