A fluid recovery system for a floor surface maintenance machine, comprising: a squeegee assembly adapted to engage the floor surface; a vacuum system operably coupled to the squeegee assembly, the vacuum system applying a suction force on fluids on the floor surface; a fluid suction path extending from the squeegee assembly to a fluid recovery tank, the fluid suction path operably coupled to the vacuum system such that the vacuum system draws fluids from the floor surface through the fluid suction path due to the suction force; a recovery hose forming part of the fluid suction path and leading to the fluid recovery tank; a reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) forming part of the fluid suction path and operably coupled to the recovery hose, the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) comprising an inlet passage (410; 510; 610; 710; 810), an outlet passage (430; 530; 630; 730; 830) operably connected and leading to the recovery hose, and a fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) positioned between the inlet and outlet passages (410, 420; 510, 520; 610, 620; 710, 720; 810, 820), the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) permitting passage therethrough of fluids suctioned by the vacuum system from the floor to the recovery hose, the fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) trapping a backflow of fluids from the recovery hose in the fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) when the vacuum system stops suctioning fluids from the floor to the recovery hose, characterized in that the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) is shaped to be generally self-cleaning such that the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) clears most fluids trapped in the fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) when the vacuum system starts suctioning fluids from the floor to the recovery hose. a squeegee assembly adapted to engage the floor surface; a vacuum system operably coupled to the squeegee assembly, the vacuum system applying a suction force on fluids on the floor surface; a fluid suction path extending from the squeegee assembly to a fluid recovery tank, the fluid suction path operably coupled to the vacuum system such that the vacuum system draws fluids from the floor surface through the fluid suction path due to the suction force; a recovery hose forming part of the fluid suction path and leading to the fluid recovery tank; a reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) forming part of the fluid suction path and operably coupled to the recovery hose, the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) comprising an inlet passage (410; 510; 610; 710; 810), an outlet passage (430; 530; 630; 730; 830) operably connected and leading to the recovery hose, and a fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) positioned between the inlet and outlet passages (410, 420; 510, 520; 610, 620; 710, 720; 810, 820), the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) permitting passage therethrough of fluids suctioned by the vacuum system from the floor to the recovery hose, the fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) trapping a backflow of fluids from the recovery hose in the fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) when the vacuum system stops suctioning fluids from the floor to the recovery hose, characterized in that the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) is shaped to be generally self-cleaning such that the reservoir (400; 500; 600; 700; 800) clears most fluids trapped in the fluid trap portion (420; 520; 620; 720; 820) when the vacuum system starts suctioning fluids from the floor to the recovery hose.