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What is the average lifespan for the black plastic stair buffer drive plate?. I am on my third one in just under a year and am starting to think maybe I am doing something wrong?…lol Is this normal?.
I am on my second one since I purchased stair buffer almost four years ago, and this one I just purchased last year. I never leave the plate on the buffer when not in use. As soon as we’re done cleaning stairs I take the plate off and don’t put it on til the next set of stairs to clean on the next job. Obviously leave it on if I’m immediately starting on more stairs. I think the weight of the buffer affects the teeth if exposed for prolonged periods of time. My employee went thru a stretch where he was just leaving it on at times even when he stuck it back in the van and shortly after that was when I had to replace it. Just my 2 cents.
I never take the drive plate off but I also never set the machine down on any surface other than a stair pad. Even in my van, I have an old pad that the machine sits on.
I will try leaving a pad underneath and see if that solves the problem. Thanks for the info guys!.
On the bottom of the stair buffer where the drive plate fits on the stair buffer their are some plastic nubs. These nubs can wear out as well as the ones on the drive plate themselves. I can order the new bottom plate that attaches to the Stair buffer and the new pad holder should stay on better. They both are just plastic and can wear out depending how often you use the Stair buffer.
we were going thru about 2 to 3 a year until we switched to the grey stair pads and we haven’t had to get a new drive plate since. its been about a year.
I needed a new drive plate but the company warehose had them on backorder with an unknown delivery date so I purchased one from a nearby oreck store two months ago. I use the small woven pads but they ball up so bad that the pad spins off within 4 steps an I have to always keep repositioning it on the drive plate on every step. I clean the plate after every use and it burns a bunch of time doing so and is a pita to do it. Like Devlin, I take the drve plate off and never stand it on the plate. I do not like the small regular pads that came with the buffer, similar issues and they do not clean as well. Maybe I’ll get a few of the grey ones and try them. Something must be better than what I have been using!!
I agree with Loren, the regular white stair pads do not clean well when used alone. I now clean stairs with a green stripped pad, followed by a micro fiber pad and I finish with the regular white pad. This works well for me with good results. In those cases where the stairs and pretty dirty and I will use an Oreck brush first followed by the above. Ive had my stair buffer for 3 years and never had an issue with the drive plate. I stand my buffer upright in the van sitting on a piece of carpet and strapped down with bungy cords so it doesnt move.
I used my plate on 6 steps yesterday and it took me 15 min to clean the pad remnants out of it. Ugh.
I agree their are some issues that we need to address about the pads. The thin pads will ball up and not stay on the pad holder very well and if you do not wash your pads before you use them the first time they can get stuck to the hook and loops on the bottom of the pad holder. The reg 13″ pads with the green strips will clean better but are a lot harder on your stair buffer because it makes the motor work harder and can shorten the life of that motor. I would suggest the Mirco fiber stair buffer pads. These are awesome and clean good and wont leave yarn behind to get tangled up in your drive plate.
We also have available for the stair buffer is a brush ring #3506 that is like the dirt napper with out the pad in the middle. It has a row of brissels that scrub the floor. You have to take your drive plate off and put the brush on and clean and then go back over it with the drive plate and a pad. It works well for really dirty stairs.
We have a similar brush for tile and grout #3504 with orange brissles. You can use this to get into tight areas on tile and grout.
I’m curious what technique other operators use for cleaning stairs. I ususally do 4 passes… over and back, and over and back again, and that’s it. When I’ve done more than that, I find the heat twist can begin to unravel a bit. Many times though, I find the carpet could really use more cleaning than that… but I’m afraid to keep going. I am currently using the green stripe pads separated in half.
Thanks!
I soak the stair with enzyme and let them sit while I start cleaning the rest of the house. I then spray them with 101 and finish cleaning house and do the stairs last after they have been dwelling for some time. I then use the micro fiber pads and go over them until clean, spot clean, and rake. I think the key is enzyme and dwell time.
I have great success with stairs; better than wall to wall.
I’ll either first start off with the tile and grout brush with the orange brissles or i’ll manually scrub the stairs with the scrub brush….and yes you heard correct….I use the grout brush on carpet. I’ve been doing it for years and never had a single problem. Ofcourse use caution though. Then I use the micro-fiber pad. And then I finish with a towel (using the buffer, not manually with my hand). Like i said, great success.
I feel that the stair buffer seems to dry the carpet quickly, therefore, I spray them much heavier than regular room carpet. This seems to reduce the friction that causes this problem.
If the stairs are real dirty, I use the upholstery mate. Will use FAE if it needs it. Scrub the steps with a brush, then spray and extract. I only use the stair buffer if the stairs are not very dirty.
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