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Floor Care

Commercial Floor Pads

The color of a floor pad is its grit level, and the grit level is what strips, scrubs, or shines. One chart answers most of it.

Updated

Floor Pads Reviews

3M Red Buffer Pad 5100 Review: The Pad Every Janitor Closet Has, Finally ExplainedReview
3M Red Buffer Pad 5100 Review: The Pad Every Janitor Closet Has, Finally Explained
3M 5100 red buffer pad reviewed. Abrasiveness, floor compatibility, and lifespan on commercial VCT.
3M Black Stripping Pad 7200 Review: The One That Removes Everything Including Your PatienceReview
3M Black Stripping Pad 7200 Review: The One That Removes Everything Including Your Patience
3M 7200 black stripping pad reviewed. Aggressiveness, floor finish removal rate, and edge life tested.
3M White Super Polishing Pad 4100 Review: The Pad That Makes the Floor ShineReview
3M White Super Polishing Pad 4100 Review: The Pad That Makes the Floor Shine
3M 4100 white super polishing pad reviewed. Shine quality, RPM compatibility, and pad life on VCT.

Floor Pads Comparisons

Comparison
Commercial Cleaning Floor Pad Color Chart: Red, Blue, White, Black, Decoded
Floor pad color chart for commercial cleaning. What each color does, abrasiveness levels, and floor matching.

Common Questions

Question
Best Floor Pads for VCT Maintenance: The Right Color for the Right Day
Best floor pads for VCT tile maintenance. Pad colors for daily buffing, scrubbing, and annual strip-and-wax.
Question
How Often to Replace Commercial Floor Pads: The Worn Pad Costs More Than the New One
How often to replace commercial floor pads. Visual wear signs, performance drop, and replacement schedule.
Question
Floor Pad Grit and Aggressiveness Scale: Darker Doesn't Always Mean Meaner
Floor pad grit and aggressiveness scale explained. How pad color maps to abrasion for different floor jobs.
Question
17-Inch vs 20-Inch Floor Pads: Match the Pad to the Machine, Not the Floor
17-inch vs 20-inch floor pads compared. Machine compatibility, coverage, and when each size is right.

Reference Standards for This Category

Published standards and programs that buyers in this category are typically accountable to. Listed for context, not as an endorsement of any product on this page.