Autonomous Scrubber Maintenance Guide – Elevate Performance & Extend the Life of Your Machine

If you run a business with lots of floor spaces that need to be cleaned regularly, chances are you already have a autonomous scrubber or considering to buy one.

Robotic cleaners can be a large investment, and getting the most out of your machine is important. Correct and regular maintenance helps to significantly reduce the expenses on service and repair needs, avoid unplanned equipment downtime and get the return on investment as planned. On top of that, the right maintenance improves the overall cleaning performance of the machine.

On the other hand, if the scrubber is not properly maintained, costly repair, downtime or even complete replacement are the things that your team is going to be faced with.

In this article, we will take a look at the general rules of maintaining an autonomous scrubber which will help to avoid unnecessary repair expenses, increase the performance of cleaning equipment and extend the operating life of the machine.

Before Using a Autonomous Scrubber

Always perform the key tasks listed below before starting the operation of your autonomous scrubber to ensure the quality of cleaning and the safety of your machine.

1. Check the Water Tank

You can’t clean a floor with dirty water. It’s better to begin fresh every time. Open the water tank cover of your machine and ensure that it has been cleaned and doesn’t have any stains or smells. If you notice some stains or a bad odor, rinse and clean the tank.

2. Check Filter Elements

Unscrew the filter cover shield, and take out the elements to check if they are clean. If necessary you can wash the elements directly with clean water.

3. Fill up the Water Tank

Use a water pipe or a workstation to add clean water to the solution tank. Make sure you don’t spray water elsewhere besides the water tank, and that water does not exceed the uppermost level to prevent it from flowing into the inside of the machine.

4. Check Cameras and Sensors

Cameras and sensors are some of the most important and at the same time sensitive parts of your robotic cleaner. They allow your machine to navigate around the site, identify the areas to clean, and prevent the machine from bumping into obstacles. If some of the cameras or sensors are polluted, most likely your robot would stop and not go anywhere. That’s why it’s very important to check and clean (if necessary) the cameras and sensors of your robot according to the user manual each time before you start the operation.

Fig.1  Gausium Scrubber 50 at the Transportation Hub

After Using an Autonomous Scrubber

After the cleaning is completed, stop all the functions of your autonomous scrubber and turn the power off. Proceed with the following steps to ensure that your robot is clean and ready for the next session.

1. Drain and Clean the Recovery Tank

It is important to drain and clean the recovery tank at the end of each procedure, otherwise, sediment and dirt removed from the floor may settle and create a sludge-like mixture at the bottom. This mixture can harden and cause odors even after the tank has been cleaned, making it difficult to remove. That’s why it’s recommended to drain and clean the recovery tank after each use by rinsing warm water and wiping out the dirt.

2. Unload and clean the filter element

First, remove the filter element (for some models you will need to use auxiliary tools). After the filter is removed, you may use a brush to clean it properly, or if necessary replace the old filter with the new one.

3. Clean the filter bag

Remove the filter bag. Depending on how heavy the pollution is, you can just shake out the dust and debris or fully clean the bag by spraying it with a high-pressure rinse followed by soap. The soap will remove foul odors and the fabric will absorb the detergent’s fragrance. Then, finish with another rinse.

4. Clean the brush

The floor brush of a commercial floor cleaner is the part that plays the key role in providing the proper scrubbing and keeping it in order is vital for achieving a good cleaning result.

To clean the brush, first, you need to remove the brush tray from the machine to get easy access to it. Once the tray is removed, confirm that there are no foreign objects stuck on the bristles. After that thoroughly wash the brush removing dirt and debris. If the brush is torn or has excessive wear, replace it with the new one.

Cleaning the brush thoroughly will enable the machine to provide the best cleaning, and also reduce the risk of germ transfer between areas when the machine is used in different locations.

5. Clean and wipe dry the squeegees

Squeegees are an important part of the autonomous scrubber cleaning process as they help wipe water and cleaning solution off the floor. As a result, dirt and grime can sometimes accumulate on the squeegee, causing streaks or spots being left on the floor. That’s why it is important to wash and wipe dry the squeegees after each use.

It is also important to keep the squeegees in an elevated position and not lay them on the ground, as this can cause the blades to become uneven or damaged. At Scrubber 50 and Scrubber 75, the software is programmed as default to set the squeegee in the raised position when the cleaning is over.

6. Clean the sensing components

We’ve already discussed above the importance of keeping the sensing components of your autonomous robot clean. Properly wipe the cameras and sensors of your robot according to the user manual each time you complete the operations. In the case of Gausium industrial floor cleaning machines, you need to wipe their cameras, lidar, and sensors with a clean soft, and dry cloth.

7. Clean the exterior of the scrubber and the charging dock

Finally, wipe the exterior surfaces of the cleaning scrubber machine with a wrung-out cloth dampened with an approved cleaning solution. In doing so, avoid any contact with any sensing components.

Power off the charging dock and wipe its exterior with a wet rag wrung out as well. When wiping the exterior, avoid any contact with the charging electrodes.

Monthly Maintenance Procedures

It is important to examine your equipment on a monthly basis to ensure that the equipment is functioning well.

1. Inspect water pipes and water tanks for any indications of leakage and tighten loose fasteners. Any problems discovered should be addressed immediately.
2. Go through all the consumable parts such as squeegees, filters, brushes, rubber strips, etc., and check which needs to be replaced.
3. Apply a lubricant that is approved for your industrial scrubber machine to the pivoting parts as needed.
4. Fill the solution tank with 3 gallons of hot water and a cleaning solution that has been approved. Run the scrubber on for 45 seconds and flush the water out. Power off the machine and let it sit till the next day before rinsing the tank with fresh water.

Fig.2  Gausium Scrubber 75 at the Parking Lot

Tips to Extend the Floor Scrubber’s Life

• Before using a floor scrubber, give the floor a quick sweep or dry mop to pull up any larger debris and dirt. Watch for any sharp edges or loose tiles that could damage the equipment.
• Always drain both tanks of your autonomous scrubber and keep them in a dry area for safe daily storage. To reduce the chance of mold, always store the machines with the tanks opened to let them dry out fully.
• For Scrubbers 50 and 75, it is preferred to keep the batteries charged at all times to extend their life (the guide for battery usage and storage is provided with the machine). It’s very important to know which type of battery is used in your robotic scrubber and follow maintenance requirements according to the user manual.
• Finally, be easy on the machine. An autonomous floor scrubber will do plenty of hard work, but one way to make it last longer is to go easy on it. Try not to jostle it around more than necessary.

Final Thoughts

It is necessary to give careful attention to both the pre- and post-use upkeep of your machine. Before beginning a cleaning procedure, it is essential to check it for any damage, residue, or dirt that may affect the cleaning process. Pay special attention to sensing components. Clean your machines after each cleaning session. Do not forget to wipe and dry the parts that are likely to corrode from contact with cleaning solutions or salts.

By following the key maintenance rules listed in this article, not only your floors will be cleaner and more hygienic, there will also be far less chance of equipment breakdown and as a result a longer life of your machine with higher returns on your investments.

About Gausium

Gausium was founded by Edward Cheng in 2013 out of a passion for autonomous driving. It started as a solutions provider of SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) and integrated robotics software. Today, Gausium has become a leading company of AI-powered autonomous cleaning and service robots with more than 4,000 successful deployments in 50 countries and regions. Currently, Gausium’s products and services include commercial floor cleaning robots, indoor delivery robots and supplementary accessories like docking stations, cloud platform and application software.