Best Floor Tile and Steam Cleaner for Your Hard Surfaces (Hardwood, Tile)

Last Updated on November 9, 2023

by Tim Martinelli

Selecting the best floor buffer comes down to your flooring and what you plan to do with it. A floor buffer can scrub floors, clean tiles and grout, strip and polish vinyl or hardwood, and perform countless other tasks that we'll get into shortly through the use of different pads and brushes.

In this article I'm going to show you my absolute favorite floor buffer and tell you why I think it's so great. I'll also show you some other fantastic models that each have their own advantages, and then touch on the features you should consider when making a purchase in our buying guide. Let's start with my personal favorite:


TOP CHOICE OVERALL


Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine

Reasons to buy:

  • Versatile floor cleaning for a variety of surfaces including tile, hardwood, and even carpet.
  • Balanced and very easy to maneuver when in operation.
  • Hassle-free installation and removal of cleaning pads, bonnets, and brushes.
  • Perfect for bringing tired, dirty grout lines back to life.
  • No assembly required and ready to use out of the box.

Reasons to avoid:

  • If you are looking for a particularly lightweight buffer.
  • If reaching under counters is one of your primary concerns.

Here's How We Did the Test:

Making this evaluation possible would require us a team of people who will check the pros and cons each product, a wide variety of models to test, and a specific number of hours to be utilized to assess all the units. 

5 USERS

9 MODELS

45 HOURS

Comparison of Best Buffer Machines for Hard Surfaces

Top Choice - Commercial
Oreck Commercial Orbiter Hard Floor Cleaner Machine ,Multi-Purpose Hardwood Wood Laminate Carpet Tile Concrete Grout Marble Cleaning, 50-Foot Long Cord, ORB550MC, Gray/Red, 1 Count (Pack of 1)
Polisher & Scrubber
Koblenz Shampooer and Polisher Cleaning Machine, Floor Cleaner with 1100-rpm Motor, 5' Power Cord, 120-oz Tank, 2-Speed Settings, Scrubbing Brushes, Lambswool Pads, and Polishing Pads, P-820 B
Commercial
Bissell BigGreen Commercial Easy Motion Floor Machine, Industrial Orbiter, Buffer, Polisher, BGEM9000
Low Speed Buffer
Viper Cleaning Equipment VN1715 Venom Series Low Speed Buffer, 17" Deck Size, 175 RPM, 50' Power Cable, 110V, 1.5 hp, 16" Pad Driver
Scrubber
Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber, Gloss Boss 470rpm 18' 3 Wire Cord Red

Oreck Commercial Orbiter Hard Floor Cleaner

Benefits
Random Orbital Drive prevents floor damage
Compatible with a wide variety of accessories (sold separately)
Great for hard floors like wood, vinyl, and tile
Suitable for dry-cleaning carpet
Essentially maintenance-free
Specs
13” cleaning path
5.4 amp motor oscillates at speeds up to 175 RPM
50 foot power cord
Product dimensions 49.6 x 13.6 x 9.7 inches

Koblenz P-820 Shampooer/Polisher Cleaning Machine

Benefits
Great for shampooing carpets or scrubbing, waxing, and buffing floors
High quality scrubbing and carpet brushes
Brushes rotate in opposite directions for improved stability and cleaning power
Three speed settings to best fit your application
Very easy to assemble
Specs
All metal 4.2 amp motor with speeds up to 1100 rpm
12 inch cleaning path
120 ounce solution tank capacity
Product dimensions 11.4 x 12 x 25.5 inches
Weight 20 pounds

BISSELL BigGreen Commercial Floor Machine Industrial Orbiter, Buffer, Polisher

Benefits
Easy to operate with minimal torque
Buffs and sands hard wood floors
Dry cleans carpet and can remove allergens
Scrubs and cleans ceramic tile, grout, concrete (and even removes oil)
Suitable for other surfaces including vinyl, marble, brick, and slate
Specs
Product dimensions 12 x 12 x 46 inches
Weight 27 pounds
12" pad with a speed of 175 RPM
30 foot grounded 3 wire power cord
2.4 liter capacity detergent tank

