Mastering Your New Floor Buffer: Pro Tips, Dos, and Don’ts for Success

January 30, 2025

You’ve just invested in a new floor buffer—great choice! But now you might be asking yourself: What do I do next? How do I use it correctly? Whether you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or eager to get started, you’re not alone.

Many professionals wonder about the best way to set up, operate, and maintain their equipment to ensure it performs at its best. By the end of this article, you’ll learn all of this and more!

You’re probably very excited for freshly buffed floors, but first we need to make sure you’re familiar with the ins and outs of using your new machine and making it last.

Whether you’re maintaining a glossy floor finish or tackling tough dirt, a floor buffer is an essential machine for keeping your floors looking their best.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the key things you need to know about your new equipment.

Before we dive in, let’s clear up a common misconception. Floor machines are often confused with one another, but this article focuses specifically on floor buffers—not burnishers. Understanding the difference is key to getting the best results.

What is the Difference Between Floor Buffers and Floor Burnishers?

It is imperative to understand that floor buffers are not the same as floor burnishers. Floor buffers, also referred to as swing machines or side-to-side machines, are versatile machines designed to clean, polish, scrub, and strip hard floors. While floor buffers are great for cleaning, scrubbing, and stripping, burnishers are designed specifically for polishing floors to a high-gloss, wet-look shine.

Another key difference is their RPM, or rotations per minute. Buffers operate at low speeds (175–300 RPM) while burnishers run at high speeds (1000–3000 RPM).

Where Can You Use Your Floor Buffer?

Floor buffers come in different types and sizes, typically ranging from 13 to 20 inches. If you purchased a smaller buffer, they are great for tight spaces, like restrooms, hallways, and classrooms. On the other hand, larger buffers cover more ground quickly, making them ideal for open spaces like gymnasiums, lobbies, and terminals.

6 Considerations: Your Quick Start Guide to Your New Floor Buffer

So, your new machine has been delivered. What’s next?

Here are six areas we will cover to help you get the most out of your new machine:

Proper Machine Assembly
Getting to Know Your Machine
Complete Floor Buffer Training with Your Staff
Mastering the Basics of Floor Buffing
Dos and Don’ts of Floor Buffing
Complete Regular Maintenance

1. Proper Machine Assembly

The first thing you need to do as soon as you receive your new floor buffer is verify that it has been assembled properly and is not damaged in any way.

Even if your machine comes pre-assembled, it is important to thoroughly inspect all components, make sure they are all securely installed and fastened, and that they function properly. Doing so will ensure your equipment runs smoothly and safely.

Here are some key steps to check to make sure your floor buffer is assembled properly:

Start with a visual inspection. Look for any signs of damage or misalignment on your floor buffer and any of its included accessories.
Verify all parts and needed accessories are included, correct, and installed into the machine. Reference the manual or contact an Imperial Dade equipment expert to make sure nothing is missed.
Confirm that all fasteners, bolts, screws, etc. are properly tightened.
Make sure all electrical connections are securely wired, properly grounded, and have the correct voltage connections.
Test all safety features and moving parts, including the handle, pad retainer, speed control, and adjustable height mechanism to make sure they operate smoothly. Apply lubrication to moving parts if needed.

2. Getting to Know Your Machine

Floor buffers consist of many components, control settings, and features. Understanding how each one works is important to ensure your job is done correctly. Let’s take a look at them:

The motor powers the floor buffer and drives the floor pad, providing rotational force.

Handles are the main control mechanism of the floor buffer that offers operational maneuverability. Make sure to keep both hands on the handle at all times while operating your floor buffer.

The base or chassis is the main body of the floor buffer. It supports the motor and other components of the machine.

Floor pads are an abrasive accessory that makes contact with the floor to clean, polish, or strip it. They come in a variety of different colors and materials for many different applications. Be sure to pick the right one for the job!

The pad retainer is one of the most important safety features on a floor buffer because it locks the floor pad into the machine for safe and secure use. Always double check your floor pad is fastened into your machine properly before operating to avoid damage to the floor or operator injury.

When flipped, the power switch activates the motor to power the floor buffer.

