Buying floor cleaning equipment for your company is a considerable investment. Some of the floor cleaner machines are fairly expensive, while others are rather inexpensive.

The pricing and costs of portable floor cleaning equipment doesn't stop when you purchase the floor cleaner machine. Consider the following costs for your commercial floor cleaning equipment:

1. Calculate the cost of the floor cleaning supplies you need in order for the floor cleaning machine to work properly.

2. Determine the price of all the accessories you need for the floor cleaning equipment.

3. Take the cost of replacement parts for the floor cleaning machines into account, even if the machine is under a warranty.

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Consider the cost of supplies for the portable floor cleaning equipment

Floor cleaning supplies, such as stripper, wax, shampoo, stain repellent and deodorizer, are necessary to keep the floors clean. The cost associated with these supplies is recurring, as you can't reuse the supplies.

I recommend: WholeSale Industrial Supply sells floor cleaning supplies. If you register as a member of the website, you can take advantage of member pricing. Floor cleaning chemicals range from $60 to well above $600 for some chemicals. Protect Carpet Cleaning sells soap and surfactant free cleaning supplies for portable floor steam cleaners. Product packages start at around $30.

Figure out the cost of attachments for the floor care equipment

Most commercial floor cleaning machines are sold with only the basic unit. Because of this, you will have to purchase all the accessories you need. Some of the items to consider are brushes, upholstery tools, pads, squeegees and stair tools. Keep in mind that even these items may periodically need replacing.

I recommend: Parish Maintenance Supply sells floor care supplies to fit a variety of floor care systems. Pads for portable floor buffer machines start at $15 per case for the smallest pads. A & R Supply has a varied selection of tools for floor cleaner machines. Wands, for example, range in price from around $60 to higher than $400.

Price replacement parts for the floor cleaner machines

When your floor care equipment isn't working normally, you may have to purchase replacement parts. Some of these parts are inexpensive and others are almost as costly as buying new floor cleaning equipment. Knowing the prices for these parts prior to purchasing new equipment help you take the overall maintenance cost of the machine into account.

I recommend: IVIE Enterprises sells a varied selection of mechanical replacement parts, including motors for many different floor cleaning machines. Prices for replacement mechanical parts start at about $150. JC Carpet sells replacement parts for floor care equipment. Hardware is as low as $1 and specialty parts, such as Hide a Hose parts are as high as $700.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider buying a storage caddy to keep all of the supplies for your floor cleaning equipment organized.

Janitorial service is part of any operation. Lots of offices outsource cleaning to specific companies, but other businesses do the job themselves. Cleaners use various floor cleaning equipment types for different floors and areas, but in any case, having machines that will fit in your vehicle or closet easily is a plus, and light, portable floor cleaning equipment is very much in demand.

Business operators look for portable floor cleaning machines or other floor care equipment in situations like the following:

1. For limited use in any small or large business involving hospitalities, from public spaces like museums, churches and vacation spots to hotels and motels.

2. Floor cleaning equipment is used in large spaces for any public space, like universities or hospitals.

3. For mobile use by field staff or members of a cleaning company that go from one building to another to take care of cleaning tasks daily.

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Get portable floor buffers and waxers

You can find online deals on new or used portable floor cleaning equipment for marble or tile that will keep floors looking nice year after year. Lots of models are available by size, brand or style.

I recommend: Take a look at the range of portable floor buffers and floor care equipment available at Parrish-Supply, including the 1.5 HP 17 inch buffers. For more deals on a portable floor buffer or portable floor scrubber, go to BettyMills and browse products online.

Get floor steamers online

Another option for a floor cleaning machine for hard floors is the portable floor steam cleaners or 'steamer mop.' This machine uses hot water and vapor do the tough cleaning. This kind of machine gets high ratings from a lot of cleaners because instead of messy buckets of water, you have a vaporized clean that can be easier on staff. Look for steamer models that will fit your needs from online vendors.

I recommend: Target sells multiple steamer models online: customers report satisfaction with using these portable, low-cost machines on residential floors. View product details and consider what kind of model you'll need. Use Target's online store system to eliminate a trip to the box store and learn about Target's business customer incentives.

Get high-power vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters

If you're looking for a floor cleaning machine for dealing with carpet, you'll want a high-functioning vacuum. Look for new models that have HEPA filters, advanced technology for trapping dust and air pollutants.

I recommend: Totalvac sells many vacuum cleaner models with HEPA technology, as well as a lot of vacuum cleaner parts. The GoHepa site also has some floor care machines that may fit business clients. Visitors can also pick up filters or learn more about HEPA technology and how it gets floors cleaner and reduces dust and allergens in the air.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with staff. When ordering, it's a good idea to talk to co-workers who will be using the floor cleaning equipment to get their input, so the best decision gets made for the future of the business.

