Choosing the Best Floor Cleaning Machine: Rotowash VS ORBOT

Choosing the right floor cleaning equipment is essential for maintaining cleanliness, ensuring safety, and improving efficiency in various environments. The right carpet cleaning machine or floor cleaner can save costs by reducing labor time, cutting maintenance expenses, and extending the life of your floors. Effective cleaning tools also enhance hygiene, creating a safer and more welcoming space in places like hotels, offices, and retail stores. 

For cleaning professionals, selecting the right floor cleaning equipment can significantly impact efficiency and results. Two leading contenders in the market, the ORBOT floor scrubber range and Rotowash floor cleaning machines, offer distinct features tailored to diverse cleaning needs.

Check out the article below to understand the differences between each machine and determine which one is best for your space.

ORBOT Floor Scrubber Range

How Do They Work?

Engineered with a patented drive system, the ORBOT range stands out for its performance and versatility. As a disc floor scrubber, it is typically either battery-powered or electric, and fitted with either a pad for floor polishing or a bristled brush for deeper cleaning. During operation, water is dispensed onto the brushes or pad, which then rotate to clean the surface. Some models of disc floor scrubbers, like the i-mop, also have the ability to suction the remaining dirty water from the floor.

The ORBOT range of floor cleaning equipment utilizes a dual-action system called Orbital Technology, which combines the forces of orbital vibration and rotational cleaning. This specialized method creates a heightened level of agitation, leading to remarkable results across a range of professional tasks, including cleaning, scrubbing, grinding, stripping, and polishing. The ORBOT is an excellent choice if you are also searching for a carpet cleaning machine.

To read a comparison article on the i-mop vs Rotowash click here .

Or contact our team here for more information on the ORBOT .

What Floor Types Can They Clean?

ORBOT machines will clean any floor type including:

• Carpet
• Tiles
• Grout
• Concrete
• Wood
• Stone
• Vinyland more.

Key Features of the ORBOT Disc Scrubber Range:

Low-Moisture Approach: This feature helps combat mold and mildew, ensures rapid drying times, and maintains indoor air quality.

Speed Flex Brush: Utilises thousands of miniature orbits to effectively remove grease and grime from tiles and grout.

Free-Floating Driver Head: Minimises water usage and prevents swirl marks on delicate surfaces like marble, terrazzo, and wood.

Versatility: Capable of performing multiple functions including cleaning, scrubbing, grinding, stripping, and polishing.

High RPM: Enhances scrubbing power, ensuring efficient and consistent cleaning results.

Orbital Technology: Combines orbital vibration and rotational cleaning for superior performance.

Variety of Models: Different models such as ORBOT SLiM, ORBOT ViBE, ORBOT SprayBorg, and ORBOT Life cater to various cleaning needs and environments.

Models Available:

ORBOT SLiM : Ideal for small spaces, featuring a compact design and robust agitation for effective residential use.

ORBOT ViBE: Combines orbital and rotational movements for superior cleaning performance across various floor types.

ORBOT SprayBorg: Premium multi-surface cleaner with adjustable spray jets and a deep-cleaning 17-inch base.

ORBOT Life: Powered by interchangeable batteries, combining the benefits of the ORBOT SprayBorg with added portability.

Rotowash Floor Cleaner Range

How Do They Work?

The Rotowash range is an electrical cylindrical scrubber, which means that it has an innovative twin contra-rotating brush system. Cylindrical scrubbers consist of two cylindrical brushes rotating in opposite directions at speeds ranging from 600 to 800 RPM. Water is dispensed via a spray jet at the front of the machine or gravity released on top of the brushes. As the brushes move, they dislodge loose dirt and debris, collecting them in a tray, which the operator empties after cleaning. This design eliminates the need for pre-sweeping prior to scrubbing.

Rotowash offers powerful cleaning across a wide range of surfaces. Its cylindrical brushes dive deep into grooves and grout lines, making it particularly suitable for rough floors like epoxy or heavily grooved surfaces. While it lacks pad options, the different grades of brushes available ensure that it can tackle a variety of cleaning tasks.

