There are four main components used to produce any type of floor pad. These include: fiber, binder, abrasives and pigment or color. When you are selecting the best floor care program customized for your solution, it is very helpful to understand the basic components of each floor pad and why some are better suited for different types, machine applications, etc.

How Do You Choose The Proper Aggressiveness?

This is a key driver for designing a successful floor care program. The proper combination of fiber, resin and abrasives are what determine the aggressiveness of a floor pad. It is always best to use the least aggressive pad necessary to get the job done. Floor care can be both a science and an art. While there are many guiding principles to use when choosing the right floor pad, the best approach is to test more than one pad to find the best fit.

What happens when the wrong pad is used?

Cleaning workers may be setting themselves up for disaster if they use the wrong grade of pad or brush abrasiveness.

“If you choose a more aggressive pad by mistake, like using a stripping pad to clean vinyl composite tile, the tile could be permanently scratched,” Valenzuela says.

“Also, if a cleaning employee stays in one spot with the floor machine too long, especially when cleaning softer floors, the machine could cut into the tile,” he added.

If a soft pad is chosen for an application that requires abrasiveness, productivity goes down. “If a cleaning employee chooses a lighter pad instead of the correct one, it could take up to twice as long to clean a dirty floor,” Valenzuela says.

Franklin’s rule of thumb is to use the least aggressive pad or brush first. “You want to test the pad or brush first in an inconspicuous place to make sure you’re not scratching the floor,” he says.

Why Do You Want Floor Pads With An Open Web Design?

Floor pads made with an open web design offer many advantages, including but not limited to:

• Holds more stripper or cleaning solution, providing more efficiency
• Cushions the machine better, this helps prevent the machine from bottoming out
• Hugs even floors
• Excels at soil removal without clogging, preventing premature surface load