Median annual earnings of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, were $18,250 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $14,920 and $23,650. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $12,920, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $30,700. Median annual earnings in 2002 in the industries employing the largest numbers of janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners, were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools | $22,820 |
| Local government | 22,770 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools | 21,540 |
| Lessors of real estate | 20,240 |
| Services to buildings and dwellings | 16,370 |
Median annual earnings of maids and housekeepers were $16,440 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $14,210 and $19,400. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $12,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23,750. Median annual earnings in 2002 in the industries employing the largest numbers of maids and housekeepers were as follows:
| General medical and surgical hospitals | $18,050 |
| Community care facilities for the elderly | 16,470 |
| Nursing care facilities | 16,440 |
| Services to buildings and dwellings | 16,210 |
| Traveler accommodation | 15,740 |
Median annual earnings of first-line supervisors and managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers were $28,140 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $21,520 and $36,940. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,490, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,570. Median annual earnings in 2002 in the industries employing the largest numbers of first-line supervisors and managers of housekeeping and janitorial workers were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools | $33,080 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 29,000 |
| Nursing care facilities | 26,960 |
| Services to buildings and dwellings | 25,410 |
| Traveler accommodation | 22,710 |
Building cleaning workers—including janitors, maids, housekeeping cleaners, window washers, and rug shampooers—keep office buildings, hospitals, stores, apartment houses, hotels, and residences clean and in good condition. Some only do cleaning, while others have a wide range of duties.
Janitors and cleaners perform a variety of heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. They may fix leaky faucets, empty trash cans, do painting and carpentry, replenish bathroom supplies, mow lawns, and see that heating and air-conditioning equipment works properly. On a typical day, janitors may wet- or dry-mop floors, clean bathrooms, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, make minor repairs, and exterminate insects and rodents. They also clean snow or debris from sidewalks in front of buildings and notify management of the need for major repairs. While janitors typically perform most of the duties mentioned, cleaners tend to work for companies that specialize in one type of cleaning activity, such as washing windows.
Maids and housekeeping cleaners perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels, restaurants, and hospitals, clean and orderly. In hotels, aside from cleaning and maintaining the premises, maids and housekeeping cleaners may deliver ironing boards, cribs, and rollaway beds to guests' rooms. In hospitals, they also may wash bedframes, brush mattresses, make beds, and disinfect and sterilize equipment and supplies with germicides and sterilizing equipment.
Janitors, maids, and cleaners use various equipment, tools, and cleaning materials. For one job they may need a mop and bucket, for another an electric polishing machine and a special cleaning solution. Improved building materials, chemical cleaners, and power equipment have made many tasks easier and less time consuming, but cleaning workers must learn the proper use of equipment and cleaners to avoid harming floors, fixtures, and themselves.
Cleaning supervisors coordinate, schedule, and supervise the activities of janitors and cleaners. They assign tasks and inspect building areas to see that work has been done properly, issue supplies and equipment, and inventory stocks to ensure that an adequate amount of supplies is present. They also screen and hire job applicants, train new and experienced employees, and recommend promotions, transfers, or dismissals. Supervisors may prepare reports concerning the occupancy of rooms, hours worked, and department expenses. Some also perform cleaning duties.
Cleaners and servants in private households dust and polish furniture; sweep, mop, and wax floors; vacuum; and clean ovens, refrigerators, and bathrooms. They also may wash dishes, polish silver, and change and make beds. Some wash, fold, and iron clothes; a few wash windows. General houseworkers also may take clothes and laundry to the cleaners, buy groceries, and perform many other errands.
.Overall employment of building cleaning workers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2012, as more office complexes, apartment houses, schools, factories, hospitals, and other buildings requiring cleaning are built to accommodate a growing population and economy. As many firms reduce costs by contracting out the cleaning and maintenance of buildings, businesses providing janitorial and cleaning services on a contract basis are expected to be one of the faster growing employers of these workers. Although there have been some improvements in productivity in the way buildings are cleaned and maintained—using teams of cleaners, for example, and better cleaning supplies—it is still very much a labor-intensive job. Average growth is expected among janitors and cleaners and among cleaning supervisors, but less-than-average growth is projected for maids and housekeeping cleaners. In addition to job openings arising due to growth, numerous openings should result from the need to replace those who leave this very large occupation each year. Limited formal education and training requirements, low pay, and numerous part-time and temporary jobs induce many to leave the occupation, thereby contributing to the number of job openings and the need to replace these workers.
