Everything You Need to Know About Diamond Pads for Professional Floor Cleaning and Restoration

What is a diamond pad?

A diamond pad, also known as a diamond cleaning pad, is a professional floor pad designed for the cleaning, restoration, polishing and mechanical maintenance of floors.

Unlike a conventional floor cleaning pad, a diamond pad contains abrasive diamond particles that mechanically act on the floor surface. Depending on the selected grit, this action can deep-clean the floor, reduce scratches, restore the surface or progressively increase its level of shine.

One of the main advantages of diamond pads is that they can be used with water only, without adding chemicals. They are therefore particularly suitable for professionals looking to reduce the use of chemicals in floor maintenance.

GUIALTO diamond pads are suitable for various types of flooring, including PVC, concrete, stone and marble.

1. How does a diamond pad work?

A GUIALTO diamond pad combines two main components:

• A high-quality diamond coating, providing the mechanical cleaning and polishing action.
• A natural fibre base, which is denser and more rigid and designed to improve the pad’s durability and lifespan.

As the single-disc machine or scrubber dryer rotates, the diamond particles mechanically work on the floor surface.

The principle is simple:

The lower the grit, the more abrasive the pad. The higher the grit, the finer the action, making it more suitable for polishing and increasing the floor’s shine.

This progression makes it possible to establish a complete floor restoration process, from deep cleaning to polishing and daily floor maintenance.

2. Why clean floors with diamond pads?

Cleaning with water and without chemicals

Diamond pads are designed to work with clean water, without adding detergent or other cleaning chemicals.

This technology offers several advantages:

• reduced use of cleaning chemicals;
• no chemical product costs for operations performed with water only;
• simplified cleaning procedures;
• effective mechanical cleaning;
• the ability to clean while simultaneously improving the floor’s shine;
• reduced consumption of products associated with certain traditional floor maintenance methods.

Diamond pads therefore provide an effective solution for professional floor cleaning with water and without chemicals.

Economic benefits

In addition to their cleaning performance, diamond pads can help reduce the overall cost of floor maintenance.

Depending on operating conditions and the cleaning procedure used, GUIALTO diamond pads can provide:

• up to 70% lower costs;
• zero chemical product costs for operations carried out using water only;
• fewer passes compared with certain conventional cleaning methods;
• a service life of up to 30,000 to 50,000 m² depending on the grit, subject to correct use and maintenance.

3. Understanding diamond pad grit

Grit refers to the size and fineness of the diamond particles used on the pad.

It is one of the most important criteria when selecting the right diamond pad for cleaning or restoring a floor.

Low grit: a more abrasive action

A lower grit corresponds to coarser diamond particles and provides a stronger mechanical action.

It is primarily intended for:

• deep cleaning;
• restoration of damaged floors;
• treatment of scratches and marks;
• preparation of the floor before polishing.

High grit: a finer action

As the grit increases, the abrasive action becomes progressively finer and less aggressive.

Higher-grit diamond pads are mainly suitable for:

• improving the surface finish;
• reducing marks left by previous restoration stages;
• polishing;
• burnishing;
• routine maintenance;
• increasing the floor’s shine.

The key principle to remember

Low grit = intensive cleaning and restoration.

High grit = finishing, polishing, shine and daily maintenance.

When carrying out a complete floor restoration process, it is important to follow a consistent progression through the different grit levels.

4. How to choose the right diamond pad

GUIALTO offers two ranges of diamond pads for professional floor cleaning, with four grit levels: 400, 800, 1500 and 3000.

Standard range

• 400 Grit – Red: Deep cleaning. This is the first stage when the floor requires significant mechanical action.
• 800 Grit – White: Scrubbing and polishing. It refines the work performed with the 400 grit pad and prepares the floor for the finishing stages.
• 1500 Grit – Yellow: Polishing and burnishing. It progressively improves the surface finish and shine of the floor.
• 3000 Grit – Green: Daily cleaning and polishing. Designed for regular floor maintenance and to maintain the floor’s shine.

High-performance range

The high-performance range follows a similar technical progression:

• 400 Grit – Red: Deep cleaning.
• 800 Grit – Orange: Deep cleaning and surface preparation.
• 1500 Grit – Blue: Polishing.
• 3000 Grit – Pink: Daily cleaning and polishing.

The high-performance range stands out thanks to:

• higher diamond density;
• higher-quality diamond particles;
• enhanced cleaning performance;
• up to 50% longer service life compared with the standard range.

5. How to restore a floor using diamond pads

Floor restoration with diamond pads requires a methodical, progressive approach.

The objective is not to start immediately with the finest grit, but to gradually work the surface until the desired finish is achieved.

Step 1: Assess the floor

Before starting, identify:

• the type of floor covering;
• the overall condition of the floor;
• the level of soiling;
• the presence of scratches or marks;
• the desired level of finish and shine.

It is recommended to carry out a test on a small, inconspicuous area before treating the entire floor.

