what is a cleaner?
As a professional cleaner, you are responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. In most cases, you work as a cleaner. This means you are in charge of cleaning indoor spaces. Your workplace might be an office building, a hotel, a hospital, or a shopping centre. However, you can also work outdoors. You often work at different locations, which keeps things varied. Nonetheless, you will specialise to some extent. For example, you might work as a general maintenance cleaner, a specialised cleaner, a hospital cleaner, or a vehicle cleaner. But no matter which area you work in, thanks to you, people can live and work in a clean and pleasant environment.
For this to be the case, you will, among other things, perform the following activities:
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wiping and vacuuming
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scrubbing
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polishing of surfaces
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window cleaning
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disinfect toilets and sinks
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empty the rubbish bin
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report a fault
As a cleaner, you're on the move all day. So, you need to be fit. To spot any dirt or mess, you also need a keen eye for detail. Additionally, you should enjoy working as part of a team, because when you're working as a cleaner, you're usually not on your own.
Would you like to learn more about what you do in this important role? Keep reading to find out what your responsibilities as a cleaner are.
cleaner jobsworking as a cleaning staff member.
When asked what cleaning staff do, you’ll probably answer: cleaning. That’s correct. However, the cleaning job is much more versatile than that, as you’ll see in the following section.
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your area of responsibility
Your responsibilities as a cleaning staff member or housekeeper include the following tasks:
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Preparing for a cleaning job: As a cleaner, you decide which tools, equipment, cleaning agents, and maintenance products you'll need for the task. Based on that, you gather the necessary materials. Depending on the type of job, you may also need to set up lifts, ladders, or scaffolding before you can start cleaning.
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Cleaning floors and walls: You mop the floors, pick them up damp, and clean them with a vacuum cleaner or a suction machine. If necessary, you shampoo carpets and maintain parquet floors. You also clean walls and wallpaper.
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Caring for furniture: You dust off furniture and fittings, polish their surfaces, and treat them as needed with care products such as wood polish or leather balm.
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Cleaning windows and facades: As a cleaner, you are also responsible for windows and facades. For their cleaning, you will use equipment such as window cleaning tools and high-pressure washers.
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Disinfect: By disinfecting surfaces, you make an important contribution to hygiene and health. For example, you disinfect sinks and toilets. In hospitals, you are also responsible for disinfecting operating theatres and patient rooms.
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Waste disposal: As a cleaner, your empty paper bins and waste containers. You sort the waste and ensure it is disposed of properly and in an environmentally friendly manner.
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Report a repair: You walk through the building with your eyes open. If you notice a broken lamp or damaged piece of furniture, you should report it to the building maintenance team.
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Check stock levels: As a cleaner, you keep an eye on the supplies of cleaning products, toilet paper, and other consumables. You notify the relevant departments before stocks run out or you arrange for replacements yourself.
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Cleaning equipment maintenance: You carry out minor maintenance tasks on your devices. For example, you replace the vacuum cleaner bag or swap the battery of the cleaning machine. After finishing, you clean your tools.
- Maintaining customer contacts: You may also be responsible for managing customer relationships. For example, you advise clients on the type and method of cleaning, prepare quotes, and take orders.
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who are your colleagues?
As a cleaner, you often work together with other cleaning staff or cleaning team members. Sometimes, you report to the caretaker and collaborate with the building services personnel. If you work in the evenings, you’ll frequently encounter security staff. Depending on your place of work, you may also interact with tradespeople, recycling specialists, hotel or restaurant staff, office workers, hospital hygiene professionals, or other professionals.
types of cleaning staff.
There are mainly four types of cleaning staff:
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Cleaners: As a cleaner, you will regularly carry out routine cleaning tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, dusting, and emptying bins. You generally work at the same locations consistently.
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Specialist cleaners: As a specialist cleaner, you undertake specialised cleaning assignments, such as construction cleans facade cleaning, window cleaning, or cleaning after fire or water damage. These are usually one-off jobs. They often involve heightened safety requirements.
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Hospital cleaners: As a hospital cleaner, you work in a hospital, clinic, rehabilitation centre, or care facility. Working in a hospital setting demands particularly high standards of hygiene.
- Vehicle cleaners: As a vehicle cleaner, you will be responsible for cleaning trains, buses, trams, coaches, lorries, and other transport vehicles. In this role, you may be involved in both routine and specialised cleaning tasks.
salary as a cleaner.
How much do I earn as a cleaner in a permanent position?
