Cleaner: What is the cost of hiring?
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Cleaner: What is the cost of hiring?
As of April 2022, the average number of jobseekers per cleaner job in Australia is 28.
a cleaner: What is the cost of hiring?
As of April 2022, the average number of jobseekers per cleaner job in Australia is 28.
Why hire a cleaner?
Hiring a cleaner is beneficial for any business. After all, a clean, hygienic work environment will not only make a good impression on your customers but also keep your employees motivated and healthy. A cleaner will make sure your premises are up to scratch and sanitary at all times.
Contributions of a great cleaner:
- Skilled in professional cleaning and familiar with the necessary equipment and detergents
- Reliable and trustworthy, so you can enjoy peace of mind while they are working, even in your most secure areas
- Delivers consistent results every time, so you don’t have to worry about the cleanliness standard on your premises
Deciding between a full-time vs freelance cleaner
Cleaners can be hired full-time or on a contractor basis. Before you start the hiring process, make sure you are clear on your requirements and whether you’d prefer an in-house cleaner or an external contractor.
A full-time in-house cleaner has the advantage of added security as they are a permanent, fully vetted staff member. Given that they will have access to all areas of your premises, this can be an important aspect. An employed cleaner will also be part of the team and know your business and premises very well. You will need to train an in-house cleaner and provide all the utensils and products required to keep your working environment hygienic.
A contractor, on the other hand, will bring their own cleaning products and equipment, which can be more cost-effective in the long run. Contractors are also more flexible, and you can adjust their working hours as needed if your business closes over the holiday period, for example, without needing to pay for their time as you would for a permanently employed cleaner.
What are the different types of cleaner?
When hiring a cleaner, be sure to know exactly what type of cleaner you are after. Different cleaners specialise in different areas, so pick the one that’s right for your company’s requirements:
- Commercial cleaner: Commercial cleaners specialise in cleaning corporate or industrial premises and work according to the client’s checklist; their duties include dusting, cleaning floors and furniture as well as machinery, and removing rubbish. Typical work sites are commercial or industrial properties such as offices, schools, factories, industrial facilities or hospitals.
- Carpet cleaner: A carpet cleaner specialises in washing and cleaning carpets and upholstery; this includes stain removal and deodorising the fabric as needed.
- Janitor: Many companies hire a janitor who is tasked with maintaining clean and tidy premises. Janitorial duties can include mopping floors, disinfecting surfaces and toilets, carrying out maintenance work and emptying bins.
- Window cleaner: Window cleaners need to be comfortable working at heights and are responsible for cleaning the outside of glass windows on low- or high-rise buildings; they may also need to assemble scaffolding and be skilled in operating a pressure washer.
- Laundry attendant: Laundry attendants are responsible for washing, drying and folding laundry items, while keeping track of what items belong to each individual; at hotels, prisons or hospitals, this includes cleaning linen and towels. Laundry attendants need to be highly organised and skilled in using laundry chemicals.
Where to find a cleaner?
To find the right cleaner for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Ask in-house: Post your cleaner vacancy on your intranet or put up a flyer on your premises. Some of your existing staff may have a trusted family member or relative who is a cleaner with the skills and experience you’re looking for.
- Word of mouth: Get cleaner referrals from your business peers or ask them to spread the word about your vacancy in their organisations. Ask around to find a cleaner that comes highly recommended.
- Browse Indeed Smart Sourcing: Search for a ‘cleaner’ in the search bar on Indeed, pick the ones who meet your requirements and contact those cleaners you’d like to interview.
- Attend local business meet-ups: Many towns have a small business association or informal gatherings where local business owners come together. You may find a cleaner there or at least get recommendations to point you in the right direction.
Post your job online: Try posting your cleaner job on Indeed to find and attract quality cleaner candidates.
Skills to look for in a great cleaner
A great cleaner candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:
- being experienced in professional cleaning
- proficient in using standard cleaning products and equipment
- trustworthy, with the necessary security clearance
- reliable and able to follow directions
- taking pride in their work and delivering consistent results every time
Writing a cleaner job description
A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified cleaner candidates. A cleaner job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.
When writing your job description for a cleaner, consider including some or all of the following keywords to strengthen the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on cleaner jobs, according to Indeed data:
- cleaner
- cleaning
- housekeeping
- office cleaning
- office cleaner
- school cleaning
- commercial cleaning
- cleaners
Interviewing cleaner candidates
Strong candidates for cleaner positions will be confident answering questions regarding:
- experience in commercial cleaning
- knowledge of cleaning products and tools
- work ethic and ability to follow instructions
- timeliness and reliability regarding the agreed working hours
- security clearance or police check
- references from previous cleaning engagements
Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of cleaner interview questions for examples (with sample answers).
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