Step 2: Select the appropriate grit

A heavily soiled or damaged floor requires a more abrasive action than a floor that is already well maintained.

In the GUIALTO range, 400 grit is the first level used for deep cleaning.

Step 3: Work with water

Use the diamond pad with water and maintain a suitable amount of water on the surface while working.

The water supports the mechanical action of the pad and helps remove particles and dirt from the floor surface.

Step 4: Regularly remove dirty water

During floor restoration, regularly replace the water and remove dirty water from the floor.

This prevents the cleaning process from continuing with water heavily loaded with residue and helps prevent dirt from being redeposited on the floor.

Step 5: Progress through the different grits

For a complete floor restoration process, the typical progression is:

400 Grit → 800 Grit → 1500 Grit → 3000 Grit

Each stage progressively refines the work performed by the previous diamond pad:

• 400: deep cleaning;
• 800: scrubbing and preparation;
• 1500: polishing;
• 3000: finishing, shine and maintenance.

Step 6: Check the result

Before moving to the next grit, check that the result is consistent across the entire treated area.

Insufficient preparation during the first stages will not necessarily be corrected by using a finishing pad.

6. Diamond pads for daily floor cleaning

Diamond pads are not only designed for floor restoration.

The GUIALTO 3000 grit diamond pad is specifically designed for daily floor cleaning and polishing.

Regular use combines cleaning with mechanical maintenance of the floor surface.

The same diamond pad system can therefore be used throughout the floor maintenance cycle, from restoration to routine cleaning. Lower grits provide a stronger abrasive action, while higher grits progressively provide polishing, finishing and daily maintenance.

7. Which floors can be cleaned with diamond pads?

GUIALTO diamond pads can be used on several types of flooring, including:

• PVC;
• concrete;
• stone;
• marble.

The grit and cleaning procedure should always be adapted to the nature and condition of the floor.

Not all floor coverings and surface finishes react in the same way to an abrasive process. If in doubt, always carry out a preliminary test on a small, inconspicuous area.

8. How to maintain a diamond pad

Proper maintenance directly affects the performance and service life of a diamond pad.

After each use:

1. Remove the pad from the machine.
2. Rinse it thoroughly with clean water.
3. Apply the water jet from the back of the pad to flush dirt and residues out of the fibres.
4. Check that the pad is free from accumulated dirt.
5. Allow the pad to dry flat in the open air.
6. Store it flat and in a dry place before its next use.

When correctly used and maintained, a GUIALTO diamond pad can provide a service life of up to 30,000 to 50,000 m² depending on the grit.

9. Mistakes to avoid

To achieve professional results with a diamond cleaning pad, avoid:

• using a grit that is too aggressive for the condition of the floor;
• starting directly with a finishing grit on a heavily damaged floor;
• moving to the next grit before achieving an even surface;
• working with water that is excessively contaminated with residues;
• allowing dirt and residues to dry on the pad after use;
• using a heavily clogged or excessively worn pad;
• applying exactly the same cleaning procedure to every type of floor;
• treating a floor before checking its compatibility with the process.

For optimal results, it is essential to adapt the diamond pad, grit, machine and number of passes to the type and initial condition of the floor.

10. Key points: why use a diamond pad?

A diamond floor cleaning pad is an effective solution for cleaning, restoring and maintaining professional floors.

Diamond pads can be used for:

• floor cleaning with water;
• floor cleaning without added chemicals;
• deep cleaning;
• mechanical floor restoration;
• polishing and burnishing;
• daily floor maintenance;
• progressively increasing floor shine;
• reducing the use of cleaning chemicals;
• implementing a complete process from floor restoration through to daily maintenance.

Thanks to the different grits available, professionals can establish a complete floor cleaning and restoration process adapted to the initial condition of the floor and the desired finish.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diamond Pads

Can you clean a floor with a diamond pad without chemicals?

Yes. GUIALTO diamond pads are designed to operate with water, without adding cleaning chemicals, for the applications for which they are intended.

The cleaning action primarily relies on the mechanical effect of the diamond particles incorporated into the pad.

What is the difference between 400, 800, 1500 and 3000 grit?

400 grit is the most abrasive of the four levels and is suitable for deep cleaning.

800 grit continues the restoration process and prepares the floor surface.

1500 grit is designed for polishing.

3000 grit provides finishing, polishing and daily cleaning.

Which diamond pad should be used for daily cleaning?

For routine maintenance and daily floor cleaning, use the 3000 grit diamond pad, specifically designed for regular cleaning and polishing.

Which floors are suitable for GUIALTO diamond pads?

GUIALTO diamond pads are suitable for PVC, concrete, stone and marble floors.

The cleaning process should always be adapted to the type and condition of the floor.

Do I need to use all grit levels for every cleaning operation?

No.

For floor restoration, several grits may be used successively to progressively refine the floor surface.

For daily cleaning, there is no need to repeat the entire restoration process. The grit intended for routine maintenance can be used directly when the condition of the floor allows it.

Discover the GUIALTO diamond pads documentation