The speed control mechanism determines the floor pad rotation speed (RPM). Different speeds are optimal for buffing different types of floor surfaces, so choose the speed that is best for your given job.

The power cord or battery (depending on your machine) supplies power to the motor in order to power the floor buffer. Always check your power source for wear or damage before operating the machine to avoid serious injury.

Another significant safety feature, an adjustable height mechanism allows the operator to set the height of the handle for comfortable and safe operation. The handle should be adjusted to around waist-height for optimal use.

Wheels offer additional mobility for the floor buffer when it is not in operation. They are often located on the side of the machine, so they are not mistakenly used during the buffing process.

3. Complete Floor Buffer Training with Your Staff

Before using your floor buffer for the first time, it’s a good idea to complete formal training on how to use it. Imperial Dade offers free on-site training for staff once a machine purchase is made. This will ensure your equipment is used safely, efficiently, and as intended by the manufacturer.

Proper training will eliminate equipment misuse, which heightens the risks of surface damage, injury, and incomplete cleaning.

Well-rounded training should include the following:

Equipment Operation

Equipment operation entails understanding how to safely and properly use the floor buffer and its key features, ensuring your floors are top shape.

This part of the training covers how to start up the floor buffer, buffing techniques, methods for buffing on different floor surfaces, including which floor pads and rotation speed (RPM) to use for each.

Safety features like adjusting the handle height, prepping the pad and securing it into the pad retainer, and more are also covered here.

Practice handling the buffer on a less noticeable area if you’re using it for the first time.

Preventative Maintenance Tips

In addition to learning how to operate your floor buffer, you’ll also want to review some preventative maintenance tips that will extend the life of your new investment.

Explored topics should include machine storage, daily maintenance tips like wiping the buffer down and cleaning the floor pad after each use, as well as who to contact if more intensive maintenance or repair is required.

Equipment Malfunction Procedures

Because accidents and equipment malfunctions can happen, it is important to be equipped with the knowledge and have a plan in place to handle a variety of situations that may arise.

Some malfunctions (and their solutions!) to look out for and cover in your training include:

Pad retainer falling out of the machine (check the pad retainer clip)
Floor buffer not turning on (check the power source and outlet, if applicable)
Uneven buffing (make sure the floor pad is clean, secure, undamaged, and not worn)
Unusual noises (check for loose components or worn bearings)
Overheating (look for clogged debris caught in the motor and other parts of the machine)

Imperial Dade offers free on-site training! Find out more about the benefits of formal training: 4 Benefits of your Cleaning Team Completing CMI (Cleaning Management Institute) Training

4. Mastering the Basics of Floor Buffing

Now that you have an idea of what your floor buffer is and you’ve been trained on how to use it, here are some step-by-step instructions for starting and operating your machine:

Select the Right Floor Pad

Not all floor pads are the same. Always use the correct pad for the job and check the pad retainer to make sure it is securely fastened. These are imperative to achieving your desired results because not doing so can lead to machine or floor damage, or even operator injury.

Always check your floor pad for damage or excessive wear before each use and replace them as needed.

Pads come in various colors and materials for different applications. Here are some examples of the most common floor pads you’ll come across and what they’re used for:

Black floor pads are exclusively used for stripping and are highly textured and very aggressive.
Green floor pads are aggressive scrubbing pads that are used for periodic cleaning.
Red floor pads are your general use, daily cleaning pad for most hard surface floors.
White floor pads are specialized spray buffing pads used to remove small scuffs from the floor and restore gloss.

Want to make sure you’re using the right floor pad? Download our FREE poster.

Lock the Handle Bar Into the Right Position

After you’ve attached the best floor pad for the application to the machine, set the handle to the correct position for proper use.

For optimal use and steady control, the handle should be lowered to around the height of your hip. If the handle is too high, it will be very difficult to control and if it’s too low, you may injure your back.

Turn on the Machine

Once you’ve locked the handle into place properly, you’re ready to turn on your floor buffer. To do this, you’ll need to find the power switch on the machine, ensure the safety switch is engaged (if your machine has one), then flip the switch to turn the machine on.

