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- Breaking Down The Benefits to Octagonal Floor Pads
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They come in various sizes, shapes, textures and colors, so determining which floor pad departments should use is often dictated by performance. Facility managers have found that each has a long list of benefits, but according to distributors, the best bet for improved cleaning performance is the octagonal floor pad.鈥淚 am a big proponent because of the leading edges on the octagonal floor pad,鈥� says Dana Kowalski, director of marketing for Arnold Sales, a jan/san distributor based in Bay City, Mich. 鈥淭hat leading edge provides great floor contact, making for better performance at cleaning, stripping and burnishing floors.鈥滵istributors aren鈥檛 alone regarding their positive opinions of these pads. Custodial mangers are experiencing performance benefits first-hand after testing the floor pad.鈥淭he octagon pads will get you better results in less time, thus reducing labor costs,鈥� says Jeff Wimpy, regional account manager at Matera Paper Co., Austin, Texas. 鈥淓very time I demonstrate the pads for departments, managers are impressed.鈥滻n fact, many mangers are converting to the eight-sided options.听鈥淲e鈥檝e converted most of our round business to octagon,鈥� says Kowalski. 鈥淭here are some individuals who are resistant to change and still use round pads, but about 90 percent of what we sell are now octagonal.鈥�
Some Similarities
Round floor pads are the most common option used in facilities. And many of the benefits that facility managers are familiar with when using the round options are also advantages to the octagon pads.听Take for example the face contact, which is the amount of surface area of the pad that comes into contact with the flooring. According to Kowalski, the face contact on the octagonal pad is very similar to that of a circular pad when managers evaluate performance. The octagonal pads are also available in the industry standard color-coded options, making them an easy substitute.听Also, just like their circular counterparts, octagonal pads can be used with various types of floor equipment. Custodial managers won鈥檛 need any special machines when incorporating the eight-sided pads into their floor care program.鈥淎ny machine that uses a floor pad can use this octagon pad as a replacement,鈥� says Kowalski. 鈥淣o exceptions.鈥滱s far as mounting the pad and operating the equipment, there is no additional training necessary either. But, Kowalski does point to one concern customers may have using the octagonal pad for the first time.鈥淲hen workers put the pad on the pad driver and they see a portion of the pad driver because it isn鈥檛 covered by a round pad, they shouldn鈥檛 worry,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ot much shows, but departments aren鈥檛 being short changed on material on the floor.鈥�
Leading The Way
Although there are many similarities between these eight-sided pads and traditional circular options, there are also enough differences that might make the switch worthwhile.听According to the product manufacturer, the octagonal pads are ideal for custodial managers looking for the highest shine, the quickest cleaning and stripping, and the highest performance.听Distributors attribute this improved performance to the leading edge available on the octagonal pad, versus the passive round edge on the circular pad. Every time the pad rotates, the edge comes around, providing additional scraping action.鈥淲hen using an octagon pad, you essentially have eight sides cutting into the finish, versus one side with a circular pad,鈥� says Wimpy. 鈥淲hen using a gloss meter, you will see a higher shine in less time with the octagon pads versus a traditional circular pad. You can also remove more finish in less time when stripping with a black or emerald octagon pad.鈥滱ccording to Kowalski, the leading edge provides a scraping action, which leads to improved performance.听鈥淛ust like a cutting tool, the most important part is that leading edge,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t does most of the work.鈥漈he manufacturer touts that with the irregular surface on the octagonal pads, departments will see results more quickly and at a higher level. If that is the case, incorporating these pads could improve cleaning times, saving valuable labor dollars for departments.
Added Perks
Although the pad manufacturer can鈥檛 quantify the claims, there are additional benefits custodial managers have found when using the octagonal floor pads.听鈥淚n my experience, if the floor machine comes into contact with a cord, this octagonal pad is more likely to kick the cord out of the way, as oppose to grabbing it and wrapping it around the pad,鈥� says Kowalski. 鈥淎nd considering how expensive it is for departments to replace cords in parts and labor, this benefit is a big deal.鈥滺is clients also comment that the pads are less likely to throw slurry when stripping and scrubbing, and they will kick away sand and other debris, which reduces the risk of developing 鈥渢horns鈥� on the bottom of the pad.听These added perks are thought to be the result of the irregular edge and the voids between the high points in the octagonal pads.听According to the manufacturer, when using this pad, custodians don鈥檛 put constant pressure on a round edge equally, meaning there is more pressure spread between the high points. This causes a 鈥渉it-miss鈥� action, which is what might lead to these experiences from custodial workers.听Distributors agree that the octagonal pad can be easily substituted for the circular options most facilities are currently using. For custodial managers looking for higher performance with less effort, these pads should not be overlooked. The proof will be evident in the results.听听
Proper Pad Maintenance
No matter which shape floor pad departments use, it is essential to properly maintain them. If done correctly, the floor pads will perform better and last longer. To make this happen, managers are advised to train staff on the proper cleaning techniques and frequencies.听Once a pad has been used, it contains soils and chemicals that can become harmful if not removed. Allowing these to dry on the pad can damage the fibers and negatively effect future cleaning performance. Instead, manufacturers recommend storing 鈥渟oiled鈥� pads in plastic until workers are able to clean them properly.Cleaning should occur after every use and can be easily completed using a hose with hot, clean water. Workers should be trained to remove as much of the soil and finish from the pad as possible before storing it away.
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