A Cleaning Technician helps keep buildings clean and safe. Tasks include sweeping, mopping, dusting, emptying bins, cleaning bathrooms, and sometimes restocking supplies. They may work in teams or alone and follow cleaning schedules to meet health and safety standards. Good attention to detail and reliability are important. Training is often on the job and may cover safety rules and the proper use of cleaning equipment.
In the United Kingdom, cleaning technicians often earn between 18000 and 23000 pounds per year, depending on the employer and location.
Many roles are full time with early morning, evening, or night shifts, and some positions offer part time hours suitable for students.
There are thousands of cleaning roles across schools, offices, hospitals, and factories, with job growth driven by the need for clean and safe spaces.
A person who keeps classrooms and halls clean at a school and helps tidy after activities
A friendly helper who cleans desks, floors and bathrooms in an office building
A team member who helps keep patient rooms and corridors clean and safe in a hospital
Find out what a Cleaning Technician does and where they work.
Read short guides or ask a school or local council about cleaning staff roles. Understand tasks like cleaning floors, toilets, and common areas, and learn about safety rules such as slip prevention and the use of PPE.
Practice simple cleaning tasks at home or in school to build confidence.
Start with clearing up a desk, wiping surfaces, sweeping a floor and taking out rubbish. Use cleaning cloths, buckets and safe cleaning products as guided by a teacher or parent.
Ask a school cleaner or janitor about their day and tips for beginners.
A mentor can show you how to follow a cleaning checklist and how to stay organised. They can also explain why hygiene and safety matter in every job.
Learn the names and uses of mops, brushes, cloths and cleaners.
Know how to store cleaners safely, when to wear gloves, and how to label bottles. Practice elbow room and careful handling to avoid spillages.
Understand basic safety guidelines in a cleaning job.
Learn about basic PPE such as gloves and aprons, and why signs like wet floor are important. Always report hazards to a supervisor.
Use a step by step list to keep tasks organised.
A checklist helps ensure nothing is missed and shows you how to prioritise areas like kitchens, toilets and floors. Practice completing it with supervision.
Plan when you will tidy each area in a room or building.
Use a simple timetable or chart. Regular routines build speed and confidence and help you cover all areas safely.
Practice cleaning faster while keeping standards high.
Time yourself on short tasks like wiping tables or sweeping. Look for ways to reduce waste and ensure surfaces are fully dry to prevent slips.
Ask for feedback from supervisors and friends.
Use comments to improve. Reflect on what went well and what could be done differently next time.
Looks after the maintenance and cleanliness of a building, sometimes including minor repairs and setting up rooms for events.
Cleans homes or private properties, focusing on personal spaces and household chores.
Supports health and safety in workplaces, including cleaning standards and hygiene practices.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Cleaning Technician. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
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Both roles focus on maintaining a clean, safe built environment and performing routine upkeep. They share practical skills in using cleaning products safely, following standard operating procedures, and reporting faults to facilities management, with the Building Technician role often encompassing light maintenance tasks alongside cleaning.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a foundation degree or higher national diploma in:
Courses that give you the opportunity to gain work experience through internships, placements or a year in industry may give you an advantage.
You'll usually need:
You can do a college course, which may help you to get a job as a trainee technician.
Courses include:
You may need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
The following apprenticeships may be relevant to this role:
The exact apprenticeship you take will depend on the type of company, your job role and duties.
You'll usually need:
You can get more advice on how to become a building technician from Go Construct.
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
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