Floor Buffer Techniques

Choosing the Right Tool

• Before you begin, make sure you are using the best buffer for your job. A standard floor buffer is used for sanding and polishing. It is generally heavy and best suited for commercial use. An orbital polishing buffer is less powerful but lighter and better suited for home use. Low speed buffers are designed to scrub away ground-in dirt and also to remove coats of wax.

Before You Begin

• Once you have determined the machine that best suits your needs, you will need to choose the most effective buffer pad for the job. Choose an abrasive wool cutting pad for heavy dirt removal. Choose a foam rubber polishing pad if you want to add sparkle and shine. Install the pad on the machine, then thoroughly sweep the floor and mop it to prepare it for buffing. Use a putty knife to remove any hardened dirt or grime.

How to Buff

• Start in the back left corner of the room. Spread a small amount of cleaning solution or polish on the floor in an area that is about 3 feet wide and 1 foot across. Turn on the machine and slowly buff one area of the room at a time, working toward the right and the front. You should walk in a straight line at a speed of 1 to 2 feet per second. Be sure to overlap each pass by 2 to 4 inches. Buff until you achieve the desired gloss.

Tips and Tricks

• Check the buffing pad every few minutes. Stop and clean or change the pad if it becomes too dirty to effectively clean and polish the floor. Clean your buffing pads by removing them from the machine and shaking and brushing them. You should never use water to wash them, as water can damage these pads. Put up caution signs if you are working in an area of high foot traffic.