Much of the growth in these occupations will come from cleaning residential properties. As families become more pressed for time, they increasingly are hiring cleaning and handyman services to perform a variety of tasks in their homes. Also, as the population ages, older people will need to hire cleaners to help maintain their houses. In addition, housekeeping cleaners will be needed to clean the growing number of residential care facilities for the elderly. These facilities, including assisted-living arrangements, generally provide housekeeping services as part of the rent.
No special education is required for most janitorial or cleaning jobs, but beginners should know simple arithmetic and be able to follow instructions. High school shop courses are helpful for jobs involving repair work.
Most building cleaners learn their skills on the job. Usually, beginners work with an experienced cleaner, doing routine cleaning. As they gain more experience, they are assigned more complicated tasks.
In some cities, programs run by unions, government agencies, or employers teach janitorial skills. Students learn how to clean buildings thoroughly and efficiently, how to select and safely use various cleansing agents, and how to operate and maintain machines, such as wet and dry vacuums, buffers, and polishers. Students learn to plan their work, to follow safety and health regulations, to interact positively with people in the buildings they clean, and to work without supervision. Instruction in minor electrical, plumbing, and other repairs also may be given. Those who come in contact with the public should have good communication skills. Employers usually look for dependable, hard-working individuals who are in good health, follow directions well, and get along with other people.
Building cleaners usually find work by answering newspaper advertisements, applying directly to organizations where they would like to work, contacting local labor unions, or contacting State employment service offices.
Advancement opportunities for workers usually are limited in organizations where they are the only maintenance worker. Where there is a large maintenance staff, however, cleaning workers can be promoted to supervisor and to area supervisor or manager. A high school diploma improves the chances for advancement. Some janitors set up their own maintenance or cleaning businesses.
Supervisors usually move up through the ranks. In many establishments, they are required to take some inservice training to improve their housekeeping techniques and procedures and to enhance their supervisory skills.
A small number of cleaning supervisors and managers are members of the International Executive Housekeepers Association, which offers two kinds of certification programs to cleaning supervisors and managers: Certified Executive Housekeeper (CEH) and Registered Executive Housekeeper (REH). The CEH designation is offered to those with a high school education, while the REH designation is offered to those who have a 4-year college degree. Both designations are earned by attending courses and passing exams, and both must be renewed every 2 years to ensure that workers keep abreast of new cleaning methods. Those with the REH designation usually oversee the cleaning services of hotels, hospitals, casinos, and other large institutions that rely on well-trained experts for their cleaning needs.
.Workers who specialize in one of the many job functions of janitors and cleaners include pest control workers; industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers; and grounds maintenance workers.
Information about janitorial jobs may be obtained from State employment service offices.
For information on certification in executive housekeeping, contact:
Some only do cleaning; others have a wide range of duties. They may fix leaky faucets, empty trash cans, do painting and carpentry, replenish bathroom supplies, mow lawns, and see that heating and air-conditioning equipment works properly. On a typical day, janitors may wet-or dry-mop floors, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, make minor repairs, and exterminate insects and rodents. Janitors and cleaners use different equipment, tools, and cleaning materials. Part-time cleaners usually work in the evenings and on weekends.
Summary of: http://www.edonline.com/collegecompass/oohb0188.htm
Everyone likes a clean home, but few of us like the chore of cleaning. Even worse, we often rely on a cocktail of hazardous substances to make our bathrooms sparkle or our floors shine. Green cleaners can also be made from a range of safer substances we might already have around the house. stream water, 69 percent of streams sampled contained persistent detergent metabolites, and 66 percent contained disinfectants. market for natural household cleaning products has grown to $100 million annually, according to natural goods retailer Seventh Generation.
