Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

What the job really is

Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.

At a glance

• Sector: Building & Grounds
• O*NET-SOC code: 37-2012
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Keep storage areas and carts well-stocked, clean, and tidy.
• Carry linens, towels, toilet items, and cleaning supplies, using wheeled carts.
• Clean rooms, hallways, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, corridors, elevators, stairways, locker rooms, and other work areas so that health standards are met.
• Empty wastebaskets, empty and clean ashtrays, and transport other trash and waste to disposal areas.
• Sweep, scrub, wax, or polish floors, using brooms, mops, or powered scrubbing and waxing machines.
• Replenish supplies, such as drinking glasses, linens, writing supplies, and bathroom items.
• Clean rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and draperies, using vacuum cleaners and shampooers.
• Wash windows, walls, ceilings, and woodwork, waxing and polishing as necessary.
• Dust and polish furniture and equipment.
• Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operated sterilizers.
• Observe precautions required to protect hotel and guest property and report damage, theft, and found articles to supervisors.
• Sort, count, and mark clean linens and store them in linen closets.

Tools and technology

Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Windows, Backpack vacuums, Blink, Carpet shampooers, Carpet steamers, Cleaning brushes, Cleaning scrapers, Clothes ironing equipment, Commercial automatic floor scrubbers, Commercial dishwashers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
• Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers
• Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
• Dishwashers
• Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
• First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
• Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.