Top 12 General Cleaner Skills to Put on Your Resume

A standout resume for a general cleaner blends hands-on know‑how with people skills. Show that you move fast but don’t miss the corners, that you keep places healthy, safe, and orderly. When your skills are clear and concrete, hiring managers see reliability, precision, and pride in the work.

General Cleaner Skills

1. Sanitization
2. Disinfection
3. Vacuuming
4. Dusting
5. Mopping
6. Polishing
7. Carpet Cleaning
8. Window Washing
9. Trash Removal
10. Floor Buffing
11. Pressure Washing
12. Eco-Friendly Cleaning

1. Sanitization

Sanitization reduces germs on surfaces to levels considered safe by public health standards. For a general cleaner, that means using the right agents and methods to keep spaces hygienic, day after day.

Why It's Important

It lowers the risk of illness, keeps high-traffic areas safer, and supports a consistently healthy environment.

How to Improve Sanitization Skills

Make these habits second nature:

1. Use EPA-registered products: Choose disinfectants proven effective for the target microbes.

2. Follow label directions: Application method and contact (dwell) time matter more than most people think.

3. Prioritize high-touch points: Doorknobs, switches, railings, counters, faucet handles. Hit them routinely.

4. Wear appropriate PPE: Gloves always; add eye protection or masks when chemicals or splashes warrant it.

5. Clean tools, too: Launder cloths, sanitize mop heads, and replace solutions often so you’re not spreading contamination.

6. Stay current: Track guidance from public health and workplace safety agencies; update products and practices as needed.

Dial in these basics and your results become consistent, safer, and easier to verify.

How to Display Sanitization Skills on Your Resume

2. Disinfection

Disinfection eliminates or sharply reduces harmful microorganisms on surfaces using chemicals or physical processes so those areas are safer to touch and use.

Why It's Important

It cuts transmission risk, supports infection control, and keeps workspaces genuinely clean—not just tidy.

How to Improve Disinfection Skills

1. Pick the right product: Use EPA-registered disinfectants appropriate for the pathogens and the surface.

2. Clean first: Soil blocks disinfectants. Remove dirt and grime, then disinfect.

3. Respect contact time: Surfaces must stay visibly wet for the full labeled time.

4. Protect yourself: Gloves as a baseline; add eye/respiratory protection when required.

5. Hit touch hotspots: Phones, keyboards, appliance handles, elevator buttons—schedule these more frequently.

6. Ventilate: Open windows or use mechanical ventilation to reduce fumes and improve safety.

7. Review guidance: Align with recommendations from reputable public health and workplace safety organizations.

Good disinfection is methodical: right product, right process, right timing.

How to Display Disinfection Skills on Your Resume

3. Vacuuming

Vacuuming removes dust, grit, and allergens from carpets, rugs, and hard floors to keep spaces cleaner and air clearer.

Why It's Important

It boosts indoor air quality, extends carpet life, and keeps dirt from migrating to other surfaces.

How to Improve Vacuuming Skills

1. Prep the area: Pick up small items and cords to avoid clogs and snags.
2. Maintain the machine: Empty canisters, replace or wash filters, check the brushroll for hair and thread.
3. Use correct settings: Match height and suction to the floor type for better pickup.
4. Slow, overlapping passes: Two passes in perpendicular directions lift more embedded soil.
5. Use attachments: Crevice tools for edges, dusting brushes for vents, upholstery tools for furniture.

Consistency here pays off—cleaner floors, fewer allergens, and a sharper overall appearance.

How to Display Vacuuming Skills on Your Resume

4. Dusting

Dusting removes fine particles from surfaces using cloths, dusters, or brushes to improve cleanliness and reduce allergens.

Why It's Important

Less dust means better air, fewer irritants, and longer-lasting finishes and equipment.

