What is a house cleaner and how to become one

Updated April 25, 2024
6 min read
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A house cleaner is a professional who maintains the cleanliness and order of a property. They use cleaning tools and equipment to perform tasks efficiently, often following a schedule set by the homeowners. Their duties include tasks like dusting, vacuuming, and mopping, as well as scrubbing, washing, and polishing. They also inform the homeowners of any accidents and respond to questions and complaints professionally. House cleaners may work in residential settings, commercial establishments, or other places that require regular cleaning tasks. They may also have the opportunity to work on a full-time, part-time, or casual basis. House cleaners can earn an average of $24,554 a year and may receive additional benefits, such as meals, paid vacations, health insurance, transportation facility, or paid extra when they use their vehicle.

How long does it takes to become a house cleaner?

It typically takes less than 1 month to become a house cleaner:

  • Less than 1 month: Accumulating the necessary work experience through on-the-job training, such as learning cleaning techniques, use of cleaning equipment, and safety procedures.

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House Cleaner career paths

A house cleaner can pursue various career paths, such as becoming a home health aid, driver, foreman, or general contractor. These roles require a similar skill set, including attention to detail and the ability to work independently. As a home health aid, house cleaners can help patients with daily tasks and provide companionship. As a driver, they can transport people and goods, while as a foreman, they can oversee construction or maintenance projects. Finally, as a general contractor, they can manage construction projects and coordinate with subcontractors.

Key steps to become a house cleaner

  1. Explore house cleaner education requirements

    Most common house cleaner degrees

    High School Diploma

    48.9 %

    Associate

    17.0 %

    Diploma

    13.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific house cleaner skills

    House cleaners maintain professionalism and excellent customer service skills. They are responsible for heavy cleaning duties like cleaning floors, glass, and walls, vacuuming carpets, and sweeping. They also perform tasks like dusting, polishing, and cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. They work in both residential and commercial settings, and their duties may include cleaning furniture, equipment, and appliances. They also clean windows, gutters, and concrete, and help move cleaning materials as needed.

    SkillsPercentages
    Taking Care34.44%
    Customer Service10.85%
    Customers Homes10.11%
    Dependability6.92%
    Window Sills6.59%
  3. Complete relevant house cleaner training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New house cleaners learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a house cleaner based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real house cleaner resumes.
  4. Research house cleaner duties and responsibilities

    A house cleaner's responsibilities include dusting and wiping down furniture, cleaning windows, and emptying wastebaskets. They also sweep, mop, and vacuum floors and carpets. Additionally, they are responsible for cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, including appliances such as stoves and microwaves. As one house cleaner says, "Record of dedication and dependability reinforced by consistent 'exceeds expectations' in job performance reviews."

    • Supervise and train maids in their cleaning duties to ensure company standards of cleanliness are achieved.
    • Clean customers home to the merry maids standards (clean bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, etc . )
    • Use industrial size washers and dryers.
    • Adhere to GMP documentation of work perform.
  5. Prepare your house cleaner resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your house cleaner resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a house cleaner resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable House Cleaner Resume templates

    Build a professional House Cleaner resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your House Cleaner resume.
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  6. Apply for house cleaner jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a house cleaner job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams
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Average house cleaner salary

The average House Cleaner salary in the United States is $27,996 per year or $13 per hour. House cleaner salaries range between $21,000 and $36,000 per year.

Average House Cleaner Salary
$27,996 Yearly
$13.46 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do house cleaners rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

House Cleaner reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2023
Pros

The finishing product

Cons

Was not much that I didn’t like .Working on my own didn’t bother me,was always interested in cleaning


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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Pros

I like everything nothing I don't like. The constant busy cleaning.I like doing the staging and detail.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

Missing my family be away


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Updated April 25, 2024

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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