Winter is when a lot of businesses suddenly find their cleaning kit isn’t up to the job. Wet footprints, grit and salt get tracked in every day, an old scrubber dryer breaks down at the worst time, or a seasonal rush means there’s more floor to cover than usual. Hiring a floor cleaning machine is often the quickest way to get through it without buying something you only need for a few months.
When Hiring Makes More Sense Than Buying
Hiring works best when the need is short term or you’re not sure yet which machine is right. Typical examples we see over the winter include:
- Covering for a machine that’s off for repair or servicing
- Extra cleaning in retail and warehouses during the Christmas peak
- A one off deep clean before or after a busy period
- Trying a ride on machine before committing to buy one
- Dealing with mud and grit at entrances on building sites and yards
If you’re going to use a machine every day for years, buying usually works out cheaper in the long run. We cover that in more detail in our guide to hire vs purchase.
Which Machine Should You Hire
The right machine depends on the size of the floor and what’s on it.
Scrubber dryers are the most popular winter hire. They wash, scrub and dry the floor in one go, so the floor is safe to walk on straight away. A compact model like the Lavorwash SET 43B Li suits entrances, shops and offices, while a walk behind like the Viper AS4325B handles larger floors.
Ride on scrubber dryers make sense for warehouses and factories where walking the floor would take hours.
Sweepers are the answer when the problem is dry dirt like grit, leaves and packaging, particulary in yards, loading bays and car parks.
Hot water pressure washers are worth hiring if you need to shift winter muck off vehicles, plant or hard standing.
What To Ask Before You Hire
A few questions make sure you get the right machine first time.
- How big is the area and how often will it be cleaned?
- Is it battery or mains powered, and where will it be charged?
- Will it fit through your doors, aisles and lifts?
- Which brushes or pads suit your floor?
- Who shows your staff how to use it safely?
Tell us the answers and we’ll suggest the right machine. If you’re not sure where to start, our machine finder will narrow it down in a couple of minutes.
Getting The Most From A Hired Machine
Empty and rinse the tanks at the end of every shift, keep the squeegee blades clean and charge batteries fully after use. In winter it also pays to sweep grit up before scrubbing, as sharp grit wears brushes and squeegees faster and leaves streaks behind.
Hire From Columbus
We offer short and long term hire and lease on scrubber dryers, sweepers, pressure washers and more, and you can see our other hire guides in the cleaning machine hire section of the blog. Give us a call on 01325 371 439 and tell us what you need to clean this winter, we’ll find the right machine for the job.
Contact Us
Columbus UK, based in Darlington, County Durham, is your total solution for all types of indoor and outdoor cleaning equipment. We supply high-quality industrial cleaning machines to all industries and commercial businesses across mainland Britain.
Our friendly, dedicated team provides expert purchasing advice, professional installation, servicing, and repair support to ensure you have the correct machine for your application at an affordable and cost-effective price.
We cover all areas from Scotland and the North East of England through the West Midlands and down to London, with mobile service and repair support available nationwide.
📧 Email: info@columbusuk.co.uk
📞 Tel: 01325 371 439
🌐 Web: columbusuk.co.uk
