Residential cleaners are nowadays in high demand in most residential homes. If you are having a residential cleaner interview, consider reviewing the following top 25 residential cleaner interview questions along with their sample answers. They will help you ace your chances of getting your dream job.
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
After completing my high school diploma, I got a job as a housekeeper at a nearby hotel. I worked there for 2 years. During this time I gained a sound knowledge of chemicals, tools, and methods used in cleaning. This pushed my desire to pursue residential cleaning. I have been working privately as a residential cleaner for 6 months now. This career has been rewarding and exciting and I would like to perform the role at a larger scope like here at your agency. Having gone through your job posting for this role, I can confirm that I have the qualities, experience, and skills that you are looking for from the candidate.
2. What Are The Roles Of A Residential Cleaner?
The roles of a residential cleaner include:
- mopping, sweeping, dusting, washing toilets, floors, shower tubs, windows, driveways, and counters.
- Making beds as well as fluffing pillows
- Vacuuming dusty surfaces such as carpets and upholstery
- Cleaning bathroom and kitchen surfaces
- Scrubbing and sanitizing the relevant surfaces
- Folding clean laundry
- Carefully handling appliances and all furniture
3. What Are The Qualities That A Residential Cleaner Need To Be Successful?
To be effective in this role, a residential cleaner need to be reliable and self-motived. He or she must have excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal and organizational skills. Moreover, he or she must have the ability to understand written and verbal instructions, lift heavy items, and maintain a positive attitude. It is also necessary for a residential cleaner to have sound knowledge of chemicals and cleaning supplies. To succeed in this role, a residential cleaner need to be polite and have the ability to stand, sit, and bend for long periods.
4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage Them?
Having been working privately, I faced a lot of competition in this field. I discovered that this is one of the most saturated fields in the market. One has to stand out to succeed in this industry. To stand out means offering the newest innovations and technologies. This was a huge challenge since I was not financially stable. However, I had to pursue my dream. I would hire some of the newest machines and this enabled me to perform better.
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As A Residential Cleaner.
Whenever I report to my office, I begin by reviewing my voice messages and emails to check whether there is anything that I need to respond to. I then embark on my usual duties which include:
- Reviewing the cleaning list for every customer’s home
- Traveling to clients’ residencies in a professional and timely manner
- Cleaning bathrooms including sinks, toilets, mirrors, vanities, showers, and tubs
- Sweeping, mopping, and waxing floors
- Dusting all surface areas
- Vacuum rugs, carpets, and upholstery areas
- Making beds and fluffy pillows
- Emptying trash bins
- Cleaning all surfaces and appliances in the kitchen
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience?
I have been working as a residential cleaner for 4 years at BB cleaning agency. During this time, I have gained a lot of experience in mopping, sweeping, dusting, and washing toilets, floors, shower tubs, windows, driveways, and counters. I can effectively make beds and fluffy pillows, vacuum dusty surfaces, and scrub and sanitize the relevant surfaces. I have also developed skills such as communication, organization, interpersonal, and time management skills. Besides, I have a lot of knowledge in chemical and cleaning supplies. I can clearly understand written and verbal instructions, lift heavy items and maintain a positive attitude. Should I get a job here, I will ensure to make a success in this role.
7. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Are Required For This Role?
To succeed in this role, a residential cleaner must have a good understanding of chemicals and cleaning supplies. It is very important to be aware of the newest innovations and technologies to perform better and save time. A top-notch residential cleaner must have a strategy to understand every written or verbal instruction given to him by the customer. Demonstrating that he or she is well vast with all the requirements that entail this role is a huge win in this job.
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge You Foresee In This Job?
The biggest challenge that I foresee in this role is the changes that are taking place in innovations and technologies. Technology is evolving too fast. There are many new machines that are emerging such as vacuum poles for heights with cameras, robots, and other innovations. The cleaning companies must therefore catch up with the latest developments within the industry. This might be competitive, especially for small growing companies.
9. How Do You Stay Motivated At Work?
I have a lot of knowledge of cleaning supplies and chemicals including how to apply them. I also know how to follow written and verbal instructions. This has made me have good relationships with my clients. To see that they appreciate and like the results of my work give me the morale to continue performing this role effectively.
10. Describe A Time You Failed In This Role And The Lesson You Learned?
In my last role as the head of residential cleaner, we faced competition with the emergence of new technologies in this industry. To fit in the market, we were required to buy new machines to perform our roles better. However, this was a big challenge since our firm was in its initial stage. I told my colleagues not to mind about the new machines that were being used by our competitors but instead concentrate on their work. After some time, I realized that we had lost most of our clients to our competitors. They would ask for cleaning services from our competitors since they had become very fast and effective due to the new machines and tools.
I wanted to save our company and I wrote a report to the upper management and requested them to hire some of the machines as we wait to purchase ours. To my surprise, they did so and in due time we’re able to recover our customers. This made me know the importance of remaining on top of things as far as technology is concerned.
11. Why Do You Feel You Are Qualified For This Role?
I am a licensed residential cleaner with a valid driving license. Previously, I worked as a residential cleaner for 4 years. During this time, I have gained a lot of experience in mopping, sweeping, dusting, and washing toilets, floors, shower tubs, windows, driveways, and counters. I can effectively make beds and fluffy pillows, vacuum dusty surfaces, and scrub and sanitize the relevant surfaces. Besides, I am a patient, polite, reliable, and self-driven residential cleaner.
