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Industrial cleaner

Alternative titles for this job include Commercial cleaner

Industrial cleaners clear up after fires, floods and crime scenes, as well as places that need to be hygienically clean.

Average salary (a year)

£17,000 Starter

to

£23,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 43 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
  • specialist courses offered by a professional body

College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant courses include:

  • Level 1 Award in Cleaning
  • Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning Principles

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could specialise in working in hospitals and medical centres by doing a healthcare cleaning operative intermediate apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

There are no set requirements if you want to apply directly for jobs, but previous cleaning experience would be useful.

Other Routes

You can do specialist training through The British Institute of Cleaning Science.

More Information

Registration

Career tips

A driving licence might be useful for this type of job.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in this area from The British Institute of Cleaning Science.

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • physical skills like bending, lifting and reaching
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • be able to cope with working at height

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could

  • wash out boilers, tanks and vats with high pressure hoses
  • remove dust and ash with industrial vacuuming equipment
  • decontaminate work areas and machinery
  • mix cleaning chemicals in the correct amounts
  • sandblast the outsides of building and structures
  • work from cradles or mobile access platforms to reach higher levels
  • safely store cleaning equipment and dispose of hazardous waste
  • clean and disinfect areas following strict standards and procedures
  • remove graffiti
  • report potential hazards to supervisors

Working environment

You could work at a client's business, in the community or visit sites.

Your working environment may be in conditions that some may find unpleasant, cramped, physically active, at height and involve using chemicals.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a team supervisor.

You could also set up your own company to specialise in a particular type of cleaning, like flood relief or biohazards.

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for an industrial cleaner right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming an industrial cleaner?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

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