Cleaning Equipment – Use & Care

So It’s Ready To Work

When You Are

What’s The Problem ?

• When your equipment isn’t at its best…neither are you

Equipment Safety

• Never use equipment if it’s missing the safety ground prong on the plug

• Never use equipment if the cord’s insulation is cut, has exposed wiring or has electrical tape wrapped around it to repair it

• Never use equipment for other than its intended use• Never use equipment if it is malfunctioning or “making

funny noises”• If a machine “just doesn’t seem to be working like it used

to” – it is malfunctioning. Stop, repair it, and then continue working

Equipment Safety

• Never store a piece of equipment that is malfunctioning, or not working properly without letting someone know it needs repair

• Never use a piece of equipment until you have been trained on its use, performance, and care

• Never unplug by pulling on the cord– Keep track of your location to prevent jerking the plug out accidentally

What’s the Solution ?

Everyone agreeing to …– Use equipment responsibly

– Clean, maintain and store it properly

– Report any and all problems

– Make or have timely repairs made

Cord-Electric Machines

• General rules of thumb:– Work away from the outlet

– Work in straight lines – not circles

– Work to the length of the cord in both directions from the outlet

Types of Equipment

• Dry Vacuums• Wet Vacs• Buffers• Burnishers• Auto Scrubbers• Extractors

Vacuum Cleaner Anatomy

Whatever the design, all vacuum cleaners have the same basic components

– Vac motor – power

– Fan or impeller – to create air flow

– Vacuum chamber (tank or debris trap)

– Bag – to filter air & hold dust

• External

• Internal

Vacuum Cleaner Anatomy

• Rearrange the pieces for different designs – the basic anatomy is the same

• Canister, back-pack, upright or wide-area – the basic anatomy is the same

• Their basic maintenance is the same

Vacuum Cleaner Differences

• Uprights– Single motor & dual motor

– Brushes or beater bars

• Adjust with motor running

• Adjust down just until contact is made

– Side hoses & tools

– Walk as much as possible - don’t push-pull

• Ergonomic use – use large leg muscles

– Less wear on operator’s elbows and shoulders

• Slow walking pace – let the machine work

Performance

• True performance measured by– Lift in inches of water column

– Air flow in CFM (cubic feet per minute)

• Think of a vacuum cleaner as an air-filtration device…– Needs a large volume of air passing through the machine to be effective

(air flow)

– Needs to be able to pick up dust and small debris (lift)

Performance

• The best performers have the highest numbers in both measurements

• Uprights tend to measure by amp draw– Is only the power rating of the motor – not vacuum performance

Filtration

• Rated by the percentage of particles captured of a specific size (in microns)– 15 microns is limit of human sight

• E.G., “95% @ 3 microns”– The higher the percentage at the smallest size will be the most efficient

• HEPA filters = high efficiency particulate accumulator – 99% @ .03 microns

• ULPA filters = ultra-high efficiency particulate accumulator– 99.999 % - .01 to .02 microns

How A Vacuum Cleaner Works

• Vacuum - A space in which the pressure is significantly lower than atmospheric pressure– Operating by means of suction or by maintaining a partial vacuum.

• The fan (impeller) creates a partial vacuum in the tank– The stronger or deeper the vacuum that is created, the better the

vacuum cleaner works

Vacuum Cleaners

• Dry vacuum cleaners are designed to pick up dust – not objects or liquids

• Empty the bag before it looks full– Inefficiency costs time

– No more than 2/3 full

• The higher the filtration, the more often the bag should be emptied.

Vacuum Cleaners

• Wand– Don’t drop it, it will deform

– Don’t use as pry-bar, it will deform

– ( Performance depends on air flow; any change in circumference will change flow)

• Hose– Store separately - kinks cause breaks

– Deformations effect air flow

– Use tools - friction wears away the cuffs

Vacuum Cleaners

• Cords– Have memory - coil using this memory

• Start at the vac – loop & twist– Never pull the cord to unplug

• Breaks the wire• Breaks the plug• Breaks the outlet

– Never use A plug without the ground prong– Taped nicks in cords aren’t safe

Vacuum Cleaners

• Tools– Cleaned regularly

• Gum, gravel, etc., In air grooves

• Hair, etc. Blocking air flow

– Stored properly

• Not broken or chipped

• Bristles up

Vacuum Maintenance

• Empty traps• Change bags - clean cloth bags - clean filters• Remove hair and fibers from fan hub, axles, brushes and bearings• Check belts, cords and brushes for wear• Keep air passages clean (motor cooling)• Store wands and hoses separately• Coil cords properly - clean regularly• Clean tools regularly