Every business needs portable floor cleaning equipment to make caring for the floors easier. If there is limited traffic on your floors, you will need only basic equipment. If you have a very busy business with a lot of traffic, you will need equipment that is more advanced.

When you purchase floor care machines, it is important to consider all flooring types in your business. Keep the following portable floor cleaning equipment basics in mind to help you choose the most appropriate equipment for your needs:

1. Use a vacuum to maintain floors in between deep cleanings.

2. Keep floors clean with a portable floor scrubber.

3. Clean floors with portable floor steam cleaners.

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Purchase vacuums as part of your floor cleaning systems

Before you steam clean your carpets or scrub hard floors, you should remove any loose dirt and debris. The most appropriate way to do this is by using a vacuum. It is possible to forgo vacuuming and start cleaning with the other portable carpet cleaning equipment but, doing that will usually cause the usage life of the equipment to shorten.

I recommend: Steam Brite sells a varied selection of portable carpet cleaning equipment, including vacuum cleaners. It has all items separated by type and manufacturer to make it easy for you to find the equipment you need. ThinkVacuums.com sells numerous types of vacuums, many of which have a 10-year warranty.

Take advantage of the versatility of a portable floor scrubber

A portable floor scrubber makes taking care of floors in high traffic areas easy. These machines are a portable floor buffer, scrubber, stripper and polisher all in one. You can go from one application to the next by simply changing the pad on the machine. Many of these machines can be for any type of flooring, including carpeting.

I recommend: Marko Janitorial Supply sells floor scrubbers, including a hand held model. It has an "Ask the Expert" option on the website, so you can get help finding the best products for your needs. FloorScrubbers.com offers numerous floor scrubbers, including a rotary scrubber for carpet. It offers online customer support during regular business hours via a chat server on the website.

Find portable floor steam cleaners

Portable floor steam cleaners, including floor models and backpack models, are ideal for businesses that have offices or spaces on different floors. This type of floor cleaning machine uses a storage tank to hold the cleaning solution and a different tank holds the dirty water.

I recommend: Daimer sells floor cleaning machines. This company offers customer support 24 hours a day. CleanCraft Products offers numerous portable floor cleaners. It offers a varied selection of equipment packages that are fully customizable.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you purchase portable floor cleaning machines, find out the type of cleaning products and filters the machine uses. Some of the supplies may be hard to find or very expensive.

Whether you do it yourself or hire a service, floor maintenance is an often overlooked aspect of business and office upkeep. Appearances are paramount and well-kept floors can make a lasting impression on potential and current employees and clients. From buffers to vacuums, knowing the types of portable floor cleaning equipment and what is needed for your floor covering will help stay on top of your floor care needs.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buffer

Floor buffers polish uncarpeted floors. Some models also include a tank and special pads to wash or wax the floor. Buffers often include changable pads for removing scratches and bring a gloss to a variety of flooring types, including hardwood, vinyl and linoleum. Some low-speed varieties can also serve double duty as carpet cleaners.

I recommend: CleanLink gives information on the differences between high and low speed buffers and what type of business can benefit from each.

Scrubber

Floor scrubber machines use brushes to wash and scrub large areas of non-carpeted floors, usually in industrial, commercial or institution settings. These scrubbers vary from manual or automated walk-behind units to larger ride-on units.

I recommend: Caliber Equipment gives information on the usage of cylindrical and disk scrubbers.

Stripper

A floor stripper works both chemically and mechanically to remove floor finishes, including excess wax build up. These machines come in a wide range of models, including electric and gas/propane powered.

I recommend: BuyerZone.com offers a buying guide for floor stripping machines, discussing methods, applications and accessories.

Steamer

Floor steamers can refer to equipment for both carpeted and non-carpeted flooring. Carpet steamers deep clean, removing stains and deep ground dirt. The hot steam can also help to lower levels of allergens and molds.

I recommend: Allergy Consumer Review gives an explanation of how steam cleaning works.

Vacuum

Vacuums remove small and large debris through suction. Many can remove debris from both carpeted and non-carpeted floors. Vacuums used for carpeted floors usually include a rotating brush to dislodge debris from carpet pile. With a variety of styles, including upright, canister and handheld, you should be able to find a vacuum to fit your cleaning needs.

I recommend: Home Depot offers a buying guide outlining several types of vacuums to aid in choosing the style best for your needs.

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are included in many of the latest vacuum models to help those suffering from asthma and indoor allergies. These filters claim to remove 99.97% of airborne particles, such as pollen, mold spores, bacteria and dust mites that are 0.3 micrometres or larger.

I recommend: FILT AIR provides an in depth explanation of the HEPA filter functions and abilities.