What inputs does the selector need before it can recommend anything?

Three: machine type, task, and floor substrate. That is enough to narrow the field, because the selector is working across 6 machine types, 10 pad types, and 18 floor substrates. Get the substrate right in particular — the same machine and the same task will point at different pads depending on what you are running them over.

What do I get back besides a pad name?

A ranked list, not a single answer. Each recommendation carries an aggressiveness rating, an RPM range, and expected pad life, so you can weigh cut against wear and against what your machine can actually turn. The ranking gives you a first choice with viable alternates underneath, which matters when the top pick is not sitting in your supply closet today.

Which floors are the most restrictive to pad?

Natural stone, terrazzo, and polished concrete. These are where a pad that works fine elsewhere will dull or scratch the surface, so the tool cross-references your selection against 18 floor types and flags combinations that risk surface damage. Read the flags before the rankings on these substrates — avoiding damage is the constraint, and pad choice follows from it.

Do I need to know my pad size before I run the selector?

No. Diameter is optional and does not change the pad type recommendation, so you can get an answer without walking out to measure the deck. It is captured in the summary for ordering reference, which is where it earns its keep: enter it when you know it and the summary comes out ready to order from.

What color floor pad do I use for daily cleaning on VCT?

Red pads are the standard for daily cleaning and spray buffing on VCT and most resilient floors. They provide light cleaning action that maintains the floor finish without removing it. For daily dust mopping or damp mopping with no machine work, you may not need a pad at all.

Can I use a black stripping pad on LVT or luxury vinyl tile?

No. Black pads are designed to strip floor finish from VCT and similar surfaces that have been coated. LVT has a factory wear layer and does not take floor finish. Use a blue pad for LVT, which is less aggressive and will not damage the wear layer during routine cleaning.

What is the difference between a white pad and a tan pad for burnishing?

Both white and tan pads are used for high-speed burnishing to restore gloss on finished floors. White pads are typically softer and used for polishing at 1500 to 3000 RPM. Tan pads are slightly more aggressive and work well on floors that need more cutting action to remove light scuffs while burnishing.

Floor Pad Selector

Wrong pad burns finish or leaves soil behind.

Inputs

Floor type

Task

Machine type / RPM

Finish status

Match floor pad color to your floor type and cleaning task. The selector applies industry pad color conventions to recommend the correct abrasiveness level for daily cleaning, scrubbing, stripping, or burnishing on VCT, LVT, sealed concrete, ceramic tile, natural stone, hardwood, and strip floor finishes.

Instruction

Pick your floor type from VCT, LVT, sealed concrete, ceramic tile, natural stone, hardwood, or strip floor finish.
Select the task: daily cleaning, scrub or heavy soil removal, strip finish, or burnish and polish.
Read the recommended pad color, aggressiveness rating, typical RPM range, and use case notes.

Worked example

A crew needs to scrub heavy soil from VCT in a commercial kitchen after fryer grease tracked onto the floor.

The selector recommends a green scrubbing pad — aggressive enough for embedded soil without jumping straight to a strip pad that burns finish.

Questions operators ask

What color floor pad do I use for daily cleaning on VCT?: Red pads are the standard for daily cleaning and spray buffing on VCT and most resilient floors. They provide light cleaning action that maintains the floor finish without removing it. For daily dust mopping or damp mopping with no machine work, you may not need a pad at all.
Can I use a black stripping pad on LVT or luxury vinyl tile?: No. Black pads are designed to strip floor finish from VCT and similar surfaces that have been coated. LVT has a factory wear layer and does not take floor finish. Use a blue pad for LVT, which is less aggressive and will not damage the wear layer during routine cleaning.
What is the difference between a white pad and a tan pad for burnishing?: Both white and tan pads are used for high-speed burnishing to restore gloss on finished floors. White pads are typically softer and used for polishing at 1500 to 3000 RPM. Tan pads are slightly more aggressive and work well on floors that need more cutting action to remove light scuffs while burnishing.