CITYWIDE RECCOMENDS

• Backpack or canister type vacuums• High filtration pulls dirt out of buildings instead of putting

it back in the air• Vacuum sucking power is 20-40% higher on average

than the upright• Less maintenance due to design• High productivity…up to 20,000 sq ft per hour depending

on type of vacuuming

• NO COMPARISON IN ANY WAY

Wet-Vacs

• Same design as dry vacuums– Designed to pick up liquids– Do not over fill (watch foam level)

• New part – The “Float”– “Prevents” liquids entering motor

• Biggest killer of wet vacs– Stripper is deadliest

• Still empty at no more than 2/3 full

• Wand or front-mounted squeegee

Wet-Vacs

• Squeegee care– Clean after use

– Store with blades UP – don’t deform

• Tank care– Empty and clean after each use

– Clean float assembly

– Clean air filters

– Store open so it will air dry

– Store so gaskets don’t become crushed

Wet-Vacs

• Motor care– Disassemble float, rinse clean

– Remove and clean debris screens

– Clean air passages

• When there is a flood is not the time to discover the wet-vac doesn’t work!

Single Disc Floor Machines (Buffers)

• Use to – Scrub floors

• With pads, screens, or brushes

– Polish floors

• With pads or brushes

– Chip off bonded surface coatings

• With a “Scrape-Away” blade attachment

Single Disc Floor Machines (Buffers)

• Components– Cord

– Handle

• On/off & “dead-man” switches

• Cord hooks - fixed and pivoting

• Handle adjust lever

– Top or bottom

– Motor & housing

– “Deck” housing, splash guard & wheels

– Disc driver

• Adjust handle approximately belt-high

– Too low = back strain– Too high=hard to control

• Operate side to side, • On the disc

– Raising the handle moves the machine to the right.

– Lowering it moves the machine to the left.

Buffer Use

Disc Rotation

Work Direction Work Direction

Buffer Precautions

• Never release the handle until the disc comes to a complete stop!

• At 175 rpm., If released, the end of the handle will be traveling at 99.96 mph. If the 2” diameter hand-grip hits your hip…

Buffer Care

• Cord care- wind properly, clean as you wind• Handgrips

– Ends get worn rubbing or banging walls

• Handle adjust (low bracket)– Keep handle shaft clean

– Lubricate- silicone, paraffin (non-petroleum)

• Handle adjust (top lever)– Keep gears at base of handle clean and lubricated

Buffer Care

• Wheels & axles– Keep clean

• Remove fuzz & hair– Lubricate

• Deck– Clean top & underside

• Use stripper to remove build-up

• Motor - keep vent holes clean & dry• Disc driver care

– Store off the machine, bristle side up• Storing on the machine can warp; causes “bounce”

Burnishers

• “High-Speed Buffer”– 500 – 3000 rpm.

• Cord-electric: 500 – 2000 rpm

• Battery: 1500 – 2500 rpm

• Propane: 2000 – 3000 rpm.

• Use for burnishing (polishing) finishes– Dry, or with restorers (mop-on or spray-on)

The Burnisher

• Operates on its wheels– Rolls in a forward – backward motion

– Uses pads only

• Adjustable handles or “floating heads”– Use at “belt height”, same as buffers

Burnishing

• Roll the full length of an area – not choppy, small sections (unless spray burnishing)

• Overlap each pass by half the width of the machine

Burnishers

• Never use on wet surfaces unless spray buffing• Clean after spray buffing - use stripper if necessary to

remove finish build-up• Remove disc driver to store

– Storing on the driver can warp it• Causes “bounce”

• Keep the machine clean & lubricated

Auto - Scrubbers

• Combination buffer and wet-vac – with solution and recovery tanks

• Cord electric or battery powered• Bad batteries are #1 cause of down time• #1 cause of bad batteries – lack of maintenance

– Check water levels before each use • Do not overfill

– Check before charging & before use– Batteries have memory

• Run as low as possible before charging– Check connections for corrosion

Battery Charging

• Charging station– OSHA requires an eyewash station nearby

• 15 minute rated within 75 ft.

• Squirt bottle as interim measure acceptable but must have 15 minute rated eyewash within 75 feet

– Charging area must have adequate ventilation

– Fill before charging- DO NOT OVERFILL

– Leave access panel open while charging

– Do not overcharge

Battery Memory

• If a set of batteries is rated with A four hour run time, and you use the machine only two hours per day, use it for two days before recharging

• If you recharge the batteries every two hours of use, the run capacity of the batteries will be reduced to two hours on A full charge

• Run the batteries as low as possible before recharging

Auto - Scrubbers

• Use for daily cleaning floors– With a pad, “disc” brush or cylindrical brushes

• Use for scrubbing floors– With A pad or brush

• Use for rinsing floors– After stripping or scrubbing

• Use for flood pick-up– Some can accept hose & wand

Auto – Scrubbers & Stripping

• Never apply stripper with an auto-scrubber– Stripper will destroy pump seals

• Only pick up stripper if you are committed to cleaning the machine thoroughly– Squeegees, hoses, tanks, scrub deck, wheels, skirts, floats –

