What does a Cleaner do?
A Cleaner helps people clean and organise their office or home regularly to reduce the spread of disease-causing pathogens and make the space welcoming and presentable. Some cleaners could be domestic workers, taking on housekeeping tasks such as cleaning surfaces, refilling toiletries and folding clean laundry. They may also be industrial workers (either in offices or factories), carrying out additional tasks such as industrial cleaning and keeping the pantry stocked. There are also specialised cleaners, who take care of specific items or areas such as carpet cleaners, chimney cleaners, ventilation system cleaners and more.
Cleaner skills and qualifications
A successful Cleaner will need some prerequisite skills and qualifications to be considered for a vacant position. These skills include:
- Excellent organisation and housekeeping skills
- In-depth knowledge of cleaning solution and their uses
- Working knowledge of health and safety standards in their industry
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Great physical fitness and ability to stand for long hours
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
- Working knowledge of the English language
Cleaner experience requirements
Cleaners need experience in cleaning either domestic or industrial buildings. For specialised Cleaners, they need a minimum of one year of experience working with the surface/area they specialise in. They need to show that they can sweep and mop thoroughly, getting into tight corners and clean out accumulated dirt and grime. They must also have enough experience with different cleaning solutions and determining which is best suited for wood, tile, vinyl, granite or carpeted surfaces. In addition, experience applying special DIY cleaning remedies will be a bonus.
Cleaner education and training requirements
Becoming a Cleaner does not typically require any formal education, and it is possible to apply directly to a cleaning agency without any prior qualifications. Most employers provide training to Cleaners without experience.
Useful certifications and training programs include the Cleaning Operators Proficiency Certificate, which is issued by the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS). This certification proves that you have all the benchmark skills required of a Cleaner. BICS also offers training in chemical competence and safe assembly of equipment. Other training that the BICS offers include glass scrubbing, cleaning toilet and washroom facilities and vacuum cleaning.
Another industry-recognised certification for Cleaners is the British Cleaning Certification Award (BCCA). This certification is issued online after passing a multiple-choice test, which covers twenty-six modules including cleaning techniques and standards, protective clothing and specific requirements for cleaning offices, hospitals, kitchens and bathrooms.
Cleaner salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Cleaner in the United Kingdom is £8.93 per hour. This figure depends on the Cleaner’s years of work experience and the city they work in. It will also depend on what industry the Cleaner works in, whether the Cleaner works for a cleaning agency, or for an individual or household.
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