The minimum wages in the cleaning industry are primarily governed by three collective agreements: one for German-speaking Switzerland, one for the French-speaking region (Romandy), and one for Ticino. If you have completed an apprenticeship as a building cleaner EFZ, you will earn at least 4,500 Swiss francs per month in German-speaking Switzerland, provided you work full-time. You are entitled to 13 monthly salaries. This means you will earn a minimum of 58,500 francs per year. With a professional certificate, your monthly wage increases to around 4,000 francs, or 52,000 francs annually. There is also a pay supplement for night and weekend work.
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how much do I earn as a cleaner in a permanent position?
The minimum wages in the cleaning industry are primarily governed by three collective agreements: one for German-speaking Switzerland, one for the French-speaking region (Romandy), and one for Ticino. If you have completed an apprenticeship as a building cleaner with a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ), you will earn at least 4,500 Swiss francs per month in German-speaking Switzerland, provided you work full-time. You are entitled to 13 monthly salaries, which means you will earn a minimum of 58,500 Swiss francs per year. With the professional diploma, your earnings increase to around 4,000 Swiss francs per month, or 52,000 Swiss francs annually. There is also a pay supplement for night shifts and weekend work.
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how much do I earn as a cleaner per hour?
Many cleaning staff work on an hourly basis. As a maintenance cleaner, you earn at least 20.20 Swiss francs per hour in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. If you have completed an industry-specific training course, your hourly rate increases to at least 21.20 Swiss francs. Additionally, if you are employed on an hourly basis, you are entitled to a holiday bonus. This is usually not paid out immediately but is instead given when you take your holiday.
training and further education as a cleaner.
As a cleaner or room cleaner, you don't necessarily need formal training to get started. You can begin working immediately and gain valuable experience along the way. However, completing an apprenticeship as a building cleaner with a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) is advantageous. The three-year vocational training enables you to handle more complex tasks and typically results in a higher salary. During your apprenticeship, you'll work for a cleaning company and attend vocational college one day a week. There, you'll learn essential fundamentals related to hygiene, health and safety, as well as environmental protection. If your strengths lie more in practical work rather than academic study, you can also undertake a two-year Attestation of Competence apprenticeship as a building cleaner (EBA). After completing this, you have the option to obtain the Swiss Federal Certificate of Competence through a shortened two-year vocational training programme.
what further training opportunities are available to me as a cleaner?
Trade vocational schools and the Allpura industry association offer you a wide range of further training courses. These include, for example, courses in pest control, graffiti removal, or handling chemicals. Additionally, after completing your apprenticeship, you have the opportunity to take the professional examination as a building cleaning specialist. Are you interested in taking on a managerial role within a cleaning company? Then it’s worth pursuing the Higher Technical Examination to become a qualified building cleaner or to qualify as a Facility Management and Maintenance Manager. In some cases, studying at a higher technical college or university of applied sciences may also be an option.
positions as cleaning staff.
As a cleaner, you'll be in demand across all industries. This means your workplace could be almost anywhere: indoors, outdoors, in an office, a museum, a train station, or a hospital. You have plenty of options to choose from. There are more than enough vacancies, so chances are good that you'll find a job nearby that doesn't require a long commute. Most cleaning staff work as cleaners in offices, residential and commercial buildings. They often have fixed working hours. Want more flexibility? Then a cleaning role in the events industry might be a good option for you. Or if you're after a bit of excitement, how about window and façade cleaning on high-rise buildings?
jobs for career changers as cleaning staff.
Being a career changer is no obstacle in the cleaning profession. In fact, there are hardly any jobs with lower entry barriers. You don’t need experience or a specific qualification. If you’re reasonably fit physically, you’ll always find a position as a cleaner. That’s why a cleaning job is well suited for those returning to work after a break, who haven’t been active professionally for some time. One of the main advantages of working in the cleaning industry is the many part-time options available. Such opportunities can help you balance work and family life. You can also work as a cleaner on a part-time basis to earn some extra money or to bridge a short-term financial gap.
career opportunities as a cleaner.
As a cleaner or housekeeper, you have various opportunities for advancement and development. The first step on the career ladder is the position of supervisor. In this role, you lead a cleaning team. You assign tasks to team members, provide instructions, and carry out quality checks. The next level up is the role of site manager. As a site manager, you are responsible for all cleaning teams within a specific building. With additional training, you can also become a facilities manager or a building maintenance supervisor. Additionally, you can specialise in certain cleaning tasks – for example, façade cleaning or move-out cleans. Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Then you might soon become the boss of your own cleaning company…
skills as a cleaner.
For a cleaning job, you mainly need the following skills and qualities:
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Fitness: In your job as a cleaner or housekeeper, you need to move around a lot. That's why it's important to be physically fit.
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Practical aptitude: To do your job well, you need to be skilled and able to handle equipment and machinery effectively.
