Cleaner CV: Example and sample you can copy

If you're applying for cleaning work, your cleaner CV should be simple, easy to scan, and focused on the cleaning tasks you can do safely and well. Below is a complete cleaner CV sample you can copy, plus tips for domestic and industrial cleaning jobs, equipment and health and safety, so your cleaning job application in South Africa stands out for the right reasons.

What to include in a cleaner CV (South Africa)

A strong cleaner CV usually fits on 1 page. Use 2 pages only if you have a long work history.

Include these sections, in this order:

• Contact details: name, cell number, area or suburb, and email.
• Profile or summary: 3–5 lines about you that match the job.
• Key skills: practical cleaning skills, safety and reliability.
• Work experience: short bullet points about your tasks, the standards you worked to and the equipment you used.
• Education: your highest grade is fine. You don't need matric for many cleaning jobs, but list it if you have it.
• Certificates or short courses: only if you have any, for example first aid, OHS (occupational health and safety) or chemical handling.
• Availability: shifts, weekends, and when you can start.
• References: people who can confirm you are reliable, or "Available on request" if privacy is a concern.

What is the person hiring actually checking? Mostly three things: can you do the tasks, can they trust you, and will you arrive on time. Every section of your CV should help answer one of these.

If you want to build and store your CV neatly online, you can create a free CV and then choose a CV design that prints clearly.

Cleaner CV example you can copy (domestic or industrial)

This sample covers home, office and industrial cleaning. Use it like this:

1. Copy the whole example into your CV.
2. Replace everything in [square brackets] with your own details.
3. Delete any job or skill that does not apply to you. Most people will only keep one or two of the job entries.
4. Keep it honest. Only include tasks and machines you can really handle.

If you have no certificates, simply delete that section. An empty heading looks worse than no heading. For more help, see how to list certificates on a CV.

Always ask your references first before you put their names down. Our guide on references on a CV explains who to choose.

If you want to keep your details up to date for applications, you can update your CV profile at any time and download your CV again.

How to tailor your cleaner CV for domestic vs industrial cleaning

Homes and businesses look for slightly different things. Change your profile and top skills to match the job ad before you send your CV.

Domestic cleaning (homes)

A family is letting you into their home, so trust matters most.

• Show trust and routine: mention handling keys and alarms, respecting privacy, and following how the household likes things done.
• List home-specific tasks: laundry, ironing, fridge cleaning, oven cleaning, organising cupboards (only if you really do these).
• Show you know your surfaces: say you can clean tiles, wood and stainless steel without damaging them.

If the job also includes cooking or childcare, see our domestic worker CV guide.

Industrial / commercial cleaning (sites, offices, retail)

Here, the supervisor wants someone safe, consistent and able to work to a schedule.

• Show safety behaviour: wet-floor signs, PPE, correct waste disposal and reporting hazards.
• Include equipment you know: floor scrubbers, buffing machines, wet-and-dry vacuums, pressure washers (only what you've used).
• Prove consistency: mention checklists, shift work, time management and working to supervisor standards.

Applying for a mix of cleaning and other site work? Our general worker CV example may also help.

Cleaner CV skills that employers actually look for

Words like "hardworking, honest, friendly" don't prove anything on their own. Everyone writes them.

Instead, combine a practical skill with how you work:

• Hygiene standards: bathrooms, kitchens, high-touch surfaces (things many people touch, like door handles and taps), and avoiding cross-contamination (spreading germs from one area to another, for example using a toilet cloth in the kitchen).
• Chemical safety: correct dilution (mixing the right amount of product with water), never mixing chemicals, opening windows for fresh air, and using PPE.
• Attention to detail: corners, skirtings, behind doors, streak-free glass.
• Reliability: arriving on time, finishing tasks, and telling your supervisor early if you will be late.
• Teamwork and instructions: following supervisor requests and working around other staff.

Here is the difference in practice:

• Weak: "Hardworking and honest cleaner."
• Strong: "Trusted with house keys and alarm codes for 3 years; always on time for 7am starts."

The strong version shows honesty and hard work instead of just saying it. For more ideas, see skills to put on a CV.

If you're not sure how long your CV should be, read How Long Should a CV Be? (South African Rules).

Health and safety: what to write (without sounding complicated)

Even for entry-level roles, basic health and safety awareness makes a cleaner CV stronger. It tells the employer you won't hurt yourself or others.

PPE means personal protective equipment: gloves, masks, aprons and safety shoes. You don't need fancy words. Add 1–3 simple bullets like these to your skills or experience:

• Use PPE (gloves, mask, apron) when handling chemicals and waste.
• Place wet-floor signs and block off areas to prevent slips and falls.
• Follow correct chemical dilution and never mix products.
• Store chemicals safely and label bottles clearly.
• Report hazards (leaks, broken tiles, exposed wires) to the supervisor or employer.

Cleaner CV with no experience: how to fill the experience section

If you haven't had a formal cleaning job yet, don't leave the section empty. Use informal experience: cleaning you have done at home, in your community or for cash. Focus on the tasks.

• Family or household support: "Assisted with weekly deep cleaning, laundry, ironing and organising for a household of [X]."
• Community or volunteer work: "Cleaned community hall after events: floors, bathrooms, waste removal, kitchen area."
• Short-term or once-off work: "Once-off move-in and move-out cleans: windows, walls, cupboards, bathrooms."

Add a short Strengths line under your profile that is practical. Here is how that part of your CV could look:

For a reference, choose someone who saw your work, such as a church leader or a neighbour you cleaned for. Don't choose a family member. Read more in our guide to a CV with no experience.

Common cleaner CV mistakes (and how to fix them fast)

• Too vague: Replace "Cleaning" with specific tasks, such as bathrooms, floors, waste handling and deep cleans.
• No equipment listed: If you've used machines, name them. If not, don't pretend. Rather write "willing to learn new equipment".
• Unclear availability: State shifts, weekends and start date clearly.
• Messy formatting: Use the same style of headings and bullet points throughout. Avoid long paragraphs.
• References missing or weak: Choose someone who can confirm you are reliable, like a supervisor, household employer or team leader.

For more errors to watch out for, see common CV mistakes.

Quick checklist before you submit

1. Does your cleaner CV match the job type (domestic or industrial)?
2. Have you listed the main tasks you can do well?
3. Did you add 1–3 health and safety points?
4. Is your cell number correct and easy to find?
5. Did you include your availability and area?
6. Have you deleted any template text in [square brackets]?

Sending your CV by email? Our guide on how to email your CV shows you what to write.

When you're ready, log in to CV Hub to download your latest version, or contact CV Hub if you need help using the builder.