What Is a Building Cleaner and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

The duties of a building cleaner, also known as a janitor or custodian, revolve around keeping an office space or other commercial building clean. Responsibilities often include sweeping, washing floors, and running a vacuum. They may also clean windows, polish furniture, and dust shelving. A building cleaner may work at night or on the weekend because it is easier to clean restrooms and mop floors. In a large building, they may oversee additional janitorial staff members.

The qualifications to be a building cleaner often include a high school diploma and previous experience as a janitor or custodian. You may need to be able to operate cleaning equipment as well as perform basic repair jobs such as replacing plumbing fixtures, patching walls, or repairing tile flooring. Common job responsibilities include sweeping, washing floors, and running a vacuum. A building cleaner may also clean windows, polish furniture, and dust shelving.