How to Improve Dusting Skills

1. Work top to bottom: Let gravity help and avoid rework.

2. Choose microfiber: It traps particles instead of pushing them around; consider anti-static tools for electronics.

3. Control scatter: Lightly dampen cloths so dust doesn’t go airborne; use compressed air only for delicate crevices.

4. Keep a schedule: High-traffic and vented areas need more frequent attention.

5. Smart technique: One-direction strokes collect more; spray products onto cloth, not the surface.

6. Protect your lungs: Wear a mask if the space is especially dusty or poorly ventilated.

7. Safer products: Pick low-VOC, fragrance-free options when possible.

8. Mind the airflow: Clean vents and replace HVAC filters on schedule to cut dust recirculation.

Do it right and the finish looks crisp, not smeared, and it stays that way longer.

How to Display Dusting Skills on Your Resume

5. Mopping

Mopping lifts dirt, spills, and residues from hard floors to keep them clean, safe, and sanitary.

Why It's Important

Clean floors reduce slip risks, stop grime from building up, and protect finishes.

How to Improve Mopping Skills

1. Match mop to floor: Microfiber for most, string or flat mop for heavy soil, specialty heads for textured tile.

2. Prep the mop right: Wring to damp, not dripping; too wet leaves streaks and risks damage.

3. Right solution, right dilution: Follow manufacturer directions—stronger isn’t better.

4. Work in sections: Start farthest from the exit and back your way out.

5. Rinse often: Dirty water just spreads soil. Swap solution as soon as it clouds.

6. Dry promptly: Use fans or airflow to speed drying and prevent slips or musty smells.

7. Maintain gear: Launder heads and let them fully dry to prevent bacteria growth.

Good mopping is a rhythm—clean, rinse, wring, repeat—without flooding the floor.

How to Display Mopping Skills on Your Resume

6. Polishing

Polishing smooths and shines surfaces—wood, metal, stone, glass—enhancing appearance and adding a layer of protection.

Why It's Important

It revives finishes, hides minor scuffs, and gives spaces that cared-for look.

How to Improve Polishing Skills

1. Pick a compatible product: Wood polish for wood, metal polish for metal, glass cleaner for glass. Always test in a hidden spot first.

2. Pre-clean: Dust and remove grime so you don’t grind grit into the surface.

3. Less is more: Apply sparingly to avoid build-up and haze.

4. Use microfiber: It applies evenly and reduces scratches.

5. Buff with intent: Circular motions, light pressure, then a clean dry cloth to finish.

6. Maintain between polishes: Routine dusting keeps the shine longer and limits reapplication.

Shine should look crisp, never greasy. If it smears, you used too much.

How to Display Polishing Skills on Your Resume

7. Carpet Cleaning

Carpet cleaning removes soils, stains, and allergens through vacuuming, spot treatment, and periodic deep-clean methods such as hot water extraction or low-moisture cleaning.

Why It's Important

It improves air quality, preserves carpet fibers, and keeps spaces looking sharp.

How to Improve Carpet Cleaning Skills

1. Vacuum first: Dry soil removal makes any wet cleaning far more effective.

2. Treat spots quickly: Blot, don’t rub. Use the right chemistry for the stain type (protein, oil, dye).

3. Match chemistry to carpet: Check fiber type and manufacturer care instructions before choosing solutions.

4. Avoid over-wetting: Too much water drives soil deeper and invites odors or mold.

5. Dry fast: Fans, ventilation, and dehumidification shorten dry time and prevent wicking.

6. Schedule periodic deep cleans: For heavy-use areas, consider certified professionals annually or as needed.

Clean carpet looks good, but what you really notice is how much fresher the room feels.

How to Display Carpet Cleaning Skills on Your Resume

8. Window Washing

Window washing clears glass of dirt, minerals, and streaks so light pours in and views stay sharp.

Why It's Important

Cleaner glass brightens rooms, boosts curb appeal, and protects windows from corrosive buildup.

How to Improve Window Washing Skills

Mix a simple solution (water plus a drop of mild dish soap). Work on overcast days to prevent flash-drying. Scrub with a non-shedding applicator, then pull a squeegee top to bottom with overlapping strokes. Wipe the blade between passes. Finish edges and sills with a lint-free cloth, and use a separate towel for frames to avoid smearing.

