Recently, several overseas cleaning equipment partners have reported that their end customers are experiencing frequent malfunctions such as blown-out suction motors, corrosion of carbon steel chassis, and machine leaks due to improper detergent use in floor scrubbers, significantly increasing maintenance costs and downtime risks. Therefore, our R&D engineers would like to remind your customers to add a dedicated defoamer to the floor scrubber detergent and to choose a neutral, low-foaming formula. This is to prevent foam overload from damaging the motor and chemical corrosion from damaging the carbon steel chassis.
Floor scrubbers are widely used in supermarkets, factories, property management companies, garages, and other similar settings. Adding detergent to the clean water tank can improve oil and dirt removal. However, ordinary detergents generate a large amount of foam during scrubbing and back-suction. This foam, carried into the wastewater tank, can easily overflow the anti-overflow barrier and enter the suction motor cavity. Foam can cause decreased motor insulation, short circuits in windings, and bearing seizure, potentially leading to motor burnout even after a short period of operation. Furthermore, overflowing foam can contaminate the circuitry, control panel, and transmission components, causing downtime and safety hazards.
Furthermore, all our floor scrubber chassis are made of carbon steel, which is low-cost and high-strength, but has relatively weak corrosion resistance. Using strong acids, alkalis, or highly irritating detergents will rapidly corrode the carbon steel surface coating and substrate, resulting in rust, peeling, and reduced structural strength. Long-term use can lead to chassis deformation, leaks, component failure, and shorten the overall machine lifespan.
To ensure stable equipment operation and reduce the failure rate, the following usage guidelines are hereby issued:
1. Dedicated Defoamer Must Be Added: Whenever detergent is added to the clean water tank, a dedicated defoamer for floor scrubbers must be pre-added to the wastewater tank, according to the equipment manual’s mixing ratio (usually 0.05%–0.3%). Add defoamer promptly if foam increases during operation. Do not use high-foaming household cleaners such as dish soap or laundry detergent as a substitute for the dedicated detergent.
2. Use Neutral, Low-Foam Formula: Prioritize the use of pH-neutral, low-foaming, and non-corrosive commercial floor scrubber detergents, avoiding strong acids and alkalis. For heavily soiled oily floors, use the matching low-foaming degreasing agent; do not arbitrarily increase the concentration.
3. Strictly Control Mixing Ratios and Procedures: Detergent must be diluted strictly according to the specified ratio; direct addition of undiluted detergent is strictly prohibited. Before operation, check the overflow valve and filter screen. After operation, promptly drain the wastewater, rinse the water tank, and keep the pipelines and housing dry.
4. Strengthen Inspection and Maintenance: Regularly inspect the suction motor, carbon steel chassis, and sealing strips. If foam intrusion, coating damage, rust, or leakage is found, immediately stop the machine for repair. Provide pre-job training for operators, ensuring the “always add defoamer when adding detergent” operating standard.
Safe and standardized use of detergents ensures cleaning effectiveness while protecting core components and the machine structure. Partners are encouraged to actively remind their customers of the above operating details to reduce unnecessary malfunctions, extend equipment lifespan, and improve cleaning efficiency and safety.