If you've ever used a rotary floor machine (a "polisher" or "scrubber"), you'll know the pads come in a rainbow of colours. Use the wrong colour and you could strip a perfectly good floor finish, or barely clean a dirty one. Here's the cheat sheet.
The colour guide (from most aggressive to most gentle)
Exact shades vary slightly by brand, but most follow this standard:
- ⚫ Black / Brown: heavy-duty stripping of old polish and floor finish
- 🟢 Green: heavy scrubbing of very dirty floors
- 🔵 Blue: medium-to-heavy scrubbing
- 🔴 Red: light scrubbing and spray cleaning, the everyday maintenance pad
- ⚪ White: polishing and buffing to a high shine
- 🟤 Tan / Beige / Hair pads: high-speed burnishing
Choosing the right size
Pads must match your machine's drive board. Common sizes include 400mm (16"), 425mm (17"), 450mm (18") and 500mm (20"). Measure your old pad or check your machine's manual.
Make your pads last longer
- Flip pads over halfway through a job, since most are double-sided.
- Rinse them after every use and hang them to dry.
- Don't use a pad that's worn thin. It can damage the drive board.
- Store pads flat or hanging, never squashed under heavy objects.
Safety first
Use wet floor signs, keep cables behind the machine, and wear non-slip shoes when stripping floors.
Our sister company Max Products stocks E-Line floor pads in 400mm, 425mm, 450mm and 500mm sizes, as well as cleaning machines and accessories.
Products mentioned in this guide
Available now from our sister company Max Products at maxproducts.co.za, in trade sizes and delivered in Cape Town.
Visit maxproducts.co.za →
E-Line Floor Pad 400mm
E-Line Floor Pad 450mm
E-Line Floor Pad 500mm