Summary of: http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/goodstuff/cleaningproducts/
Some only do cleaning, while others have a wide range of duties. They may fix leaky faucets, empty trash cans, do painting and carpentry, replenish bathroom supplies, mow lawns, and see that heating and air-conditioning equipment works properly. On a typical day, janitors may wet- or dry-mop floors, clean bathrooms, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, make minor repairs, and exterminate insects and rodents. Janitors and cleaners use various equipment, tools, and cleaning materials. About 24 percent worked for firms supplying building maintenance services on a contract basis; 16 percent, in educational institutions; and 14 percent, in hotels.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh9899/86.htm
Businesses providing janitorial and cleaning services on a contract basis are expected to be one of the fastest growing employers of these workers. On a typical day, janitors may wet- or dry-mop floors, clean bathrooms, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, make minor repairs, and exterminate insects and rodents. Janitors and cleaners use various equipment, tools, and cleaning materials. Cleaning supervisors coordinate, schedule, and supervise the activities of janitors and cleaners. Less than 5 percent were self employed.
Summary of: http://guide.symplicity.com/resources/profession_article.php?id=190
Businesses providing janitorial and cleaning services on a contract basis are expected to be one of the fastest-growing employers of these workers. Janitors and cleaners perform a variety of heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. They spend most of their time on their feet, sometimes lifting or pushing heavy furniture or equipment. More than 6 percent were self-employed. Both designations are earned by attending courses and passing exams, and both must be renewed every 2 years to ensure that workers keep abreast of new cleaning methods.
Summary of: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos174.htm
A Denver cleaner that has reduced purchases of cleaning solvent by 65 percent. The result is a group of cleaners that can serve as models - for the dry cleaning industry and other industries - as we prepare to enter the 21st Century. Collects 500,000 hangers a year from its customers, saving the business $16,000 annually. Wet cleans virtually all garments it receives - 2,300 pounds a week. Has reduced odors and wastes through several technical innovations.
Summary of: http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/nwpc/dryclean1.htm
Some cleaning products, however, can contain harmful chemicals that contaminate the environment and endanger human health. Consider the following attributes when deciding which biodegradable cleaners and degreasers to purchase. Visit Environmental Attributes Defined for more detailed information. See pages 4 and 33-36 for environmental attribute descriptions and a biodegradable products attribute matrix. To view or print them you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader program installed on your computer.
Summary of: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/cleaner.htm
Businesses providing janitorial and cleaning services on a contract basis are expected to be one of the fastest growing employers of these workers. On a typical day, janitors may wet- or dry-mop floors, clean bathrooms, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, make minor repairs, and exterminate insects and rodents. Janitors and cleaners use various equipment, tools, and cleaning materials. Cleaning supervisors coordinate, schedule, and supervise the activities of janitors and cleaners. Less than 5 percent were self employed.
Summary of: http://www.analyzemycareer.com/index.cfm?auid=256&action=careerSearch&subAction=view&id=13510
Businesses providing janitorial and cleaning services on a contract basis are expected to be one of the fastest growing employers of these workers. On a typical day, janitors may wet- or dry-mop floors, clean bathrooms, vacuum carpets, dust furniture, make minor repairs, and exterminate insects and rodents. Janitors and cleaners use various equipment, tools, and cleaning materials. Cleaning supervisors coordinate, schedule, and supervise the activities of janitors and cleaners. Less than 5 percent were self employed.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20002001/140.htm
As the name implies, wet cleaning uses water and detergents instead of perchloroethylene (perc), a hazardous solvent. Wet cleaning is done in a new line of computer-controlled washing and drying machines. Customers and shop owners report good cleaning, brightness and fresh-smelling clothes, with few customer complaints. The machine costs less than a conventional perc machine, but electrical costs may be higher. Incorporating wet cleaning into your shop can help reduce the regulatory impact of this CAAA requirement.
Summary of: http://www.mntap.umn.edu/source/11-3/aque-d1.htm