The most common mistake when buying a floor cleaning machine is deciding on price. With these machines a wrong choice has a very clear result: the cleaning doesn’t fit into the shift, the machine can’t keep up, and in the end you either buy a second machine or go back to cleaning by hand.
In this guide we take you through choosing a floor cleaning machine step by step: from calculating your area to deciding between a walk-behind and a ride-on machine, from battery type to brush width.
Step 1: Calculate your area and time
Knowing “I have 5,000 m²” is not enough on its own. The real question is:
How many hours do I have to clean this area?
The formula is simple:
Required capacity (m²/h) = Total area ÷ Time available
Example: if you need to finish a 6,000 m² warehouse within a 2-hour cleaning window → you need a machine with a capacity of 3,000 m²/h.
The trap here: the m²/h figure in the catalogue is a theoretical capacity; it assumes the machine drives straight without ever stopping. In reality, rack aisles, turns, obstacles and the time spent refilling water and detergent all come into play.
Rule of thumb: count 60–70% of the theoretical capacity as real output.
In the example above, for a requirement of 3,000 m²/h you should look at a machine with a theoretical capacity of at least 4,300–5,000 m²/h.
Step 2: Walk-behind or ride-on?
Walk-behind models
The operator walks behind the machine. More compact, more affordable and more manoeuvrable in tight spaces.
Walk-behind models at EKSFORK:
| Model | Capacity | Brush | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| K1 | 3,760 m²/h | 51 cm | 24V 60Ah lithium |
| K2 | 2,400 m²/h | 51 cm | 12V 100Ah × 2 (55 L tank) |
When to choose walk-behind: areas up to 3,000 m², narrow aisles between racks, shop and supermarket floors, small workshops.
Ride-on models
The operator sits on the machine. Wider brush, bigger tank, far higher output — and the operator doesn’t tire.
Ride-on models at EKSFORK:
| Model | Capacity | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| HY660 | ≥6,950 m²/h | Twin brushes, 66 cm cleaning width |
| KL860 | High output | 86 cm brush, for large areas |
| S1 | 10,000 m²+ on a single charge | Ride-on sweeper |
When to choose ride-on: areas over 3,000 m², factory halls, logistics warehouses, car parks, and large hard floors such as shopping centres and airports.
Step 3: Scrubbing or sweeping?
These are two different jobs, and people often mix them up:
Floor scrubbing (scrubber) — Washes the floor with water and detergent, brushes it and vacuums up the dirty water at the same time. For oil, stains, footprints and stuck-on dirt.
Floor sweeping (sweeper) — Sweeps up dry, coarse dirt (dust, rubbish, shavings, sand, leaves) and collects it in a hopper. The S1 model is made for this job.
Which one do you need?
- Your floor is dusty, with coarse dirt (shavings, sand, rubble, leaves) → sweeping
- Your floor is oily, stained, sticky → scrubbing
- Both → sweep first, then scrub (or use a combination machine)
If you try to make a scrubber sweep up coarse rubbish, the vacuum hose clogs and the brush wears out quickly.
Step 4: Battery type and run time
On these machines, the battery is the item that most affects the price and ease of use.
Lithium battery — Lighter, charges faster, allows opportunity charging (without shortening its life) and lasts longer. Higher purchase price. The K1 model has a 24V lithium battery.
Lead-acid / gel battery — More affordable, heavier, needs full charge cycles. The K2 model comes in a 12V 100Ah × 2 configuration.
The critical question: Can the machine finish the cleaning on a single charge? If not, you need either a battery that allows opportunity charging or a spare battery pack. Work this out before you buy — fixing it later is expensive.
Step 5: Brush width and manoeuvrability
Wider brush = faster cleaning. But a wide machine won’t fit down a narrow aisle.
Measure: How many cm wide is your narrowest passage? Rack aisles, door widths, the lift door (if the machine has to change floors).
A walk-behind machine with a 51 cm brush fits into most rack aisles. A ride-on with an 86 cm brush is very efficient in an open hall but cannot be used in a narrow aisle.
If you have two kinds of area (a wide hall + narrow rack aisles), you cannot clean both as efficiently as possible with one machine. Either you pick a medium width and compromise on output, or you need two machines.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Is the m²/h figure in the catalogue theoretical? What is the real output?
- How long does it run on one charge? Can it finish my area?
- How often do brushes and pads need replacing, and what do they cost? — Consumables are a serious cost in the long run
- Is the battery warranty the same as the machine warranty?
- What about spare parts and service?
- How many cm wide is the machine? Will it fit through my narrowest passage?
3 common mistakes
1. Knowing the area but not calculating the time “I have 5,000 m²” is not enough. How many hours do you have to clean it?
2. Taking theoretical capacity as real 60–70% of the catalogue figure is realistic. If you choose right at the limit, the machine won’t keep up.
3. Forgetting the consumables Brushes, pads and squeegee blades are replaced regularly. A cheap machine with expensive consumables can be worse than an expensive machine with cheap consumables.
Summary
- First do the area ÷ time calculation and choose the capacity from that
- Count 60–70% of the catalogue capacity as real
- Under 3,000 m² → walk-behind, above → ride-on
- Coarse dirt → sweeping, oil/stains → scrubbing
- Measure your narrowest passage — the machine has to fit through it
- The battery must last a full shift
You can look at the models and current floor cleaning machine prices, and send us the size of your area and your cleaning time on WhatsApp so we can work out together which model will do the job.
