Professional Sweepers, like RapidClean New Zealand’s IPC range, are one of the most common types of cleaning equipment for hard surfaces, artificial grass and short-hair carpet cleaning, used primarily to remove dirt and dust from the floor to help maintain a clean and inviting appearance.
There are two main categories of sweepers to choose from: ride-on sweepers and walk-behind sweepers.
While both types of sweepers are more than capable of getting the job done, the type of sweeper you select should largely depend on the area it’s intended to clean.
In this blog, we’ll dive into each type of sweeper and the key factors to consider when making your selection to optimise cleaning performance.
Ride-On Sweepers
Ride-on sweepers tend to be larger pieces of equipment, designed to clean a bigger area faster. As the name implies, ride-on sweepers have a seat for the operator who uses a steering wheel to navigate the sweeper throughout the cleaning area.
The sweeper sweeps the floor and picks up dirt and debris. Some are often equipped with dual brushes near the front of the machine, which can be adjusted to maintain optimum pressure and handle uneven floor surfaces. Ride-on sweepers are either battery-powered or fueled by liquid propane gas or Diesel.
Walk-Behind Sweepers
Unlike ride-on sweepers, walk-behind sweepers are operated more similarly to vacuum cleaners. Rather than riding on the machine, they’re manually pushed throughout a cleaning area. Their compact size allows them to get into some of the more compact areas that a ride-on sweeper cannot, and these machines still tend to have a sizable hopper capacity for capturing dirt and debris.
While ride-on sweepers are best for cleaning large areas of flooring, walk-behind sweepers are better suited for cleaning pathways and smaller floor areas. That’s not to say they can’t be utilised for cleaning large areas; it’ll just take longer when compared to using a ride-on machine.
Key Differences Between Ride-On and Walk-Behind Sweepers
So, what are the factors you should be considering when it comes to selecting between a ride-on or walk-behind sweeper?
- Cleaning Productivity
Perhaps the biggest variable that should be considered when deciding between sweeper types is the space that needs to be cleaned.
Keep in mind that ride-on sweepers may offer more than double the cleaning width that walk-behind sweepers do, making them more suitable for cleaning large areas of flooring. While some walk-behind sweepers are only capable of cleaning around 2,000 square meters (about four times the area of a basketball court) per hour, some ride-on sweepers have the potential to clean more than 7,000 square meters per hour.
Ride-on sweepers can clean faster and more productively in the right environment. - Cleaning Frequency
While ride-on sweepers are ideal for enhancing cleaning productivity, they tend to be larger pieces of equipment and aren’t often intended for everyday use.
On the other hand walk-behind sweepers, are more compact and easier to bring out of the janitor’s closet for more routine, daily cleaning activities.
It’s not to say that ride-on sweepers can’t be used daily, but they’re more intended for deep cleaning on occasion. Another added benefit of walk-behind sweepers is that they can be used both indoors and outdoors. - Cleaning Area
Do you need to clean large open areas or pathways and compact spaces?
The former is better done with a ride-on sweeper based on the productivity gains that we described earlier in this blog, while more compact spaces are better cleaned by a smaller, walk-behind sweeper.
Learn more about RapidClean New Zealand’s range of professional sweepers.
If you’d like to learn more about RapidClean New Zealand’s range of professional sweepers reach out to your local RapidClean New Zealand member.
