How To Stop A Floor Scrubber Tank From Smelling

A lady cleaning a timber floor with the i-mop floor scrubber

3 Tips To Remember

Rinse dirty water tank thoroughly
Remove the cap to allow some airflow
Add a biological cleaning solution

In this article we’re going to give you 2 quick hacks on how to keep your floor scrubber tank smelling and looking like new!

We‘re using the i-mop xl floor scrubber tank as an example; however, these cleaning equipment maintenance hacks can be applied to most brands of floor scrubbing machines.

Stopping smells in your floor scrubber

As we cover in the video, the first and most important step in stopping smells in your floor scrubber rinse the dirty water tank thoroughly with clean water after use. This helps ensure that the bulk of any organic soiling (which feeds odour-causing bacteria) is flushed and removed from the tank.

After you’ve rinsed and drained the recovery tank, the second point is to remove the cap of the scrubber and leave the cap off. If the recovery tank does not have a cap (some have a drain hose), leave the cap off the drain hose instead. This allows some airflow into the tank when in storage, helping it to dry out properly and reducing risk of odours.

Additional tips

For a further step in preventing odours in the floor scrubber tank, add a biological cleaning solution that will work to actually break down any organic matter in the solution tank. One that we’ve found works a good solution is the Enviroplus E-Washroom as it is very concentrated.

Simply add about about 10ml (half a capful) to the clean water you put in to rinse the tank, swirl it around to cover the internal surfaces of the tank, and then pour it out down the drain. This will leave a tiny residual amount of the enzymes and biological cleaner in the tank which will tackle any remaining organic matter. Even doing this on a periodical basis (such as before the weekend if your floor scrubber is going to be left unused) will help keep odours under control.

Well-maintained cleaning equipment is also nicer to work with!

Read why your office is dirtier than you think and how to keep it clean.

How to clean your i-mop tank?

Keeping your floor scrubber tank looking clean is not as difficult as you may think!

There’s a few simple tools required: A Magic Eraser or Magic Sponge and a microfibre cloth, and water (preferably warm water).

Use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe off any excess soiling from the surface of the tank. Then use the magic eraser to clean off the stubborn dirt marks. Dip the magic sponge in water, it should be wet through, but squeeze it out gently so it’s not literally dripping.

Good quality Magic Erasers will generally take no more than a few passes to clean off the soiling.

You then simply rinse out your microfibre cloth so it’s nice and clean, do a final wipe over of the tank, and you’re done!

Watch this video to see how to clean an i-mop tank.

Want to know more about our floor scrubbing range? Book a demo here .

Common Questions Answered

1. Why does my floor scrubber tank start to smell?

Answer: The unpleasant odor usually comes from a buildup of bacteria, mold, or mildew in the dirty water tank. When not cleaned properly after use, stagnant water, debris, and cleaning residues provide an ideal environment for these microorganisms to thrive, leading to foul smells.

2. How can I prevent my floor scrubber tank from developing odors?

Answer: To prevent odors, empty and rinse the recovery tank after each use. Make sure to dry the tank by leaving the lid open to allow airflow, which prevents moisture buildup. Regularly clean the tank with a mild disinfectant or a solution of water and vinegar to kill bacteria and eliminate any remaining odors.

3. Can using cleaning agents in the solution tank prevent smells?

Answer: Yes, using the right cleaning agents in the solution tank can help, but it's important not to over-rely on chemicals. Some cleaning solutions are designed to leave a pleasant scent, but they should still be rinsed out regularly to prevent any chemical residue from contributing to smells over time.