Cleaner Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications (+ Template)

But a strong cleaner job description will attract the right professionals with the skills and experience you need.

Below, we share a cleaner job description template you can customize. We also explain the key areas it covers.

What Does a Cleaner Do?

Cleaners keep spaces tidy and well-maintained in various settings, including residential homes, offices, commercial buildings, and public spaces.

Their responsibilities vary depending on the type of cleaning job and the services offered by the cleaning business they’re working for. Understanding these tasks helps you add the appropriate ones to the “Responsibilities” section of your job description. 

Here are some common duties for a cleaner:

• Sweeping, Mopping, and Vacuuming: Clean floors to remove dirt and dust.
• Dusting and Polishing: Dust and polish furniture, fixtures, and surfaces.
• Surface Cleaning: Wipe down high-touch surfaces, such as countertops and tables, regularly.

• Restroom Cleaning: Thoroughly clean and sanitize restrooms, including toilets, sinks, and mirrors. Replenish supplies like toilet paper and paper towels.
• Kitchen Cleaning: Clean kitchen areas, including sinks and appliances.

• Trash Removal: Empty trash bins and replace liners to prevent overflow.
• Recycling: Sort and dispose of waste in accordance with recycling and waste management guidelines.

• Window and Glass Cleaning: Remove smudges and streaks from windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces.
• Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning: Vacuum and wash carpets and upholstered furniture as needed, including spot cleaning and deep cleaning.
• Floor Care: Wax, buff, and polish hard floors using equipment like floor scrubbers.

• Operating Cleaning Equipment: Use tools and equipment, such as vacuums and carpet cleaners, efficiently.
• Maintaining Supplies: Store cleaning supplies and equipment properly and keep them in good working order. Report any maintenance or repair needs.

• Following Safety Protocols: Adhere to health and safety regulations to ensure a safe working environment.
• Using Cleaning Chemicals Safely: Use cleaning agents appropriately and follow safety data sheets (SDS) to handle chemicals safely.

• Providing Customer Service: Interact professionally and courteously with clients or occupants to address inquiries or concerns.

• Logging Tasks and Hours: Accurately log completed tasks and working hours.
• Reporting Issues: Report maintenance or repair issues to supervisors to ensure timely resolution.

Cleaner Skills and Qualifications

Whether you’ve just started your cleaning business or are an experienced business owner, you want the best cleaners on your team. So, you must require certain skills and qualifications.

Skills

Skills are the abilities and expertise a cleaner uses to perform their tasks effectively. These include hard cleaning skills (technical skills that help cleaners perform their jobs effectively) and soft skills (people-oriented skills required to work with teammates and customers).

Common hard skills for cleaners include using cleaning products safely, operating equipment like vacuums and buffers, sanitizing and disinfecting surfaces, and handling waste. While these hard skills are straightforward and easy to add, every company values different soft skills:

• Martha Gonzalez, Owner of Sparkly Maid San Diego, looks for “reliability, attention to detail, honesty, and an upbeat attitude.”
• Vic from Oak Bay Clean says, “We look for professionalism, reliability, and fit—working style, preferred hours, and the types of cleans they enjoy.”
• Axel Avery from Oakville Maids says the company values “adaptability, patience and willingness to learn and talk to their team and to customers.”

Common soft skills for cleaners

• Attention to detail: Great cleaners have an eye for details, like fingerprints on glass or dust hiding in corners. They can notice small areas of dirt that might otherwise be easily overlooked.
• Physical stamina and strength: Cleaning can be physically demanding. Stamina and strength are necessary to perform tasks like moving furniture, pushing a heavy vacuum, carrying supplies, and mopping for extended periods.
• Time management: Cleaners usually work on a schedule. They must be able to plan their daily duties so that all tasks are finished on time and without cutting corners.
• Organizational skills: Cleaners must keep track of cleaning supplies, ensure equipment is ready to use, and manage different areas or rooms. A well-organized cleaner can stay on top of tasks and avoid last-minute stress.
• Communication: Clear and polite communication helps cleaners, supervisors, team members, and customers stay on the same page, reduces conflicts, and keeps things running smoothly. A cleaner can understand instructions and communicate effectively.

As Avery explains, “Even if management / customer service should already have all the details / instructions from customers (e.g. areas to focus on, types of products, preferences, etc) it’s still important that they (cleaners) are able to talk to clients if needed, and especially fix any mistakes or disagreements.”

• Problem-solving: Unexpected issues like spills can pop up at any time. A good cleaner knows how to think fast and use the right cleaning products or methods to handle problems without delaying their work.
• Reliability: Cleaners often work independently or outside of regular hours, sometimes in private offices or homes. They must be dependable and respectful of property and privacy. This is especially important in commercial cleaning, where cleaners might get access to sensitive materials. 

Qualifications

Qualifications are the credentials that show you an applicant is capable of being an effective cleaner. You can require them to ensure a candidate has the right background, skills, or training to succeed. Some qualifications for a cleaning job posting include:

• High school diploma or equivalent: While not always required, some employers prefer a basic educational background.
• Training/certification: While most cleaners get on-the-job training (more on this below), there are professional certification courses that cover cleaning techniques, chemical handling, and sanitation practices. Certifications may also be required by law for some roles. For example, biohazard cleaners must have the HAZWOPER certification by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Background check: Cleaners often need to pass background checks, especially if they work in schools, healthcare facilities, or homes.
• Experience: Previous experience in cleaning or maintenance roles can be beneficial.  For advanced roles, there’s typically a required amount of professional experience in a specific area.
• Specialized knowledge: For industrial or specialized cleaning roles, knowledge of handling specific cleaning chemicals or operating machinery can be required.