Once the buffer has powered on, make sure to maintain a firm grip on the machine’s handles and position yourself behind the machine for proper control.

Begin Buffing

To properly buff, guide the machine in even, overlapping strokes across the floor.

Because the floor buffer’s cleaning path is determined by weight distribution, you’ll need to use the handle to guide the machine. The wheels of the machine do not touch the floor while in use.

Apply gentle pressure and allow the machine to do most of the work. Applying too much downward pressure while buffing can lead to uneven floor finish, damage to the floor, and user strain.

Applying weight to the front or back of the buffer will steer it to the right or left, respectively. The key is to alternate the weight from left to right, or make it swing, which is why floor buffers are also called swing machines.

5. Dos and Don’ts of Floor Buffing

Here is a quick reference list of best practices and things to avoid while using your new floor buffer:

Do:	Don’t:
Vacuum and mop your floors thoroughly before buffing. Use the correct floor pad for the job. Apply gentle pressure and let the buffer do the work. Buff at low speeds to avoid damage to the floor finish. Work in manageable sections for a consistent finish.	Buff heavily damaged floors, as this can damage your machine. Buff a floor that has any kind of debris on it. Over buff, as this will wear down the floor finish prematurely. Use the wrong floor pad. Apply too much downward pressure, as this can damage the floor.

6. Complete Regular Maintenance

Regular machine maintenance and proper storage are perhaps the most important way to extend the life of your new investment.

You may not think preventative maintenance and machine storage are necessary early on, because your equipment is new and in working order, but when performed properly, it can save your business money on labor, repairs, and time.

Not taking daily maintenance and storage into account can lead to unnecessary repairs on your machine, even early into its life.

Maintenance and storage require attention both before and after use. Here are some steps you can take to keep your new floor buffer off the sidelines and in tip-top shape:

Check the pad for damage or excessive wear before each use and replace as needed.
Inspect the power cord for any damage, and if you’re using a battery-powered model, regularly check the battery’s charge and condition. Do not operate any machine with a damaged power source.
Wipe down the machine after each use to protect the machine from damage.
Clean the pads after each use to prevent buildup and extend their life. Remember to store them off of the machine and off of the floor to prevent unnecessary wear.
Store the buffer in a clean, dry area to avoid moisture damage.

Need help creating a preventative maintenance schedule? Contact an Imperial Dade equipment specialist today to discuss the best practices your staff can follow to keep your equipment operating in top shape.

Quick Tips to Get You Started with Your Floor Buffer

Now that you know what to expect with your new machine, here are a few additional quick tips to help you get started with your new floor buffer:

Start with a clean floor—sweep or vacuum first to avoid scratching the surface.
Always use the correct pad for the job and make sure it’s securely attached. Check the pad retainer to make sure it is securely fastened.
Practice handling the buffer on a less noticeable area if you’re using it for the first time.
Apply light pressure and let the buffer do the work. Excessive pressure can damage the floor.
Clean the floor pads after each use to prevent buildup and extend their life.
Inspect the power cord for any damage, and if you’re using a battery-powered model, regularly check the battery’s charge and condition.
Store the buffer in a clean, dry area to avoid moisture damage.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still unsure what to expect with your new machine, let’s quickly recap what you need to know when you purchase a floor buffer:

Proper training is critical to ensure your floor buffer is used as intended, safely, and efficiently.

Always use the correct pad for the job and check the pad retainer to make sure it is securely fastened.

Consider how often you buff your floors, as over-buffing will wear down the finish on your floor, and under-buffing will leave your floors looking dirty.

Preventive maintenance is a key step to making sure that your floor buffer stays operational, and your cleaning staff can clean and maintain your facility to the best of their ability. Some tasks are easy and can be performed by your janitorial team, like charging a dead battery, but others may require maintenance to be done by a service professional, like replacing a power cord.

Imperial Dade has service centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the Caribbean that can send out a licensed technician to your facility to perform the preventive maintenance services your machines need to keep them running. Contact an Imperial Dade equipment expert today if you have further questions or need maintenance.