It was not that long ago that cleaning professionals had very few choices when selecting a spray-and-vac cleaning system. However, over the years as the benefits of this type of cleaning have become better known, more manufacturers have introduced their own models.

Generally, these systems work by applying chemicals on the surfaces to be cleaned and then rinsing the area, removing the chemicals, soils, and contaminants. With some machines, the surfaces are either vacuum dried, thoroughly removing moisture or soils from surfaces cleaned, or are cleaned using a squeegee and allowed to air dry.

However, because there are several types of spray-and-vac cleaning machines now available, Rex Morrison, president of the nonprofit Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PC4HS) Consortium, Inc., suggests the following tips on how to select the right machine for your needs:  

Size the machine to the area cleaned. If cleaning large restrooms-for instance, in a sports arena-select as large and powerful a machine as possible; for medium to small areas, select a smaller machine accordingly.  

Check the power. Some systems have fairly low p.s.i. of around 100, which may prove insufficient to loosen and remove soil buildup in smaller, lightly soiled however, a machine with higher p.s.i., 200 or more, will prove more effective at removing contaminants.  

Problem areas. Related to power issues, if cleaning grout lines is a key cleaning concern, systems that depend on squeegees to remove soil and moisture may spread contaminants back into grout lines; machines that vacuum up residue will likely prove more effective.  

Be cost-conscious. Costs can vary considerably and higher-quality machines do cost a bit more. Select machines with a lower price point if it will only be used occasionally; for machines used regularly or for more heavy-duty cleaning, the higher-end machine will likely be more durable, effective, and likely cost-effective.

"Finally, I would suggest doing some online research before making any purchase decisions," says Morrison. "There has been a lot written about this technology from a variety of sources. Learn all you can, then decide."