Domestic cleaner

A domestic cleaner

Description

Domestic cleaners perform all necessary cleaning activities in order to clean their clients’ houses. They vacuum and sweep floors, wash dishes, launder clothes, dust, scrub and polish surfaces and disinfect equipment and materials.

The duties of a domestic cleaner include, but are not limited to:

  • Keeping carpets and rugs clean and odor-free by shampooing, vacuuming, and applying deodorizers as needed.
  • Sweeping, mopping, dusting, and vacuuming to remove dirt, debris, and dust from floors and other surfaces.
  • Washing windows and walls as well as polishing woodwork as needed.
  • Scrubbing toilets, showers, baths, and bathroom sinks as well as removing mildew buildup and mold from various surfaces.
  • Wiping down kitchen appliances, equipment, and counters to remove dirt, grease, and grime.
  • Regularly emptying wastebaskets and disposing of all rubbish.
  • Washing, drying, and folding bedding and towels.
  • Maintaining an accurate record of all cleaning tasks completed each day.
  • Laundering clothing as required.

Working conditions

Domestic cleaners usually work indoors, and rarely outdoors. In some cases, they may work outdoors, typically when cleaning balconies or other outdoor spaces. They can also wear a special uniform, depending on the company they work for, and if they interact with the public.

Because they work with cleaning chemicals and clean soiled items, domestic cleaners are regularly exposed to contaminants and diseases or infections.

Domestic cleaners may work part time or full time, depending on established schedules. They may work days, evenings, or weekends.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to domestic cleaner:

domestic helper
servant
household worker
housekeeping cleaner
charworker
personal maid
domestic worker
maid
domestic maid
cleaning lady
house cleaner
housekeeper
cleaning maid
chambermaid

Minimum qualifications

No formal educational credential is required to work as domestic cleaner. However, many domestic cleaners have a high school diploma.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Domestic cleaner is a Skill level 1 occupation.

Domestic cleaner career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to domestic cleaner.

train cleaner
drapery and carpet cleaner
kitchen porter
room attendant
toilet attendant

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of domestic cleaner. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of domestic cleaner with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

domestic housekeeper
companion
home care aide
building exterior cleaner
babysitter

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of domestic cleaner.

  • Cleaning techniques: Various techniques and tools used to clean different types of surfaces to achieve a certain degree of cleanliness such as sweeping, vacuuming, degreasing and wet cleaning.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of domestic cleaner.

  • Maintain inventory of cleaning supplies: Follow the stock of cleaning materials, order new material when the stock is empty and follow their usage to maintain a constant supply.
  • Maintain personal hygiene standards when cleaning: Make sure to keep yourself clean and tidy and wear protective equipment when performing cleaning activities, as required by the health and safety procedures of the task or the organisation.
  • Wash the laundry: Wash or clean clothes by hand or by use of a washing machine.
  • Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
  • Clean household linens: Wash linens such as sheets, towels and table cloths with water and soap or detergent. Clean linens by hand or by the use of a washing machine.
  • Perform dusting activities: Remove dust from furniture, blinds and windowsills using specialised dust cloths or hand-cleaning items.
  • Handle chemical cleaning agents: Ensure proper handling, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals in accordance with regulations.
  • Iron textiles: Pressing and ironing in order to shape or flatten textiles giving them their final finishing appearance. Iron by hand or with steam pressers.
  • Maintain the cleanliness of the toilet facilities: Clean the toilets and wipe the sinks, mirrors and cubicle furniture according to the required standards, providing special attention to details.
  • Vacuum surfaces: Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and small particles from floors, drapes, carpets or furniture.
  • Clean surfaces: Disinfect surfaces in accordance with sanitary standards.
  • Maintain cleaning equipment: Clean and preserve the equipment and material used for cleaning purposes in a proper state.
  • Clean rooms: Clean rooms by cleaning glasswork and windows, polishing furniture, vacuuming carpets, scrubing hard floors, and removing garbage.
  • Restock toilet facilities’ supplies: Make sure that toilet supplies such as soap and toilet paper are always available for customer use.
  • Wash the dishes: Wash plates, glasses, silverware and cooking gear used for a meal, by hand or by use of a dish washer. Put everything back in its place afterwards.
  • Ensure cleanliness of food preparation area: Guarantee the continuous cleanliness of kitchen preparation, production and storage areas according to hygiene, safety and health regulations.
  • Clean glass surfaces: Use cleaning products to clean any surface covered by glass.
  • Make the beds: Clean sheets, turn mattresses, plump pillows and change cushions.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of domestic cleaner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Sort waste: Manually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.
  • Feed pets: Make sure that pets are given appropriate food and water on time.
  • Dispose waste: Dispose waste in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities.
  • Handle linen in stock: Manage laundered items and store them in safe and hygienic conditions.
  • Clean vehicle exterior: Wash, clean, polish and wax vehicle’s exterior glass and chrome parts.
  • Wash costumes: Make sure that costumes are clean and ready for use when required. Take care to preserve the costumes in good condition as long as possible.
  • Carry out pressure washing activities: Use high pressure equipment in order to clean areas, surfaces and materials.
  • Buy groceries: Purchase ingredients, products and tools that are necessary for daily housekeeping activities.
  • Provide dog walking services: Provide dog-walking services, including activities such as agreement of services with the customer, selection and use of handling equipment, interaction with the dog, and safe and responsible dog walking.’
  • Lift heavy weights: Lift heavy weights and apply ergonomic lifting techniques to avoid damaging the body.
  • Maintain a safe, hygienic and secure working environment: Preserve health, hygiene, safety and security in the workplace in accordance with relevant regulations.
  • Wash vehicles: Wash and dry vehicle and ensure that paint is kept intact by waxing and polishing vehicle using the appropriate tools.
  • Clean vehicle interiors: Remove dirt, rubbish or impurities of the interior of vehicles, including consoles and dashboards; vacuum car seats and carpets; clean hinges and door trims.
  • Perform cleaning activities in an outdoor environment: Adapt the cleaning working methods and procedures to the environmental conditions and adapt to weather conditions such as rain, strong wind or snow, when this affects the performance of the equipment or machinery that is being used.
  • Supervise children: Keep the children under supervision for a certain period of time, ensuring their safety at all times.

ISCO group and title

9111 – Domestic cleaners and helpers


References
  1. ESCO
  2. 37-2012.00 – Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners – O*NET OnLine
  3. Maid Job Description – Betterteam
  4. Housekeepers – Working Conditions – IllinoisWorkNet
  5. Featured image: Photo by RODNAE Productions
Last updated on June 10, 2022

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