Scrub Pads vs. Scrub Brushes: Which is Right for Your Floors?

The cleaning performance of your floor scrubber largely depends on the scrubbing tool you choose. All automatic floor scrubbers with a disc style scrub deck can be equipped with either scrub brushes or scrub pads. Both are available in a wide range of options for different applications, but how do you know whether brushes or pads will work best for your facility?

Continue reading to learn the differences between pads and brushes and what to consider when choosing between them, such as type of flooring, level of soil, durability, and cost.

Differences Between Scrub Pads & Scrub Brushes

Although pads and brushes can be used interchangeably for some cleaning tasks, their differences in design and function often make one more suitable than the other in certain circumstances. Understanding these differences will help you choose the best option for your facility.

Scrub Pads

Floor scrubber pads are disc-shaped abrasive scrubbing tools that are about 1” thick. Made of non-woven fibers and abrasives, pads are typically color-coded by level of abrasiveness. Pads are designed to provide consistent surface contact, allowing them to effectively clean, polish, and remove scuffs from smooth surfaces.

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Scrub Brushes

Disc* scrub brushes, by contrast, feature 1.5” to 2” long bristles arranged in a circular pattern around a central attachment point. Varying in abrasiveness, brush bristles are commonly made from wire, polypropylene, nylon, or carbide grit-infused fibers. Brushes are designed to agitate and lift dirt from surfaces, offering a deeper clean with sturdy yet flexible bristles that can reach into cracks and crevices.

*Floor scrubber brushes are available in both disc and cylindrical forms, depending on the type of scrub deck on your machine. For the sake of comparing brushes and pads in this article, we’re focusing on disc brushes as they are the only style of brush that is interchangeable with pads.

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Key Factors to Consider

When deciding between pads and brushes, it’s important to consider each of the following factors to determine which will more effectively clean your facility.

1. Equipment Compatibility

Pads and disc brushes are compatible with all automatic floor scrubbers equipped with a disc scrub deck. However, when switching from brushes to pads, a pad driver needs to be installed to hold the pad in place. Conversely, when switching from pads to brushes, the pad driver must be removed.

While this shouldn't discourage you from switching between the two, it's an important factor to consider. If you’re unable to install or remove the pad driver yourself, one of our service technicians can handle it for you. Just call us at (888) 834-9948 or email service@triadservice.com.

2. Floor Type

Smooth floors (e.g., terrazzo, vinyl, linoleum, hardwood, polished stone/concrete, etc.)

Pads provide consistent contact with smooth surfaces, allowing them to clean and maintain the shine on polished floors more effectively than brushes. As they are generally softer than brushes, pads are also more gentle* on sensitive flooring.

*Warning: Not all pads are created equally gentle! Use caution when choosing the grit and always test new pads (of increased abrasion) in an inconspicuous, low-traffic area in case it is too aggressive and causes damage.

Textured or uneven floors (e.g., tile with grout lines, rough concrete, anti-slip/slip-resistant flooring, etc.)

On uneven or textured surfaces, brushes maintain better contact by fitting into grooves and gaps that pads can’t reach. Brushes also provide greater agitation, making them a more effective choice for use on rough floors. Furthermore, brushes are more durable and don’t wear down as quickly—whereas rough surfaces easily shred pads, leading to more frequent replacements.

3. Soil Level

Light to moderate soil

Both pads and brushes are suitable for removing light to moderate soil such as dust, dirt, and scuff marks. With that in mind, this level of soil won't be a deciding factor for choosing one over the other.

Heavy soil, grease, or sticky residues

For outdoor cleaning and removing more stubborn substances such as grease, grime, compacted dirt, or sticky residue, brushes offer more effective agitation and stronger cleaning power.

4. Durability

Pad Durability

Typically, pads deteriorate more quickly than brushes because they are made of softer materials. This is particularly true when operating on abrasive or uneven surfaces.

Depending on how often you use your machine, the estimated frequency of scrub pad replacements is as follows:

Pad Replacement

If you use your scrubber:	Replace your pads every:
2-3x/day	Month
1x/day	1-2 months
3-5x/week	3 months
1x/week	3-6 months
1-2x/month	6 months - 1 year

Brush Durability

Brushes tend to be more durable and have a longer lifespan than pads, especially when used on rough or textured flooring.

Refer to the chart below for the estimated frequency of scrub brush replacements based on machine use:

Brush Replacement

If you use your scrubber:	Replace your brushes every:
2-3x/day	1-2 months
1x/day	3 months
3-5x/week	3-6 months
1x/week	6 months-1 year
1-2x/month	Year

TIP: Both brushes and pads should be rinsed off after use to extend their lifespan and maintain prevent build up of debris that will reduce your machine's efficiency.

5. Cost

Pad Cost

While pads are cheaper upfront, they need to be replaced more frequently than brushes. This means you may end up paying more in the long run than you might by using brushes.

Brush Cost

Brushes are more expensive initially but can offer longer-term value as they don’t need to be replaced as often as pads.

Side-by-Side Comparison

To further help you decide between scrub pads and scrub brushes, check out the chart below for a quick overview of how they compare.

Side By Side Cost Comparison

Feature:	Scrub Pads:	Scrub Brushes:
Equipment Compatibility	Only compatible with disc scrub deck and requires installation of a pad driver	Only compatible with disc scrub deck
Surface Compatibility	Best for smooth floors	Best for textured/uneven floors
Soil Level Cleaning Power	Light to moderate soil	Light to heavy soil
Durability	Low	High
Cost	Lower upfront, potentially higher long-term	Higher upfront, potentially lower long-term

Ultimately, choosing between scrub pads and scrub brushes comes down to understanding your facility’s specific cleaning needs. While both are effective, their differences in design, durability, and performance on various surfaces make each better suited for certain applications. By considering factors like floor type, soil level, durability, and cost, you can make a more informed decision that maximizes your floor scrubber’s performance and extends the life of your scrubbing tools.

If you're still unsure which option is right for your facility, we're here to help!

Call us: (888) 834-9948

Email us: parts@triadservice.com

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Scrub Pads

Scrub Brushes

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this article is designed to act as a generalized overview and comparison of scrub brushes and scrub pads. Grit and material of brushes and pads should also be taken into consideration when deciding the best option for your floor and cleaning goals.