Housekeeping Cleaners
Overview
Housekeeping cleaners keep spaces spotless and organized in places like hotels, hospitals, and private homes. You'll vacuum carpets, dust furniture, make beds, clean bathrooms, and restock supplies using professional cleaning equipment and eco-friendly products. This job offers flexible scheduling and is a great entry point into the hospitality industry. Many cleaners work independently or as part of teams, developing strong attention to detail and time management skills.

Did you know?
This occupation requires extensive physical labor including lifting, bending, and prolonged standing, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries and long-term health issues.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$33,531.18 Avg/yr
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Operation and Control
Key Responsibilities
- Replace light bulbs.
- Deliver television sets, ironing boards, baby cribs, and rollaway beds to guests' rooms.
- Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operated sterilizers.
- Move and arrange furniture and turn mattresses.
- Empty wastebaskets, empty and clean ashtrays, and transport other trash and waste to disposal areas.
- Hang draperies and dust window blinds.
- Dust and polish furniture and equipment.
- Observe precautions required to protect hotel and guest property and report damage, theft, and found articles to supervisors.
- Prepare rooms for meetings and arrange decorations, media equipment, and furniture for social or business functions.
- Sort, count, and mark clean linens and store them in linen closets.
- Clean rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and draperies, using vacuum cleaners and shampooers.
- Keep storage areas and carts well-stocked, clean, and tidy.
- Wash windows, walls, ceilings, and woodwork, waxing and polishing as necessary.
- Replenish supplies, such as drinking glasses, linens, writing supplies, and bathroom items.
- Sort clothing and other articles, load washing machines, and iron and fold dried items.
- Carry linens, towels, toilet items, and cleaning supplies, using wheeled carts.
- Clean rooms, hallways, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, corridors, elevators, stairways, locker rooms, and other work areas so that health standards are met.
- Polish silver accessories and metalwork, such as fixtures and fittings.
- Sweep, scrub, wax, or polish floors, using brooms, mops, or powered scrubbing and waxing machines.
- Request repair services and wait for repair workers to arrive.
Career Considerations
Physical Demands and Health Impact
This occupation requires extensive physical labor including lifting, bending, and prolonged standing, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries and long-term health issues.
Employment Structure and Benefits
Many positions offer flexible scheduling and part-time opportunities but often lack traditional employee benefits like health insurance and paid time off.
Limited Career Advancement
While upward mobility within traditional employment is limited, there are opportunities for entrepreneurship by starting independent cleaning services or franchises.