Skills
Janitor Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in janitors, and how to build and show them.
What skills do janitors need?
Janitors need technical skills such as cleaning methods, floor care, and chemical use, plus people skills like reliability and independence. They also use tools such as Mops and Vacuums.
Technical (hard) skills
- Cleaning methods
- Floor care
- Chemical use
- Restroom sanitation
- Minor repairs
- Trash handling
People (soft) skills
- Reliability
- Independence
- Attention to detail
- Trustworthiness
Tools, equipment and technology
- Mops
- Vacuums
- Auto scrubbers
- Floor buffers
- Chemical dispensers
- Carts
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how janitors put their skills to work:
- How to clean a restroom thoroughly
- How to strip and wax a floor
- How to clean faster without cutting corners
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Cleaning methods” and “Floor care.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “reliability,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Bloodborne pathogens training near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our janitor glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Janitor training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.