How to Display Window Washing Skills on Your Resume

9. Trash Removal

Trash removal covers collection, transport, and proper disposal of waste to keep spaces sanitary and compliant with local rules.

Why It's Important

It prevents odors and pests, reduces contamination risks, and keeps workflows smooth.

How to Improve Trash Removal Skills

1. Sort at the source: Separate recyclables, compostables, and landfill waste with clear bin labels.

2. Right liners, right cans: Match liner strength and size to the waste stream to avoid tears and leaks.

3. Stick to a schedule: Frequent pulls in food and restroom areas; don’t let bins overflow.

4. Safe handling: Tie bags securely, wear gloves, and use carts or dollies for heavier loads.

5. Reduce waste upstream: Encourage reusables, bulk supplies, and smart purchasing to cut volume.

6. Know hazardous rules: Batteries, chemicals, sharps, and e‑waste need proper containment and disposal per local regulations.

Small upgrades—better labels, sturdier liners—stop messes before they start.

How to Display Trash Removal Skills on Your Resume

10. Floor Buffing

Floor buffing uses a motorized machine and pads to restore gloss on finished hard floors and extend the life of the coating.

Why It's Important

It pulls scuffs, levels light abrasion, and brings back that clean, even shine.

How to Improve Floor Buffing Skills

1. Prep thoroughly: Remove furniture, sweep or dust mop, then damp mop. Let it dry fully.
2. Choose the right pad: Light-colored pads for polish, darker for light scrubbing. Match to the finish and task.
3. Set up correctly: Adjust handle height, center the pad, and confirm machine speed suits the finish.
4. Buff with overlap: Side-to-side passes with slight overlap keep the gloss uniform. Don’t dwell in one spot.
5. Dust mop after: Pick up any powdering left behind to leave the floor spotless.
6. Maintain gear: Clean or replace pads and inspect cords and bearings regularly.

When the reflection looks even from every angle, you nailed it.

How to Display Floor Buffing Skills on Your Resume

11. Pressure Washing

Pressure washing blasts away dirt, mildew, and loose paint from exterior surfaces using high-pressure water.

Why It's Important

It restores surfaces fast, prevents damage from buildup, and preps areas for sealing or painting.

How to Improve Pressure Washing Skills

1. Pre-rinse and sweep: Knock off loose debris first for a faster, cleaner result.
2. Nozzle matters: Wider angles are safer; narrow jets clean aggressively but can damage—test first.
3. Use detergents wisely: Apply the correct cleaner for the surface, let it dwell, then rinse thoroughly.
4. Match pressure to material: Lower PSI for wood and softer surfaces; higher for concrete and masonry.
5. Keep it moving: Constant motion avoids etching and stripes.
6. Mind runoff: Protect landscaping and follow local rules on wastewater and cleaners.

Start subtle, then step up. You can always add pressure—can’t un-etch wood.

How to Display Pressure Washing Skills on Your Resume

12. Eco-Friendly Cleaning

Eco-friendly cleaning uses non-toxic, biodegradable products and low-impact methods to protect health and the environment without sacrificing results.

Why It's Important

Less exposure to harsh chemicals, better indoor air, safer disposal, and a smaller footprint.

How to Improve Eco-Friendly Cleaning Skills

1. Choose certified products: Look for trusted eco labels such as Green Seal or Safer Choice.

2. Mix simple solutions: Vinegar, baking soda, and mild soaps handle many tasks effectively.

3. Go reusable: Microfiber cloths, washable mop heads, refillable bottles—less waste, better performance.

4. Save water and energy: Use measured amounts, cold water when appropriate, and efficient tools.

5. Dispose responsibly: Recycle containers and follow local rules for any chemicals.

6. Keep learning: Review product safety data and stay updated on safer alternatives and practices.

Cleaner spaces, lighter impact. That’s the aim.

How to Display Eco-Friendly Cleaning Skills on Your Resume