The Rotowash has different models available, in a range of different sizes/variants. Accessories are available as an add on for these machines.

What Floor Types Can They Clean?

The Rotowash can clean many floor types including:

• Carpet
• Tiles
• Grout
• Concrete
• Wood
• Stone
• Heavily grooved surfaces
• Vinyl and more. 

The Rotowash Cylindrical Scrubber also excels on surfaces such as escalators, travelators, entrance matting, and metal floors.

Key Features of the Rotowash Range:

Twin Contra-Rotating Brushes: These brushes rotate in opposite directions at high speeds, providing ten times the cleaning pressure of conventional machines, lifting dirt from deep within carpet piles and other surfaces.

Deep-Cleaning Capabilities: The cylindrical brushes are designed to dive deep into grooves and grout lines, making them particularly effective on rough and heavily grooved surfaces.

Easy Maintenance: Brushes can be removed and cleaned in seconds without tools, ensuring hygiene and preventing cross-contamination.

Versatility: Capable of cleaning various floor types, including carpets, tiles, grout, concrete, wood, stone, vinyl, and more. It excels on special surfaces such as escalators, travelators, entrance matting, and metal floors.

Water Efficiency: Reduces water usage by efficiently dispensing water via a spray jet or gravity feed, depending on the model.

Various Applications: Designed to clean into corners and along skirting without leaving marks or splashes on walls, making it suitable for a range of environments.

Different Grades of Brushes: Availability of different brush grades and accessories to tackle a variety of cleaning tasks effectively.

Models Available:

Rotowash Flex: Features a stick handle for maneuverability in tight spaces.

Rotowash Classic: Standard model with a loop handle and non-electrical water distribution.

Rotowash Plus: Includes an integrated electrical spraying unit for precise water distribution.

Machine Specifications

To help you choose the right floor cleaning equipment, here’s a quick comparison of key performance metrics for the different models within the ORBOT and Rotowash ranges:

Which One Should You Choose?

• ORBOT: The ORBOT is ideal for those needing a versatile cleaner with specific features like low-moisture cleaning and stone restoration capabilities. It excels at cleaning carpeted surfaces and is perfect for those who need a machine that can perform a range of functions including cleaning, stripping, and restoring floors. Its high RPM enhances scrubbing power, ensuring efficient and consistent cleaning results. The ORBOT is a great option for those who need a comprehensive all-in-one solution. It is available in both Battery and Electric models, offering great flexibility for those who prefer the freedom to move around without the hassle of a cord.
• Rotowash: The Rotowash is perfect for environments requiring high efficiency, reduced water usage, and thorough cleaning without compromising power. The Rotowash range is excellently suited for facilities with diverse floor types, including carpeted areas and special surfaces like escalators. Its deep-cleaning capabilities make it ideal for settings where thorough cleaning is prioritized over speed, such as hotels, office buildings, and retail establishments with varied flooring needs. Its also important to note that the Rotowash is electric, which means the machine has cords, most at 10mtrs in length. There are no battery options available, but because of this - the weight of the machine is slightly less then most of the ORBOT range.

Differences Between the ORBOT and Rotowash Range:

The ORBOT range stands out for its versatility and advanced Orbital Technology, making it ideal for a variety of tasks including low-moisture cleaning, stripping, and stone restoration on multiple floor types. In contrast, the Rotowash range features twin contra-rotating cylindrical brushes that deliver powerful, deep-cleaning performance, especially on heavily grooved surfaces and special applications like escalators. While ORBOT excels in multifunctionality and high RPM efficiency, Rotowash is a great option for those who need it to clean thoroughly without pre-sweeping.

Read more on what is the best battery for floor scrubbers.

Conclusion:

Both the ORBOT range and Rotowash provide excellent cleaning solutions for different needs. The ORBOT's versatility, advanced technology and high RPM make it suitable for a wide range of cleaning tasks. Whereas the Rotowash's deep-cleaning power and efficiency are perfect for environments with diverse floor types.

For more information on the ORBOT range or to book a demo click here.

Or if you have any questions about your cleaning needs then don't hesitate to speak to one of our team members; contact us now .