Viper Cleaning Equipment VN1715 Venom Series Low Speed Buffer

Benefits
Great for cleaning carpets or stripping floors
Easy to use with fingertip controls
All-metal construction
Triple planetary all-steel gear box
Three year warranty on parts and two year warranty on labor
Specs
Product dimensions 27" L x 17" W x 48" H
Weight 101 pounds
66-frame, 1.5 horse power motor
Speed: 175 RPM
17” deck size
16” pad driver (included)
50' power cable for 110V outlets

Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber, Gloss Boss

Benefits
Excellent for cleaning hardwood floors
Also suitable for cleaning tile and carpet
Simple and straightforward operation
Lightweight and easy to maneuver, carry, and store
Minimal assembly required
Specs
Product dimensions 15 x 11 x 11 inches
Assembled height 40 inches
Weight 7 lbs
470 RPM brush speed
Dual nylon scrub brushes (microfiber pads included)
10 inch cleaning path
18' 3-wire power cord
$312.98
$225.17
$499.95
$1,012.99
Price not available
Top Choice - Commercial
Oreck Commercial Orbiter Hard Floor Cleaner Machine ,Multi-Purpose Hardwood Wood Laminate Carpet Tile Concrete Grout Marble Cleaning, 50-Foot Long Cord, ORB550MC, Gray/Red, 1 Count (Pack of 1)

Oreck Commercial Orbiter Hard Floor Cleaner

Benefits
Random Orbital Drive prevents floor damage
Compatible with a wide variety of accessories (sold separately)
Great for hard floors like wood, vinyl, and tile
Suitable for dry-cleaning carpet
Essentially maintenance-free
Specs
13” cleaning path
5.4 amp motor oscillates at speeds up to 175 RPM
50 foot power cord
Product dimensions 49.6 x 13.6 x 9.7 inches
$312.98
Polisher & Scrubber
Koblenz Shampooer and Polisher Cleaning Machine, Floor Cleaner with 1100-rpm Motor, 5' Power Cord, 120-oz Tank, 2-Speed Settings, Scrubbing Brushes, Lambswool Pads, and Polishing Pads, P-820 B

Koblenz P-820 Shampooer/Polisher Cleaning Machine

Benefits
Great for shampooing carpets or scrubbing, waxing, and buffing floors
High quality scrubbing and carpet brushes
Brushes rotate in opposite directions for improved stability and cleaning power
Three speed settings to best fit your application
Very easy to assemble
Specs
All metal 4.2 amp motor with speeds up to 1100 rpm
12 inch cleaning path
120 ounce solution tank capacity
Product dimensions 11.4 x 12 x 25.5 inches
Weight 20 pounds
$225.17
Commercial
Bissell BigGreen Commercial Easy Motion Floor Machine, Industrial Orbiter, Buffer, Polisher, BGEM9000

BISSELL BigGreen Commercial Floor Machine Industrial Orbiter, Buffer, Polisher

Benefits
Easy to operate with minimal torque
Buffs and sands hard wood floors
Dry cleans carpet and can remove allergens
Scrubs and cleans ceramic tile, grout, concrete (and even removes oil)
Suitable for other surfaces including vinyl, marble, brick, and slate
Specs
Product dimensions 12 x 12 x 46 inches
Weight 27 pounds
12" pad with a speed of 175 RPM
30 foot grounded 3 wire power cord
2.4 liter capacity detergent tank
$499.95
Low Speed Buffer
Viper Cleaning Equipment VN1715 Venom Series Low Speed Buffer, 17" Deck Size, 175 RPM, 50' Power Cable, 110V, 1.5 hp, 16" Pad Driver

Viper Cleaning Equipment VN1715 Venom Series Low Speed Buffer

Benefits
Great for cleaning carpets or stripping floors
Easy to use with fingertip controls
All-metal construction
Triple planetary all-steel gear box
Three year warranty on parts and two year warranty on labor
Specs
Product dimensions 27" L x 17" W x 48" H
Weight 101 pounds
66-frame, 1.5 horse power motor
Speed: 175 RPM
17” deck size
16” pad driver (included)
50' power cable for 110V outlets
$1,012.99
Scrubber
Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber, Gloss Boss 470rpm 18' 3 Wire Cord Red

Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber, Gloss Boss

Benefits
Excellent for cleaning hardwood floors
Also suitable for cleaning tile and carpet
Simple and straightforward operation
Lightweight and easy to maneuver, carry, and store
Minimal assembly required
Specs
Product dimensions 15 x 11 x 11 inches
Assembled height 40 inches
Weight 7 lbs
470 RPM brush speed
Dual nylon scrub brushes (microfiber pads included)
10 inch cleaning path
18' 3-wire power cord
Price not available

Best Buffers and Scrubbers Reviews For Tile  & Hardwood Floors

1. Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine

USER RATING: 

96%

PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • Orbital drive oscillates at up to 175 RPM.
  • 50 foot power cord.
  • Has a 13" cleaning path.
  • Weights 24 pounds.
  • 3/4 horsepower, 5.4 amp motor.

PROS

  • Great for buffing hard floors.
  • Dry-cleans and loosens dirt from carpets.
  • Orbital drive prevents marking or gouging of floors.
  • Compatible with a variety of separately sold accessories.
  • Built in the U.S.A.

CONS

  • Unit is a somewhat heavy.
  • Instruction manual is brief.
  • This floor buffer from Oreck is surprisingly versatile. It's great for all kinds of floor care, from cleaning the floor grout on tile floors to polishing pads on hardwood, and even for dry-cleaning carpet.

    Many find that as a carpet cleaner it's actually more effective and easy to use than steam cleaners, with no need to wait for your carpet to dry once you've finished.

    The unit is a bit heavy, yes, but once it's turned on it practically glides across the floor surface. The orbital drive makes it supremely easy to maneuver, and it also prevents the buffer from damaging your wood floors.


    no2

    2. Koblenz P-820 B Shampooer/Polisher Cleaning Machine

    USER RATING: 

    94%

    PRODUCT DETAILS:

    • Includes a pair of brushes, polishing and buffing pads.
    • 4.2 amp motor with bronze gears.
    • 1' cleaning path.
    • Three cleaning speeds.
    • 120 oz cleaning solution tank.

    PROS

    • Shampoos and scrubs carpets and floors.
    • Polishes and waxes hard floors.
    • Durable construction that is built to last.
    • Easy to assemble.
    • One year warranty on defective parts.

    CONS

    • No function to suck up dirty liquid.
    • Buffing pads are lightweight.

    This floor scrubber machine from Koblenz is a great solution for shampooing rugs and scrubbing tiles. It provides plenty of scrubbing power so that you can get professional results without straining your body.

    It also does a great job of stripping floors and applying new coats of wax, so that they can shine to their fullest once again. It's a versatile floor cleaner that can be used to deep clean a wide range of materials and applications, including laminate floors.

    Aside from cleaning benefits, the Koblenz is very easy to assembly upon unboxing. With a high impact motor housing and full-width bronze gears, it's a product that is built to withstand heavy use.

    no3

    3. BISSELL BigGreen Commercial Easy Motion Floor Machine BGEM9000 Industrial Orbiter, Buffer, Polisher

    USER RATING: 

    93%

    PRODUCT DETAILS:

    • Orbits with a pad speed of 175 RPM.
    • Easy trigger switch control.
    • Easy to replaces brushes and pads.
    •  2.4 liter cleaning solution tank.

    PROS

    • Cleans stone surfaces like slate, marble, and brick.
    • Removes buildup from tile and grout.
    • Buffs and polishes hardwood and vinyl.
    • Dry-cleans carpet.
    •  Easy to dispense cleaning solution.

    CONS

    • Comes with minimal accessories.
    • Could have more cleaning power.

    Bissell is one of those names that is known and trusted for floor cleaning products, and this BigGreen floor polisher and buffer lives up to its name.

    It's a widely versatile buffing machine that is suitable for polishing nearly any type of flooring imaginable, from tile to hardwood, vinyl, stone, and so much more.

