Housekeepers may do light cleaning more regularly, while house cleaners perform deep cleaning less often.
House cleaner and housekeeper — they sound the same, but they actually involve
two very different jobs and duties.
Are you looking for someone to clean the kitchen, scrub the toilets and make appliances shine? Or, are you looking for someone to change the sheets, wash and put away dishes and do some meal preparation?
Housekeeping duties
A housekeeper is an individual who remains in the home for a longer period of time and may have many projects within the home to keep them busy. A housekeeper is usually hired by a family who provides everything needed for the job, and those supplies and materials stay in the home.
• Light cleaning (not deep cleaning), dusting, sweeping, mopping
• Washing and drying dishes
• Washing, folding and ironing clothes
• Changing bed linens and making beds
• Separating and removing garbage and recycling
• Restocking personal care products, toilet paper, etc.
• Picking up toys and/or clutter and other general organizing
• Running errands for the family
• Preparing meals
• Replacing light bulbs
• Scooping litter boxes
• Other light duties as requested
House cleaning duties
A house cleaner is an individual or a team of cleaners who arrives on a scheduled day and time with all the proper cleaning supplies, products and equipment.
They are usually in the home for a specific amount of time and take their supplies with them when they leave for their next cleaning appointment. Cleaners may be independently employed or employed by a house cleaning company.
Typical duties of a house cleaner may include:
• Deep cleaning most surfaces (countertops, sinks, tubs, toilets, floors, appliances, etc.)
• Scrubbing and sanitizing kitchens from top to bottom, including the exterior of cabinets and drawers, exterior of appliances like stoves and refrigerators, countertops, sinks and drains, backsplashes, light switch plate covers, knobs and handles
• Cleaning tables and chairs
• Scrubbing and sanitizing bathrooms from top to bottom, including toilets, tubs, showers, sinks and drain openings and polishing chrome
• Dusting trim work, baseboards, doors, picture frames, light fixtures, etc.
• Vacuuming upholstery and carpet
• Vacuuming and mopping hard floors
• Interior window cleaning
If you think in terms of light-duty work with some organizing thrown in, that’s for a housekeeper. If you’re looking for a top-to-bottom cleaning of your home, that’s for a house cleaner.