A cleaner keeps a building clean, hygienic and safe for the people who use it. Typical cleaner duties include vacuuming and mopping floors, dusting and wiping surfaces, cleaning and restocking washrooms, emptying bins, cleaning kitchens and break areas, and reporting any damage or hazards. Commercial and office cleaners often work early mornings or evenings so the building is ready before staff arrive.
This guide covers the duties of office and commercial cleaners, the skills and training needed, UK pay, and a cleaner job description template you can use.
What does a cleaner do?
The National Careers Service lists mixing cleaning chemicals safely, cleaning offices and other buildings, cleaning glass, keeping stock of cleaning products and following health and safety rules among the main tasks. The exact duties depend on the site.
Office cleaner duties
- Vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors.
- Dusting and wiping desks, shelves and touch points such as door handles and light switches.
- Cleaning and sanitising toilets, sinks and urinals and refilling soap, paper and sanitary bins.
- Cleaning kitchens, tea points, microwaves and fridges.
- Emptying general waste and recycling bins and taking waste to the collection point.
- Cleaning internal glass and reception areas.
- Locking up or setting alarms if responsible for the building after hours.
Commercial and industrial cleaner duties
- Operating floor scrubbers, polishers and other machines.
- Cleaning warehouses, retail units, airports, schools or healthcare areas.
- Following specialist procedures such as infection control.
- Carrying out periodic tasks like deep cleans and high-level dusting.
Health, safety and hygiene
Cleaning involves chemicals, wet floors, lifting and sometimes working alone, so training matters.
- COSHH: cleaners must use chemicals according to the COSHH assessment and safety data sheet, wear the right PPE and never mix products. See our COSHH guide for cleaners.
- Colour coding: using red, blue, green and yellow equipment for different areas prevents cross-contamination. See our cleaning colour codes guide.
- Slips and trips: wet floor signs and dry mopping walkways.
- Manual handling: safe lifting of bins, buckets and equipment.
- Lone working: check-in procedures for early and late shifts. Read our lone working guide.
Skills and qualities
- Attention to detail and pride in a job done properly.
- Reliability and good time-keeping, often with keys or alarm codes.
- Ability to work independently and follow a cleaning schedule.
- Physical stamina.
- Honesty and discretion in offices with confidential information.
- Good communication with supervisors and site staff.
Qualifications and training
No formal qualifications are required. Employers usually provide induction training on chemicals, equipment and site rules. Useful qualifications include British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) training and the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative apprenticeship. Some sites, such as airports, schools and healthcare, require background checks before starting.
Cleaner pay in the UK
The National Careers Service gives a typical range of £19,000 to £25,000 a year. Hourly pay must be at least the National Minimum Wage: from April 2026 that is £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, rising to £13.21 in April 2027. Many cleaning contracts in the public sector and large organisations pay the real Living Wage, set by the Living Wage Foundation at £14.10 an hour across the UK and £15.45 in London for 2026 to 2027.
Cleaner job description template
Job title: Cleaner / Office Cleaner
Reports to: Cleaning Supervisor / Site Manager
Location: [Site]
Hours: [e.g. Monday to Friday, 6am to 9am]
Pay: £[rate] per hour
Purpose of the role: To keep the site clean, hygienic and presentable to the agreed specification.
Main duties:
- Clean offices, washrooms, kitchens and communal areas to the cleaning schedule.
- Empty bins and manage recycling.
- Restock washroom consumables.
- Use equipment and chemicals safely and follow COSHH and colour coding rules.
- Report damage, maintenance issues and hazards.
- Keep cleaning stores tidy and report low stock.
About you: Reliable, thorough and able to work independently. Experience is useful but full training is provided.
Looking for a cleaning team you can rely on?We provide vetted, trained cleaners for offices, retail, airports and commercial sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the duties of a cleaner?
Cleaning floors, surfaces, washrooms and kitchens, emptying bins, restocking consumables and reporting hazards or damage.
Do cleaners need qualifications?
No, but training in COSHH, equipment and colour coding is essential, and BICSc courses are well regarded.
How much do cleaners earn in the UK?
At least £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over from April 2026. Real Living Wage employers pay £14.10, or £15.45 in London.
What hours do office cleaners work?
Usually early mornings or evenings, outside office hours, although some sites use daytime cleaners.
What is the difference between a cleaner and a housekeeper?
Cleaners usually work in offices and commercial sites. Housekeepers work in hotels and residences and also make beds and prepare rooms for guests.
Commercial cleaning from WWSG
WWSG supplies managed cleaning teams for offices, retail and airport sites across Luton, Bedfordshire and the South East. See our commercial cleaning services or request a quote.