| Overall employment of cleaning workers is | | | | heated, well-lighted buildings. Working with |
| expected to grow as fast as average for all | | | | machines can be noisy, and some tasks, such as |
| occupations, as more office complexes, | | | | cleaning bathrooms and trash, can be dirty and |
| apartment houses, schools, factories, hospitals, | | | | unpleasant. They spend most of their time on |
| and other buildings requiring cleaning are built to | | | | their feet, sometimes lifting or pushing heavy |
| accommodate a growing population and economy. | | | | furniture or equipment. Many tasks, such as |
| As many firms reduce costs by contracting out | | | | dusting or sweeping, require constant bending, |
| the cleaning and maintenance of buildings, | | | | stooping, and stretching. |
| businesses providing cleaning services on a | | | | Cleaning supervisors coordinate, schedule, and |
| contract basis are expected to have the greatest | | | | supervise these activities. They assign tasks and |
| number of new jobs in this field. Although there | | | | inspect building areas to see that work has been |
| have been some improvements in productivity in | | | | done properly; they also issue supplies and |
| the way buildings are cleaned and maintained using | | | | equipment and inventory stocks to ensure that |
| teams of cleaners, for example, and better | | | | supplies on hand are adequate. They also screen |
| cleaning supplies' cleaning still is very much a | | | | and hire job applicants; train new and experienced |
| labor-intensive job. | | | | employees; and recommend promotions, |
| Much of the growth in these occupations will | | | | transfers, or dismissals. Supervisors may prepare |
| come from cleaning residential properties. As | | | | reports concerning the occupancy of rooms, |
| families become more pressed for time, they | | | | hours worked, and department expenses. Some |
| increasingly are hiring cleaning and handyman | | | | also perform cleaning duties. |
| services to perform a variety of tasks in their | | | | Building cleaners usually find work by answering |
| homes. Also, as the population ages, older people | | | | newspaper advertisements, applying directly to |
| will need to hire cleaners to help maintain their | | | | organizations where they would like to work, |
| houses. In addition, housekeeping cleaners will be | | | | contacting local labor unions, or contacting State |
| needed to clean the growing number of residential | | | | employment service offices. |
| care facilities for the elderly. These facilities, | | | | No special education is required for most cleaning |
| including assisted-living residences, generally | | | | jobs, but beginners should know simple arithmetic |
| provide housekeeping services as part of the | | | | and be able to follow instructions. High school shop |
| rent. | | | | courses are helpful for jobs involving repair work. |
| Housekeeping cleaners perform any combination | | | | Most building cleaners learn their skills on the job. |
| of light cleaning duties to keep private households | | | | Beginners usually work with an experienced |
| or commercial establishments such as hotels, | | | | cleaner, doing routine cleaning. As they gain more |
| restaurants, hospitals, and nursing homes clean | | | | experience, they are assigned more complicated |
| and orderly. In hotels, aside from cleaning and | | | | tasks. In some cities, programs run by unions, |
| maintaining the premises, maids and housekeeping | | | | government agencies, or employers teach these |
| cleaners may deliver ironing boards, cribs, and | | | | skills. Students learn how to clean buildings |
| rollaway beds to guests' rooms. In hospitals, they | | | | thoroughly and efficiently; how to select and |
| also may wash bed frames, brush mattresses, | | | | safely use various cleansing agents; and how to |
| make beds, and disinfect and sterilize equipment | | | | operate and maintain machines, such as wet and |
| and supplies with germicides and sterilizing | | | | dry vacuums, buffers, and polishers. |
| equipment. | | | | Students learn to plan their work, to follow safety |
| Cleaners use many kinds of equipment, tools, and | | | | and health regulations, to interact positively with |
| cleaning materials. For one job they may need | | | | people in the buildings they clean, and to work |
| standard cleaning implements; another may | | | | without supervision. Instruction in minor electrical, |
| require a special cleaning solution. Improved building | | | | plumbing, and other repairs also may be given. |
| materials, chemical cleaners, and power equipment | | | | Those who come in contact with the public should |
| have made many tasks easier and less time | | | | have good communication skills. Employers usually |
| consuming, but cleaning workers must learn the | | | | look for dependable, hard-working individuals who |
| proper use of equipment and cleaners to avoid | | | | are in good health, follow directions well, and get |
| harming floors, fixtures, and themselves. | | | | along with other people. |
| Cleaners and servants in private households dust | | | | Advancement opportunities for workers usually |
| and polish furniture; sweep, mop, and wax floors; | | | | are limited in organizations where they are the |
| vacuum; and clean ovens, refrigerators, and | | | | only maintenance worker. Where there is a large |
| bathrooms. They also may wash dishes, polish | | | | maintenance staff, however, cleaning workers can |
| silver, and change and make beds. Some wash, | | | | be promoted to supervisor or to area supervisor |
| fold, and iron clothes; a few wash windows. | | | | or manager. A high school diploma improves the |
| General house workers also may take clothes and | | | | chances for advancement. Some of them set up |
| laundry to the cleaners, buys groceries, and | | | | their own maintenance or cleaning businesses. |
| performs many other errands. | | | | Supervisors usually move up through the ranks. In |
| Building cleaning workers in large office and | | | | many establishments, they are required to take |
| residential buildings, and more recently in large | | | | some in-service training to improve their |
| hotels, often work in teams consisting of workers | | | | housekeeping techniques and procedures and to |
| who specialize in vacuuming, picking up trash, and | | | | enhance their supervisory skills. |
| cleaning restrooms, among other things. | | | | A small number of cleaning supervisors and |
| Supervisors conduct inspections to ensure that | | | | managers are members of the International |
| the building is cleaned properly and the team is | | | | Executive Housekeepers Association, which offers |
| functioning efficiently. In hotels, one member of | | | | two kinds of certification programs for cleaning |
| the team is responsible for reporting electronically | | | | supervisors and managers: Certified Executive |
| to the supervisor when rooms are cleaned. | | | | Housekeeper (CEH) and Registered Executive |
| Building cleaning workers usually work inside | | | | Housekeeper (REH). |