Cleaners carry out general cleaning of offices, shops and homes, or more specialised cleaning like upholstery or the outsides of buildings.


Typical Salary

£17,000 – £24,000

per year

Working Hours

32–43

hours per week

Career Area

Cleaners and domestics

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Day-to-day tasks

Your tasks will depend on where you are working.

As a cleaner you could:

  • clean business settings, houses or vehicles
  •  clean at heights using ladders or mobile access equipment
  •  follow infection control procedures in hospital wards and operating theatres
  •  maintain stock levels of cleaning products
  •  follow health and safety guidelines and food and hygiene regulations

Skills needed

  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work on your own
  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of public safety and security 
  • physical fitness and endurance
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • a desire to help people
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

Career progression

With experience you could:

  • move into specialist cleaning
  •  progress to a supervisor or manager
  •  start your own business