How to Use a Floor Buffer or Floor Burnisher | JanSan UK
Over time, tiled, stone and wooden floors tend to lose their shine, especially those areas with a high footfall. The easiest way to get back that high shine is to use a floor buffer or burnisher.
Burnishers are the higher speed models, and use the heat and friction from rotating at a high speed to create a ‘mirror shine’ floor. You will mainly find these floorcare machines in large commercial spaces such as hospitals, schools, and community halls.
Floor buffers come in different sizes and speeds, depending on where (and how) you want to use the machine. Buffers can be a little tricky to get used to, so to help we’ve put together a quick step-by-step guide on how to use your floor buffer with ease.
Did You Know?
An average floor buffer operates at a rate more than 1,500 rotations per minute (rpm) or more and reaches full speed the moment it is turned on.
- Clear the floor of furniture and other objects.
If possible, move everything out of the room into a hallway or another room. If not, place chairs on top of tables or move them to the edges of the room. Buffers can clean spills and remove some dirt, but large pieces of debris should be picked up before buffing.
- Examine your scrub brush or polishing pad for cleanliness.
Replace a buffer pad that appears used or soiled. Using a dirty buffer pad can scratch the floor, especially at such high speeds. Check for defects in the pad such as missing portions of pad fabric or unevenness.
- Move to the back corner of the room to begin.
Locate the farthest corner from the entrance of the room you are buffing to prevent stepping on the freshly buffed floor as you work. Walking over a floor that has just been buffed might scuff or dent the surface.
Make sure there is a close electric outlet and that your high-speed floor buffer cord is long enough to span the entire room. If it is not, plan your buffing route around the location of the other outlets to prevent having to walk over a buffed portion of the floor.
- Apply buffing solution or polishing cream directly to the floor.
- Turn the buffer on.
Locate the "on" switch. This button is usually positioned with other control buttons on the arm of the appliance. Consult the owner's manual if you cannot find the controls.
Choose an appropriate setting for the type of floor and type of dirt. Some high-speed floor buffers have multiple settings that allow you to select different rpms.
- Proceed slowly in a back-and-forth pattern across the room.
Move laterally throughout the room starting from the right. Work very slowly and carefully. Change up your direction and begin working from left to right to guarantee even buffing.
Overlap about 1/3 of each row as you continue to buffer. This ensures you do not miss a spot.
- Examine the pad 1 to 2 times during the process of buffing.
Check for rips, large pieces of debris or an excessively grimy pad. Replace the pad as needed.
If you need any help with your floor buffer machine, get in touch with one of the team today. Alternatively, view the range of our floor buffers here.
Our Recommended Floor Buffers
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