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Cleaner

society Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A cleaner is a person who keeps spaces tidy and safe.

Abu Dhabi Corniche 19
Abu Dhabi Corniche 19

This job can be done in many different places. Some people clean private homes or large offices. Others work in public places like parks or schools. You might also hear people called janitors or custodians. These workers often take care of a whole building. They might even help with security or small repairs.

Atlanta parking garage settled particulates
Atlanta parking garage settled particulates

Cleaning is a very important job for our society.

Cleaning work happens in many different ways. Some workers specialize in just one specific task. For example, a window cleaner uses ladders and safety belts. They clean glass on the inside and outside of buildings. A carpet cleaner uses special tools to remove stains. Even train cleaners have a specific job to do. They tidy up the inside of trains and empty the bins.

Women in the First World War Q109879
Women in the First World War Q109879

Every type of cleaning requires different tools and skills.

History shows us that these roles have existed for a long time. The word janitor comes from a Latin word. That word is "ianitor," which means a doorkeeper. It comes from "ianua," which means a door or a gate. The first time we see the word used for a building caretaker was in 1708.

2015-04-28 19 11 29 Janitorial closet at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Elko, Nevada (NWS WFO LKN)
2015-04-28 19 11 29 Janitorial closet at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Elko, Nevada (NWS WFO LKN)

This shows that people have always needed help keeping buildings clean.

There are many facts about the cleaning industry today. In the United States, a janitor earned a median pay of $16.84 per hour in 2023. Some very specialized jobs pay much more. For instance, crime scene cleaners can earn over $700 an hour. In the Netherlands, the number of cleaning companies grew quickly. They went from 5,000 companies in 2003 to 8,000 in 2008. Many companies now hire outside contractors to do the cleaning work.

Cleaning is a job you see everywhere in your life. You might see a cleaner sweeping a parking garage. You might see someone cleaning a footpath in a city. Many cleaners work at night when buildings are empty. This ensures that offices are ready for people the next morning. Some people even clean for free as volunteers. This helps keep our forests and communities beautiful for everyone.

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File:Atlanta parking garage settled particulates.jpg
Atlanta parking garage settled particulates.jpg
File:2015-04-28 19 11 29 Janitorial closet at the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Elko, Nevada (NWS WFO LKN).jpg
2015-04-28 19 11 29 Janitorial closet at...
File:Abu Dhabi Corniche 19.jpg
Abu Dhabi Corniche 19.jpg
File:Women in the First World War Q109879.jpg
Women in the First World War Q109879.jpg
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