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Whether you’re a seasoned pro in commercial cleaning or just starting to build your expertise, floor pads can feel like a mystery at first. But mastering what each one does makes all the difference.

Just like you wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to hang a picture, you don’t want to grab the black pad when you’re just looking to do a light buff. Each colour has a purpose—and once you understand what each pad does, your floors (and your clients) will thank you.

Here’s the only cheat sheet you’ll ever need.

White Floor Pads – Gentle Touch for a Polished Finish

Think of these as the cotton balls of the floor pad world.
White pads are designed for dry polishing and buffing clean, dry floors. They offer the least abrasive touch, making them perfect for that final step to get a smooth, glossy shine without damaging the floor’s finish.

Use it when: Floors are already clean, and you just need that extra polish.
Pro tip: Pair with a polishing compound to boost the shine on waxed floors.

Red Floor Pads – Light Duty Cleaning & Scuff Control

If your floors need a quick refresh and have some surface scuffing, red pads are your go-to.
They’re made for light cleaning—strong enough to take care of everyday dirt, but gentle enough not to strip any finish off.

Use it when: You want a regular daily clean, particularly when using an autoscrubber.
Pro tip: Great for spray buffing and low-speed swing machines.

BLue Floor Pads – The Middle Ground

Blue pads are all about general-purpose scrubbing.
They’re ideal for when red just won’t cut it and green might be too intense. If you need to remove a topcoat of floor finish or give a slightly grimy floor a solid clean, blue gets the job done.

Use it when: You’re removing scuffs, soil, and top layers of floor finish.
Pro tip: Use with a neutral cleaner if daily cleaning or floor a degreaser (periodically) for best results

Green Floor Pads – The Heavy Scrubbers

Green pads mean business. These are made for heavy-duty scrubbing and light stripping tasks.
When the build-up is visible and red or blue are just skating across the grime, green brings the muscle.

Use it when: You’re deep cleaning floors with a degreaser for recoating or dealing with ground-in dirt.
Pro tip: Combine with a more alkaline degreasing solution for better effectiveness.

Black Floor Pads – Aggressive Strip Mode

Black pads are the most aggressive in the lineup. These are used exclusively for stripping floors of old finish, wax, and heavy buildup.
They’re meant to be used with stripping chemicals and should never be used for general cleaning.

Use it when: You need to remove all the old build up and strip all the way down to bare floor.
Pro tip: Use with caution—these can damage flooring if used incorrectly or without the right chemical pairing. Use a floor stripper solution and make sure you follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Choose the Right Floor Pad, Every Time

Picking the right floor pad means thinking about what the floor actually needs—not just what’s on the label. Use the wrong one, and you might find yourself redoing work, damaging a floor finish, or just not getting the results you want. But use the right one? That’s where the magic happens.

So, the next time you’re facing down a floor, ask yourself: “What’s the real job here?” Then let your pad colour do the talking.

And always remember:

Check the flooring manufacturer’s care directions before completing any floor care
Ensure you’re following the chemical manufacturer’s directions and dilutions
Don’t overuse the same pad for too long, replace when needed
Never leave pads under the machine overnight
Always test a small, inconspicuous area first

Need help cleaning your commercial floors? Reach out to your local JAN-PRO office —we’re always here to help.