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Attention to detail: To ensure you don't miss any dirty spots, you need a keen eye for detail.
- The ability to work quickly: In the cleaning industry, you're only successful if you can work efficiently and stick to a schedule.
benefits of working as a production worker at randstad.
As a successful recruitment consultant, you know the job market inside out. You're well-versed in all aspects of employment law. In addition, you excel with the following qualities and skills:
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Networking: Your success as a recruitment consultant largely depends on having an excellent network. You understand the importance of personal channels to gather information and gain access to potential candidates. You manage to establish the right contacts and maintain your network effectively. The art of networking comes naturally to you.
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People skills: As a recruiter, your primary focus is on people. You can already gauge someone’s character from the very first impression. You look beyond the surface and understand how they think and behave. This enables you to identify suitable candidates effectively.
- Persuasiveness: Once you've found the right candidates, you need to convince them. You inspire them with the upcoming tasks and persuade them that the role is the perfect fit for them. Empathy and tact will help you achieve this.
application tips for production workers at randstad.
There are many good reasons to work as a recruitment consultant at Randstad:
✓ exciting jobs with well-known companies
✓ a reliable contact person whenever you need one, personal advice matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ training courses and opportunities for personal development
✓ clear information available in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? There’s often the chance to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many popular companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad.
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1. your training budget as a recruitment consultant at randstad
If you work as a recruitment consultant for Randstad, you have access to training courses. As part of the TempTrainings programme from swissstaffing, you can attend various training sessions. You will be reimbursed for the course fees later, provided you pass the course exam. Your Randstad advisor is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can also gain additional language skills or industry-specific knowledge—all during your working hours as a recruitment consultant.
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2. apply for a cleaning position
The job ad continues right away: apply online, give us a call, or send us an email.
Make sure your documents are complete.
✓ CV with photo
✓ work references & diplomas
You don't have a CV yet or only an outdated version? Create a new layout using a free online template. -
3. preparing for a job interview as a cleaner
A good preparation will help you stay calm during the interview as a bricklayer. Here are some tips for your job interview.
Here are some tips for your job interview.
frequently asked questions.
Here you'll find the answers to common questions about the role of cleaner.
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what does a cleaner do?
As a cleaner, you are responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. You clean both the interior and exterior of buildings, as well as vehicles. You might carry out regular maintenance cleaning as a general cleaner or take on specialised cleaning tasks such as construction site or move-out cleans.
Is cleanliness your thing? Then browse our job listings for a position as a cleaner.
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how much do i earn as a cleaner?
As a cleaning professional with a completed vocational training, you earn at least 58,500 Swiss francs per year in a full-time position. With a professional certificate, the minimum is 52,000 Swiss francs. If you're employed on an hourly basis, you receive a minimum of 20.20 Swiss francs per hour. As a specialist or vehicle cleaner, you earn more than in a role as a maintenance cleaner.
You can find more information about your earning opportunities as a cleaner here.
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is cleaning work a good profession?
The job as a cleaner offers hardly any barriers to entry. You don't need a Bachelor's or Master's degree, nor prior work experience. Even after a long break from employment, you can easily re-enter the workforce with a cleaning job. Additionally, you can work part-time as a cleaner without any trouble. This allows you to balance work and family life effectively.
Whether a job as a cleaning staff member suits you best is something you'll find out by reading the entire article.
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what is the difference between a cleaning lady and a domestic helper?
Both cleaning staff and domestic helpers are colloquially often referred to as cleaners. However, domestic helpers work in private households, whereas you as a cleaner are employed in a professional setting. For example, you might carry out your duties in office buildings, shopping centres, apartment blocks, or hotels.
Would you like to find out more about what your work as a cleaner involves? Then keep reading.
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do I need experience to become a cleaner?
No. You can start work immediately. To work as a cleaner, you don't need any experience or special training. However, with a vocational qualification as a building cleaner, you can take on more demanding tasks and earn a higher wage. You also have the opportunity to further your training on the job and gradually qualify for more complex responsibilities.
The right cleaning job to kickstart your career can be found in our job listings.
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what requirements do I need to meet to become a cleaner?
Since you, as a cleaner, move around a lot, you need to be physically fit. Additionally, you should have a practical aptitude and be comfortable handling equipment and machinery. To avoid missing any dirty spots, you also need a good eye for detail.
Are you easily meeting these requirements? Then take a look at our job vacancies. There, you'll find a variety of interesting cleaning jobs.
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how do I apply for a cleaning staff position?
Applying for a cleaner or housekeeper role is straightforward: create a profile on Randstad and browse our job listings for cleaning positions near you. Then, simply send us your CV and cover letter.
Need help with your CV or cover letter? Here are our application tips.