You can split the “Qualifications and skills” into must-have and nice-to-have sections to let applicants know which skills and qualifications are mandatory, helping reduce unqualified applicants.

Cleaner Salary Expectations

Cleaner salaries can vary widely depending on location, experience, employer type, and other factors.

Wondering what to pay your cleaning employees? We’ve gone through data from ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and Glassdoor to create an overview of cleaning employee compensation.:

Entry-level cleaners:

Entry-level cleaners with little to no professional experience earn around $15/hour. This translates to an annual salary of approximately $30,785 for full-time employment.

Specialized cleaners:

Specialists in specific types of cleaning, such as deep cleaning or hazardous-waste cleanup, can earn higher wages. For example, biohazard cleaners can earn up to $110,000/year, and mold remediation specialists can earn up to $80,000/year.  

Supervisory or management roles:

Those in supervisory or management positions overseeing a team of cleaners can expect higher compensation; the average annual salary for a cleaning manager in the US is $78,410. 

This Might Interest You:

Learn how to hire the best cleaning staff in our in-depth guide.

Looking to price your house cleaning jobs? Try our free cleaning costs calculator.

Factors influencing salary:

Geographic location:

Cleaning professionals must be paid at least the minimum wage. Salaries can vary significantly based on the cost of living in different regions. Urban areas or regions with a higher cost of living generally offer higher wages compared to rural areas.

Type of employer:

• Cleaners working in private homes may earn less compared to those employed by commercial cleaning companies.
• Commercial cleaning companies often offer more competitive wages and benefits.
• Government and institutional settings may offer higher wages and better benefits.

Benefits:

Many employers offer additional benefits that can significantly enhance overall compensation. These benefits may include:

• Health insurance.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Retirement plans.
• Bonuses.

Unionized positions:

Cleaners who are part of a labor union may have negotiated wages and benefits, which can result in higher pay and better job security.

Experience and training:

More experienced cleaners or those with specialized training and certifications can command higher wages due to their advanced skills and knowledge.

Additional compensation:

Overtime: Cleaners may have the opportunity to earn overtime pay, typically at 1.5 times their regular hourly rate, for hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

Bonuses: Some employers offer performance-based bonuses or annual bonuses based on company performance.

Education and Training Requirements for Cleaners

Many cleaners learn their skills on the job. Experienced staff or supervisors usually provide training on specific cleaning methods, equipment use, and proper chemical handling.

Professional training programs: There are training programs available that can provide cleaners with a more formal education in various aspects of cleaning. These might include:

• Cleaning techniques: Proper methods for cleaning different types of surfaces and spaces.
• Chemical handling: Safety protocols for using and storing cleaning chemicals.
• Equipment use: Training on how to operate industrial cleaning equipment such as floor buffers, steam cleaners, and heavy-duty vacuums.
• Sanitation and hygiene practices: Especially important in healthcare settings or food service environments.

Certifications

Cleaners might also earn certifications on the job, and employers sometimes even cover the costs. Here are some certifications they can get: 

• Certified custodial technician: Offered by organizations like the Cleaning Management Institute, this certification covers basic and advanced knowledge about cleaning.
• Specialized certifications: There are also certifications for specific areas such as green cleaning, biohazard cleanup, and healthcare cleaning.

Cleaning Experience Requirements

Clearly defining the experience requirements is crucial to creating a cleaner job description. Consider these factors to set experience requirements for your cleaning role:

Setting experience requirements

• Assess your business needs: Determine the level of experience needed by assessing the services your business offers. For general residential cleaning, minimal experience may be sufficient, whereas commercial or specialized cleaning services may require candidates with more extensive backgrounds.
• Define job roles clearly: Specify the experience needed for each role within your company. Entry-level positions may not require prior experience, but roles involving specialized equipment or sensitive environments (such as hospitals or industrial sites) should require specific experience.
• Consider on-the-job training potential: If your business model can support it, hiring less experienced workers and providing comprehensive training can be a cost-effective way to build your workforce. This approach allows you to shape employees to meet specific standards and practices unique to your business.
• Leverage experienced hires for training and leadership: Hiring a few highly experienced cleaners can bolster your team’s overall skill level. These employees can take on supervisory roles and help train newer staff, ensuring high standards and leading to the success of your cleaning business.

Evaluating experience

You can evaluate candidates’ experience by looking at:

• Relevant past roles and work history: Look for candidates who have worked in settings similar to those your business serves. Experience in relevant environments can be a strong indicator of a candidate’s ability to meet your clients’ expectations.
• Longevity and stability: Evaluate how long candidates have stayed in previous cleaning positions. Longevity can indicate reliability and satisfaction, important qualities for maintaining consistent service quality.
• References and recommendations: Checking references can provide insights into a candidate’s work ethic, reliability, and effectiveness in previous cleaning roles.