Autoscrubber or Manual Mop: Which Is Best For You?

Even in commercial cleaning settings, it can be difficult to know whether an autoscrubber is right for you. Perhaps your office might seem too small for an autoscrubber, but too big for traditional mopping, and you’re looking for something in the middle.

If you’re looking for the best way to clean your floors, look no further: we break down the pros and cons of autoscrubbers and manual mops here.

Autoscrubber: pros and cons

Autoscrubbers (automatic floor scrubbers) are floor cleaning machines that scrub the floor clean, as well as dry. However, traditional autoscrubbers are large and cumbersome, making them difficult to transport and impractical for use in smaller spaces.

For some, an autoscrubber might also be out of your budget. It, of course, depends on the situation: whether you’re part of a commercial cleaning staff, in-house or outsourced, or looking to purchase one for your own building.

For large buildings, the appeal of an autoscrubber is impossible to deny with cheaper labour costs, quicker cleaning as well as quicker drying, which means less disruption and a healthier building environment.

For smaller spaces, the negatives, especially the initial upfront cost of an autoscrubber, may simply not be worth it. In the end, you need to work out whether the pros outweigh the cons for your individual situation.

Manual mops: pros and cons

The primary (and perhaps only) benefit of mopping vs using an autoscrubber is the agility of the mop. You can basically clean any obstructed floor area with a mop; around tables, in and under chairs, under benches and down the side of toilets. There are some major issues with manual mopping.

The traditional mop and bucket simply doesn’t do the job - in fact, it can make floors more dirty and slippery, as most dirt is just spread around rather than being removed from the floor.

Manual mopping is also labour intensive. On average, it will take 45 minutes to clean a 300 square meter floor with a mop and bucket. (Note: You should change the water every 150 sqm to minimise the spread of dirt and improve cleaning performance.)

Read: 15 Compelling reasons to upgrade to the i-mop floor scrubber.

Other Floor Cleaning Solutions: The i-fibre

There are some methods of manual mopping that are more efficient than traditional mop and bucket cleaning.

For example, microfibre mops. Our i-fibre mops are ergonomic, lightweight and grab dust particles easily. They also don’t just mop floors - the i-fibre range incorporates unique tools which can be used for a variety of cleaning, including cleaning walls and tiles. Microfibre can actually remove bacteria by 99%.

In collaboration with our disinfecting pre-treating system, the i-fibre can reduce both your chemical and water usage by up to 95% and has been proven to kill 99.99% of germs.

The i-fibre i-scrub 26h and EWALL microfibre wall & surface cleaning tools also have inbuilt scrapers that allow you to remove stubborn dirt.

If a traditional autoscrubber is too big for what you need, but microfibre is too much work, you might want to look into a new-generation floor scrubbing machine such as the i-mop.

The i-mop essentially combines the best of both worlds: The power and speed of a traditional autoscrubber with the agility of a mop. It’s the worlds most manoeuvrable scrubber dryer.

Read: Orbot Slim compact orbital floor cleaning machine for small space cleaning.

The verdict

The best floor cleaning method for you will always depend on your own situation. However, it’s easy to see that for bigger buildings, an autoscrubber is a great choice, while a microfibre mop might be the better choice for smaller operations. And If you need the best of both worlds, have a deeper look at the i-mop.

You can book a demo of any of our cleaning products here .

Common Questions Answered

1. What are the key differences between an autoscrubber and a manual mop?

Answer: An autoscrubber is a mechanized cleaning tool that uses brushes, cleaning solutions, and suction to clean and dry floors in one pass, making it ideal for larger spaces. A manual mop, on the other hand, is more labor-intensive, requiring the operator to manually spread the cleaning solution, scrub, and dry the floor. While mops are suitable for smaller areas and tight corners, autoscrubbers offer greater efficiency for larger, open spaces.

2. In what situations is a manual mop more appropriate than an autoscrubber?

Answer: A manual mop is better suited for small, confined areas or spaces with a lot of obstacles, such as around furniture, tight corners, or when spot cleaning is required. Additionally, for delicate or uneven flooring, a mop allows for more controlled cleaning without risking damage.

3. How does an autoscrubber save time and labor costs compared to a manual mop?

Answer: An autoscrubber can clean a significantly larger area in a fraction of the time compared to manual mopping. It reduces the physical strain on the operator, cuts down on water usage, and provides faster drying times, which means less downtime for the area being cleaned. This increased efficiency often translates into lower labor costs, especially in commercial settings.

References

CleanLink – Autoscrubber vs. Manual Mop: Which Is More Efficient?
URL: https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/Autoscrubber-vs-Manual-Mop--23218

Facility Cleaning Decisions – Autoscrubbers vs. Mops: Making the Right Choice
URL: https://www.facilitycleaningdecisions.com/article/autoscrubber-vs-mop-right-choice

The Janitorial Store – Choosing Between a Mop and an Autoscrubber
URL: https://www.thejanitorialstore.com/articles/mop-vs-autoscrubber