EVERYTHING completely

• Applying neutralizer from the solution tank, while picking up stripper, doesn’t completely neutralize the stripper – it needs dwell time

Auto – Scrubbers & Wood Floors

• You can use an auto-scrubber to scrub wood floors for refinishing if your machine has A minimum of 95 pounds of scrub deck pressure

• If so, it can save time• Be sure to overlap passes and not leave un-scrubbed

strips

Auto - Scrubbers

• Clean recovery tank after each use– Leave open to dry

• Clean solution tank – empty, rinse and leave open to dry– Mix only what you need - don’t waste product

• Remove, rinse& store pads & drivers or brushes• Remove, rinse & store squeegee – blades up

– Some squeegee blades are adjustable – 4 wear sides

• Clean underside of scrub deck after each use

Auto-Scrubbers - Squeegees

• Adjustable blades• As blades wear, rotate to take advantage of all 4 wear

surfaces• Store blades-up to prevent deformation

Auto - Scrubbers

• Keep drive wheels clean– Keep drive chain lubricated (water-proof grease)

• Keep hair, fuzz, food etc., Cleaned out of underside of scrub deck

• NOTE: streaks are usually the result of improperly maintained equipment. Find the cause and fix it before continuing

Carpet Extractors

• Auto-scrubbers for carpet– Brush (cylindrical) & vac shoe (squeegee) are only differences

• Store machine with brushes off the floor to prevent flat spots

• Never use abrasives to clean jets– Soaking in nutra-rinse will help keep mineral deposits from forming

• Clean solution & recovery tanks after each use– Leave open to dry

• Clean brushes, vac shoe• Clean underside of machine

Self-Contained Fast-Extractors

• Self-propelled, 15 – 30 gallons solution• Solution pump pressure 50 – 60 psi.• Same components as small fast-extractors, plus…

– Drive motor– Drive chain or gears– Drive wheel– Drive controls

• Components reconfigured for forward work direction

Suitcase / Briefcase Extractors• Small box extractor – 2 gallons • No wand

– Hand-held upholstery/stair tool w/trigger

• Useful for – Spotting– Upholstered furniture– Stairs

• 30 – 50 psi

Summary

• The number one cause of equipment malfunction and/or failure is – Not cleaning the equipment after use.

– Lack of battery maintenance

• Number two is improper use• Number three is improper storage

Summary

• Keeping equipment clean, maintaining the batteries, storing it properly and repairing minor malfunctions as soon as noticed will keep your equipment and you working efficiently and effectively

• Sending equipment into the service center for a “tune up” prior to expiration of warranty, and periodically thereafter will pay for itself in the long run

P.M. Contracts

• Preventive/predictive/periodic maintenance– Regularly scheduled– Many items included in contract cost– Many types

• From “on call” to weekly – per your need• From “time & materials” to “everything included”

• Purpose – to keep your equipment running at optimum performance

Quiz1. The number one cause of equipment failure is

.2. (T/F) Burnishers may be used to speed the stripping process.3. (T/F) Using an auto-scrubber to apply stripper, scrub the floor, and

recover the stripper in one pass can really save time.4. Vacuum Cleaners are designed to pick up .5. Vacuum Cleaner performance is measured by (measured in

inches of water column) and (measured in cubic feet per minute).

Quiz

6. (T/F) Equipment Maintenance depends on .7. When using cord-electric machines; work from the outlet,

work in not to the full length of the cord in from the outlet.

8. (T/F) Storing clean solution in an auto-scrubber will save time filling it next time.

9. (T/F) No matter the piece of equipment, its maintenance is basically the same three steps.

10. The maintenance referred to in #9 is: after use, it properly, and performing routine .

Answers

1. The number one cause of equipment failure is improper maintenance .

2. (F) Burnishers may be used to speed the stripping process.3. (F) Using an auto-scrubber to apply stripper, scrub the floor, and

recover the stripper in one pass can really save time.4. Vacuum Cleaners are designed to pick up dust.5. Vacuum Cleaner performance is measured by lift (measured in

inches of water column) and air flow or air volume (measured in cubic feet per minute).

Answers

6. Equipment Maintenance depends on communication.7. When using cord-electric machines; work away from the outlet, work in

straight lines not circles to the full length of the cord in both directions from the outlet.

8. (F) Storing clean solution in an auto-scrubber will save time filling it next time.

9. (T) No matter the piece of equipment, its maintenance is basically the same three steps.

10. The maintenance referred to in #9 is: cleaning after use, storing it properly, and performing routine maintenance.

Cleaning Equipment – Use & Care

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