    The random orbital drive means that it's easy on your arms and gentle on your floors, all while delivering enough cleaning power to get deep in the grooves to clean dirty grout or remove oil from concrete when used as a floor scrubber rather than a buffing machine.

    no4

    4. Viper Cleaning Equipment VN1715 Venom Series Low Speed Buffer

    USER RATING: 

    92%

    PRODUCT DETAILS:

    • Accepts 17 inch cleaning pads and brushes.
    • Convenient operation with hand controls.
    • Low speed buffer operates at 175 RPM.
    • Full metal construction.
    • 50 foot power cord.

    PROS

    • Versatile floor machine for commercial and residential applications.
    • Strong and durable design for heavy use.
    • Easy to operate the unit with fingertip controls.
    • Wheels for easy transport.
    • Long warranty and good customer support.

    CONS

    • The unit is heavy.
    • Overpowered for some residential applications.

    If you're looking for a commercial grade floor machine, the Venom Series Low Speed Buffer is a heavy duty hardwood floor buffer that is built for sustained use.

    This is primarily a floor polisher and buffing machine, and you won't find an onboard water tank or cleaning solution reservoir. Instead, this machine is really intended for cleaning and stripping surfaces as well as applying polish and wax.

    If you're looking to sand back a hardwood floor as part of refinishing, this is the wood floor buffer you need to get the job done. Switch over to a buffing pad when you're ready to finish the job and make those floors shine.

    no5

    5. Boss Cleaning Equipment B200752 Scrubber, Gloss Boss

    USER RATING: 

    82%

    PRODUCT DETAILS:

    • Lightweight scrubber weighing 7 pounds.
    • Powerful dual nylon brushes.
    • Washable microfiber pads.
    • Heavy duty wheels for transport.
    • Power release foot switch.

    PROS

    • Designed for home and residential use.
    • Easy to push around with minimal drag.
    • Light enough to carry around the house.
    • Straightforward assembly.
    • Attractively priced compared to commercial floor scrubbers.

    CONS

    • The machine is relatively noisy.
    •  Not for heavier applications like cleaning grout.

    Sometimes all you need is a basic hardwood floor scrubber for routine cleaning, and in such cases the Gloss Boss can be a perfect fit. It's lightweight, easy to use, and very well suited for carrying around your home.

    Simply spray the floor with cleaner, pick the right pads or brushes, and let the Gloss Boss go to work. It will save you time and it will keep the strain off of your back and your joints.

    The Gloss Boss is an excellent choice for everyday use in the household, and for the price you'll pay you really can't go wrong.

    Conclusion: Best Buffer for Tile and Hardwood Floors

    All five of these floors buffers are excellent machines. Depending on what you're using the buffer for, some may be more suitable to your needs than others. That said, we can only choose one to be the best.


    After careful consideration our top choice is the Oreck Commercial ORB660MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine. It features Random Orbital Drive, which makes it easy to use and gentle on your floors. It cleans, buffs, and polishes a variety of flooring materials, and provides ample cleaning power. Best yet, it’s made in the U.S.A.

    Buying Guide: How to choose the right floor buffer?

    We've covered a wide range of features and specifications to consider for each floor buffer, but the following five seem to be most helpful for narrowing down the options:

    Floor Type

    What type of flooring will you primarily be using the buffer on? Is it compatible with this material? Was it designed for all types of treatment that this flooring will need (i.e. scrubbing, stripping, shampooing, buffing, polishing, etc.)

    Versatility

    What different types of floors would you like to clean with this buffer? If you have more than one type of flooring it's a good idea to find a model that can work well with all of them.

    Size

    How large of a floor buffer are you able to carry? Keep in mind that some models are heavier while others are more lightweight. Also, if you have a large area to clean you might consider a model with a larger cleaning path.

    Power Cable Length

    Consider where your electrical outlets are located relative to where you'll be using the floor buffer. Does the supplied power cable give you enough distance to work with? Will you need an extension cord?

    Budget

    It would be remiss to gloss over budget when discussing the key factors of any buying decision. If your budget is limited, you're likely going to have to make compromises. Prioritize the features that matter to you most, and choose the model that satisfies as many of them as possible without exceeding your budget.

    Summary of Floor Buffer Products Reviewed

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    Last Updated on November 9, 2023