Automatic Floor Scrubbing and Gym Floor Care: Everything You Need to Know

Many gym floor operators are moving away from the traditional manual mopping method to more effective, modern approaches in gym floor care. This includes using automatic floor scrubbing machines. But, investing in an automatic floor scrubber is not an affordable venture.

Moreover, even if your facility has the funds to invest in an automatic scrubber, there are many things to know before you buy one. With that in mind, on this page, we’ll cover everything you need to know before implementing an automatic floor scrubbing machine in your gym floor care routine.

Biggest Advantages of Using an Automatic Floor Scrubbing Machine

Automatic floor scrubbing machines have revolutionized gym floor care practices. Moreover, they’ve made sports floor maintenance much more convenient and systematic. With that in mind, the most significant reasons why gym floor operators use these machines are:

Efficient Cleaning

An automatic floor scrubbing machine naturally has a much wider scrub path than any manual worker. In other words, you can clean larger spaces much more efficiently with an automatic scrubber than you could manually. As a result, you’ll save time and energy and make gym floor care a lot more streamlined.

More Hygienic

In line with the previous efficiency perk, automatic floor scrubbers are very proficient in controlling the amount of cleaning solution they apply. This makes them more hygienic and environmentally friendly than other forms of gym floor cleaning methods. Not only this, but you’ll be spending less money on cleaning products in the long run.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is one of the most apparent advantages automatic scrubbing machines have over traditional manual cleaning methods. You can get a smaller scrubber that you push from behind or a larger one that you can ride on top of. Both are equally user-friendly, and you’ll have no trouble learning how to use them yourself or training your employees how to operate them.

Faster Drying Times

When you’re cleaning with an automatic scrubber that’s set up properly, the floor dries much faster than it does after manual mopping. A good scrubber picks up its solution right behind the pad, which helps prevent the uneven drying and wet spots that are common with manual mops. That only holds if the squeegee is clean and working and you keep the water to a minimum.

This is especially important if you have a hardwood maple floor, as these floors are much more water and moisture-sensitive than other types of sports floors. The MFMA has a specific set of recommendations for this type of sports flooring, and its official guidance is cautious: it calls water a maple floor’s worst enemy and advises against power scrubbers that use water. In our experience, a scrubber can still be a great cleaning tool on maple when it’s used the right way (see below). The less water there is on a hardwood floor, the better.

Key Things To Know Before Using an Automatic Floor Scrubber

So, you’ve decided that an automatic floor scrubbing machine is the right solution for your facility. But there are still a few crucial factors you’ll want to consider. So, before you put your scrubber to work, here are the four most important things to take into account:

Know Your Floor

Before you can put the scrubber to work, you need to understand your floor. First, you should know what it needs and what the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations are. Second, the contractor who installed your gym floor should know and recommend the best maintenance steps based on the type of sports floor you have.

But, there’s a simple rule of thumb to follow. Less is more. Use only a small amount of the cleaner your floor finish manufacturer approves, mixed as directed, and as little water as the machine allows. Also, don’t go overboard with scrubbing the floor too frequently.

If your gym floor is newly installed, or you’ve just had it sanded and refinished or done a screening and recoating project, don’t use an automatic scrubber until the new finish has fully cured. Plan on at least 30 days, and longer for some finishes and new floors. Ask us when it’s safe for your floor.

Remove All Debris

Before you can use the scrubber, you must make sure there isn’t any debris on the court. Failing to clean the entire area before going over it with an automatic floor scrubbing machine can have severely detrimental effects on the flooring.

The scrubber will drag debris across the floor, scratching and damaging it. And, the debris could also damage the machine itself.

Thoroughly Check the Scrubbing Machine

Moving onto the scrubber, ensure that you’ve set up the machine correctly so that it can perform as it needs to. Most importantly, examine the squeegee and the pads. Check for any debris or rubbish that could cause scratches. Also, check the wheels and tires for similar issues that could create potential problems.

The best way to go about it is to have a dedicated automatic scrubber just for your sports floor. Then, when you’re not using the same machine for all areas, you won’t need to adjust the device every time before cleaning the gym floor.

Set the Correct Pad Pressure

When you’re scrubbing the floor manually, you can instinctively tell how much pressure you’re applying as you go. But, when utilizing an automatic scrubber, you have to think about this beforehand and make sure you use the correct pad pressure.

Too much or too little pad pressure will lead to unacceptable results. You need to ensure that the scrubber applies the right amount of cleaning solution and distributes it evenly across the covered surface.

Use It the Right Way

In our experience, automatic scrubbers are great for cleaning gym floors when they’re used properly. Used the wrong way, the same machine can force moisture into the wood and cause expansion and cupping. Here’s what we tell our customers:

Control the water. Set the solution flow as low as it goes while still cleaning. The floor should look damp for a moment, never wet. If you see puddles or a trail of water, stop and turn it down.
Make a quick pass. Keep the machine moving at a steady walking pace. Don’t stop or idle with the brush or pad down, and don’t double back over the same area while it’s still wet.
Use the right pads. Use a soft, non-abrasive pad that’s made for finished wood. Aggressive scrubbing or stripping pads will cut through the finish.
Use the right chemicals. Use only the cleaner your floor finish manufacturer approves, diluted as directed. No strippers, degreasers or household products, which can damage the finish and leave the floor sticky or slippery.
Dry it fast. Keep the squeegee clean, in good shape and down the whole time so it picks up everything. Keep the gym’s ventilation running so the floor dries in minutes, not hours.
Not on new floors. Don’t use a scrubber on a newly installed floor or a freshly sanded, refinished or recoated floor until the finish has fully cured.
Ask us first. Every floor and finish is different. If you’re not sure your machine, pads, cleaner or timing are right, or whether your floor has cured, call J&J at (973) 801-7219 and we’ll tell you when it’s safe.

And whatever you use, never flood the floor with a mop and bucket. Standing water is what does the real damage. For more on safe cleaning, see our daily gym floor cleaning guide

Looking For Further Answers? Contact Us Today

As the most trusted flooring company on the East Coast, we can provide you with helpful assistance or advice regarding this critical topic. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Contact us right away and find out how our extensive experience can help you set up a cleaning routine that keeps your gym floor clean and protected. Call (973) 801-7219, email john@gymfloors.com, or contact us through a quick online form.