Cleaning Services & Cleaner Jobs: What to Know Before You Apply

Many cleaning positions focus on keeping schools, offices, commercial buildings and other facilities clean, safe and organized.

What Does a Cleaner Usually Do?

Cleaning work can vary depending on the location and employer.

Typical duties may include:

• Sweeping, mopping and vacuuming floors
• Cleaning classrooms, offices and common areas
• Cleaning restrooms and replenishing supplies
• Removing trash
• Wiping and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
• Cleaning spills and keeping work areas safe
• Using basic cleaning equipment and supplies

For school and institutional cleaning, workers may also be responsible for preparing rooms and shared areas before or after regular operating hours.

In the U.S., the Bureau of Labor Statistics says janitors and building cleaners commonly work in schools, hospitals, offices and other buildings. Most positions do not require a formal educational credential, and many workers receive short-term on-the-job training.

Common Cleaning Job Options

If you're searching for cleaning work, you may come across several different types of positions.

School Cleaning Jobs

These positions focus on classrooms, hallways, restrooms and other school facilities.

Office Cleaning Jobs

Office cleaners typically maintain workspaces, meeting rooms, kitchens and common areas.

Commercial Cleaning Jobs

Commercial cleaners may work in stores, business buildings, facilities and other commercial locations.

Janitorial Jobs

Janitors can have broader responsibilities, including cleaning, waste removal and basic facility maintenance.

The actual duties, schedule and requirements depend on the employer and location.

What About Working Hours?

Cleaning jobs can have different schedules.

Some facilities are cleaned during the daytime, while offices and commercial buildings may be cleaned in the evening when fewer people are present.

School cleaning positions may also follow schedules designed around school operating hours.

Full-time and part-time opportunities can both exist. The BLS reports that full-time work is common among janitors and building cleaners, while part-time work is also available, and schedules can include evenings, nights or weekends depending on the workplace.

Do You Need Experience?

Not always.

Many entry-level janitor and building-cleaning positions do not require formal education or previous experience. Employers may provide training on cleaning equipment, workplace procedures and safety practices.

However, individual employers can have different requirements. Some positions may ask for previous cleaning experience, a background check, transportation or the ability to work a specific schedule.

How to Find Cleaning Opportunities

If you're interested in cleaning work, start by searching for several related job types rather than only one title.

Try searches such as:

• School Cleaner Jobs
• Cleaning Jobs
• Janitorial Jobs
• Office Cleaning Jobs
• Commercial Cleaning Jobs
• Cleaning Services Jobs

Then compare the pay, working hours, location, job duties and requirements before applying.

What Should You Check Before Applying?

Before accepting a cleaning position, check:

Pay: Is the advertised rate hourly, weekly or monthly?

Schedule: Is it full-time, part-time, daytime or evening work?

Location: How far is the workplace from your home?

Duties: Does the position involve general cleaning, deep cleaning, waste removal or other tasks?

Requirements: Does the employer require experience, transportation, identification or specific documents?

Benefits: Check whether the position includes paid leave, insurance or other benefits.

Start Your Search

If you're looking for a cleaner position, don't limit your search to one type of workplace.

School cleaning, office cleaning, commercial cleaning and janitorial jobs can all be potential options depending on your experience, availability and location.

Compare available opportunities and check the full job details before applying.