Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Why should we use orbital scrubbers?

Education facility managers and administrators struggle to balance limited operational budgets and a need to maintain clean and healthy schools for their students and faculty.

Subject to continuous foot traffic, floors become soiled quickly and that dirt is tracked throughout buildings. Soiled floors not only detract from the overall aesthetics of facilities, but slick dirt and grime can cause slip-and-fall hazards while dust and allergens adversely impact indoor air quality (IAQ). Numerous studies have identified poor IAQ as a key contributor to the development of asthma in young people and the spread of other illnesses among students and faculty. These illnesses lead to increased absenteeism, which is directly linked to poorer classroom performance.

Orbital scrubbers allow maintenance teams to maintain a high level of cleanliness with minimal chemical and water usage. By actively removing dirt and grime, as well as the chemical residue that attracts dirt, orbital scrubbers help maintenance staff to keep schools healthier. The introduction of orbital scrubbers has allowed schools to maximize operational resources and enhance the learning environment while continuing to achieve a high level of appearance that meets the expectations of students and staff.

While orbital scrubbers achieve a high level of performance for daily scrubbing, they also offer the flexibility to be used for deep scrubbing and chemical-free floor finish removal. Traditionally, the deep scrub and recoat process required many hours of labor, multiple machines and harsh chemicals. Orbital scrubbers allow this operation to be performed with water only — no chemicals — helping schools to enjoy significant budget savings while introducing fewer chemicals into their facilities.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Scott Keller is a market manager for Nilfisk, Inc. (www.advance-us.com, www.clarkeus.com). He can be reached at 763/745-3824.

Featured

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.