Have you ever thought about a career as a cleaner? For some it’s the ideal job, with flexible hours to fit around their other commitments, and the fact cleaning is a stable and rewarding job. Discover if a career cleaning could be right for you.
- Why work as a cleaner?
- What types of cleaning careers are there?
- What skills are needed to work as a cleaner?
- What qualifications help with a career in cleaning?
Why work as a cleaner?
Job satisfaction and recognition
The majority of people are appreciative of a clean environment, and that thanks is passed onto the cleaner. Not to mention the job satisfaction of arriving at a dirty location and leaving it glistening clean for the client to enjoy.
It’s good exercise
If you are someone who likes to be on their feet, a job as a cleaner could be great for you. You’ll be getting physically fit at work with all the exercise endured on a long cleaning shift.
There is always work
Whether it’s a large corporation’s office block, a deep clean of a factory or a residential home, the need for cleaners will always be there.
You can work flexibly
If a more typical Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 job doesn’t appeal to you, there are loads of cleaning roles that allow you to work part time, flexibly or to the needs of your schedule. Some cleaners go on to own their own agencies, utilising the contacts they’ve built over their careers.
What types of cleaning careers are there?
There are a vast array of cleaning careers available, some are highly specialised and take specialist training. Here is a list of cleaning jobs:
Commercial cleaner
A commercial cleaner is someone who goes into shops, offices, bars or restaurants and cleans. Commercial cleaners are usually contracted in, so you would work for an agency, typically on a shift pattern.
Crime scene cleaner
A crime scene cleaner is a specialised role which involves visiting crime scenes and cleaning up and sanitising any blood, bodily fluids and any other potentially hazardous material. Skills like biohazard cleaning are needed for this kind of role.
Exterminator
Otherwise known as a pest control technician, this job involves identifying and getting rid of any pests like rats, mice and cockroaches. You would usually work for a company which gets contracted out to deal with problems in different places.
Housekeeper
The responsibility of a housekeeper is to ensure a home or establishment is kept organised, clean and tidy. Depending on the role, you could be working in a family home, B&B rental or a hotel. Some housekeepers live on site and also cook, keep on top of laundry and deal with the general upkeep of the home.
Industrial or specialised cleaner
Industrial cleaners are usually hired for more intense cleaning jobs, for things like deep cleaning of places like factories which have been made dirty by chemicals. Specialised cleaners are hired for technical jobs, like high rise cleaning, carpet cleaning or things that require more concentrated chemicals.
Window cleaner
Otherwise known as window cleaning technicians, window cleaners are responsible for cleaning the windows of homes and commercial buildings. Some window cleaners work on high rise buildings and their day is spent on cradles suspended from ropes.
What skills are needed to work as a cleaner?
The wide range of cleaning careers available means that different roles require different specialisms. If you find a role that interests you, we recommend finding adverts for that role and looking at the job description and person specification. From here, you can identify the skills and experience you already have and where you need to improve in order to meet the essential criteria for the role.
Here are some skills that would help any cleaning career:
- The ability to be punctual and reliable
- The ability to work on your own
- To be thorough and pay attention to detail
- Knowledge of chemical safety and cleaning products
- Good physical fitness and endurance
- The ability to remain calm in stressful situations
What qualifications help with a career in cleaning?
There’s no set route into a cleaning career. You could get into most roles by applying directly to job adverts. Some more specialised roles would require a college course awarded in cleaning or cleaning principles. If you are interested in a role as a crime scene cleaner, a degree in or related to forensic biology would help.
Not sure if a cleaning career is the right one for you? Discover the opportunities available in other industries and find and apply for roles on the Unitemps website.
Last updated on 13 February 2023
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