Patent ID: 8382906

Claim:
A method for cleaning a surface with a cleaning apparatus, the method comprising: transporting a chassis over the surface in a forward transport direction defined by a fore-aft axis, said chassis including cleaning elements supported thereon, wherein the cleaning elements have a cleaning width disposed generally perpendicular to the fore-aft axis; ejecting a volume of cleaning fluid from at least one liquid applicator disposed substantially perpendicular to the fore-aft axis, wherein the cleaning fluid is ejected with sufficient volume and pressure to distribute cleaning fluid across the cleaning width; and smearing the cleaning fluid across the cleaning width using a smearing element attached to the chassis aft of the at least one liquid applicator, wherein the smearing element extends substantially across the cleaning width, and wherein the smearing element comprises a plurality of smearing bristles configured to wick up excess cleaning fluid applied to one location of the cleaning surface and distribute the wicked up cleaning fluid to other locations of the cleaning surface.