Floors and sites
Floor Types: How to Scrub Each Surface Without Damaging It
The same auto scrubber can leave one floor spotless and ruin another. A green pad and a high-alkaline degreaser that work well on bare sealed concrete will dull the finish on VCT, haze a polished concrete sheen, and etch marble in a single pass. That is why the right settings start with the floor, not the machine. Each guide in this section covers one surface in practical terms: how to scrub it with a walk-behind or ride-on, which pad or brush to use (and which to avoid), what chemical pH range is safe, how much down pressure and solution flow to run, the mistakes that cause real damage in the first months, and a routine schedule by traffic level. You will find guides for sealed concrete, polished concrete, epoxy coatings, VCT, ceramic and porcelain tile with grout, LVT and sheet vinyl, rubber flooring, and terrazzo and natural stone. A separate guide explains slip resistance: what ANSI A326.3 wet DCOF testing measures, what OSHA expects for walking-working surfaces, and how chemical residue or water left behind by a scrubber can make a safe floor slippery. If you manage mixed surfaces, set up the machine for the most sensitive floor in the route, or change pads and dilution between zones. For a quick starting point, try the pad selector, and see brushes and pads and down pressure for the mechanics behind each recommendation.
Sealed Concrete: How to Auto Scrub Acrylic, Penetrating and Urethane Sealed Floors
Scrub sealed concrete without stripping it: identify acrylic, penetrating or urethane sealer, then pick pads, pH, down pressure and a schedule by traffic.
Polished Concrete: Scrubbing, Diamond Pads and Burnishing to Keep the Gloss
How to maintain polished concrete with an auto scrubber: diamond-impregnated pads, neutral pH, guard products, burnishing and a gloss-loss diagnostic.
Epoxy and Urethane Resin Floors: Auto Scrubbing Without Dulling, Etching or Smoothing the Grip
Auto scrubbing epoxy and urethane resin floors: chemical compatibility matrix, brushes for textured anti-slip, pH limits, settings and a traffic schedule.
VCT Floor Care With an Auto Scrubber: Daily Scrubbing, Top Scrub and Recoat, and When to Strip
Auto scrubbing VCT the right way: daily scrub vs top scrub and recoat vs strip, pads, neutral cleaner pH, pressure and flow settings, and a traffic schedule.
Ceramic, Porcelain and Quarry Tile: How to Auto Scrub Tile and Grout Properly
How to auto scrub ceramic, porcelain and quarry tile without missing the grout: brush choice, chemical pH, down pressure, flow and a schedule by traffic.
Scrubbing LVT, LVP and Sheet Vinyl: Protect the Wear Layer, Keep Water Out of the Seams
Scrub luxury vinyl tile, plank and sheet vinyl safely: factory wear layers, no-wax care, seams and water, embossed textures, pads, pH, settings, schedule.
Rubber Flooring and Auto Scrubbers: Bloom, Studded Surfaces, Brushes and Safe Chemistry
Auto scrubbing rubber tiles and rolls: bloom and oils, why solvents and high pH harm rubber, studded floors, cylindrical brushes, settings, and schedules.
Terrazzo and Natural Stone: Auto Scrubbing Without Etching or Dulling the Floor
Auto scrubbing terrazzo, marble, limestone, granite and slate: why acid etches calcium stone, which pads and diamond pads to use, safe pH, and schedules.
Slip Resistance and Auto Scrubbing: Why Floors Get Slippery and How to Fix It
How auto scrubbing raises or lowers slip risk: what ANSI A326.3 DCOF testing measures, OSHA 1910.22 duties, residue from overdosing, and a diagnostic.