I have also developed skills such as communication, organization, interpersonal, and time management skills. Besides, I have a lot of knowledge in chemical and cleaning supplies. I can clearly understand written and verbal instructions, lift heavy items and maintain a positive attitude. Having read your job posting for this role, I believe am the best candidate for this role. Should you offer me this job, I will use my skills, experience, knowledge, and strong qualities to perform to make this role a success.
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievement
The greatest accomplishment I have is to retain a high number of customers. A competitive industry like this one requires a lot of hard work when it comes to retaining customers. However, I believe that retaining customers can easily be achieved when they are served with diligence such that they feel satisfied with the service offered to them. In my work, I ensure to follow all the written and verbal instructions given by the customers. I also sometimes go beyond to make sure that my customers are satisfied with my service. This has made me always have returning customers.
13. Highlight Some Of The Essential Cleaning Products And Tools You Have Used In The Past
In my previous role as a residential cleaner, I have used various cleaning products including laundry detergents, bleaches, air fresheners, sanitizers, toilet cleaners, dishwashing products, and household cleaners. Additionally, I know how to correctly choose the right products as well as apply them without damaging the surface I am cleaning. Moreover, I know how to use tools such as broom, dustpan, bucket, vacuum cleaner, rubber gloves, Squeegee, toilet brush, and holder.
14. Explain To Me How You Use Cleaning Solutions?
I use a variety of cleaning solutions ranging from standards versions to natural varieties.
Some of these solutions include:
- All-purpose cleaner: I use this solution to clean surfaces with grease, stains, and dirt
- Glass cleaner: I use glass cleaner to clean glass surfaces such as tables and windows. It cleans without leaving streaks and smears behind.
- Tile cleaner with bleach: I use this solution to clean areas with mold, soap scum, mildew, and rust.
- White vinegar: I use this solution when dissolving grease and removing dirt. I also use it as a disinfectant.
15. What Products Will You Carry When A Client Asks You To Clean His Kitchen?
If a client asks me to clean his kitchen, I will carry with me dish soap, sponges, sponge brush, hand towels, oven cleaner, steel wool, abrasive scrubbing pad, marble, granite, and stainless steel.
16. How Can You Carry Out Your Duties When Other People Are Present?
I will politely inform the people present that I want to clean the equipment or a particular area. However, if I’m required to clean the floor, I will begin by putting out collapsible safety signs. I will also be flexible if any of the people want to use the area. I will allow the person to use the area and ask him or her to inform me when I should return to cleaning that area. In the meantime, I will switch to other tasks as I wait to be called back.
17. Kindly, Discuss One Of The Problems You Have Solved In Your Previous Role
One day as I was doing the cleaning, I found that one colleague tended to spill coffee in the breakroom. This was becoming messy and hard to clean. However, I continued to clean using a cleaning solution that would remove those stains. This continued for a while and I thought it was wise to confront that issue. I politely approached the colleague who was spilling that coffee and I explained how tough it was to clean the mess and that the coffee would stain that area if he continue with that behavior. The colleague cooperated and stopped the behavior from that day.
18. How Would You Manage Tasks When You Have A List Of Clients To Attend To?
As a residential cleaner, I have strong organizational, multitasking, and prioritizing skills. In case, I find that I have a list of clients ta attend to, I would create a schedule that matches their schedule. I will arrange my list in the order of how urgent the client needs my service. I will put those clients who urgently need my services on top of the list. I will also create a to-do list based on how long the tasks of each house take to complete so that I can have more tasks done in between.
19. If You Run Short Of Cleaning Supplies And You Have Work To Do, What Can You Do?
As a residential cleaner, I always check my cleaning products so I could refill them in due time to avoid inconveniencing my clients. I keep a record of my cleaning products for restocking and accountability purposes. However, if they run out unexpectedly, I would inform my supervisor about it. On the other hand, if the cleaning products require time to be ordered, I would call the customer and reschedule the cleaning time.
20. In Case Chemical Spills By Mistake At Workplace, How Would You React?
I have the knowledge to clean surfaces quickly should chemical spill on the surface. I would use the right cleaning product to clean the area affected. I will ensure to follow the standard emergency procedure of the agency. I will also maintain the occupational health and safety standards of my state.
21. How Would You Clean Electronic Systems In An Organization?
I would take a microfiber cloth and wipe the electronic system. I would begin from the middle of the screen and wipe in circular motions out towards the edges I would avoid applying any cleaning solution directly to the screen of the electronic system so as not to damage it. If I experience any problem cleaning the system, I would reach out to my supervisor or my team for guidance.
22. What Steps Would You Take If You Found Official Documents While Cleaning Floors, Desks, Or Other Surfaces?
If I find an official document on the floor, desk, or any other surface, I would pick the document and review it. If I find that the document is confidential, I would inform my supervisor so he can inform the client about it. I would then place it in a safe place where the client can easily find it.
23. Describe Your Work Ethic As A Residential Cleaner
I am a self-dedicated, reliable, disciplined, and determined residential cleaner who is focused to provide high-quality cleaning services. I work well under minimum or no supervision with integrity and a sound mind. I am focused to produce results at all times regardless of tight schedules. I can cope with work pressure and deliver accordingly. I do not allow personal issues to interfere with my work.
24. In Five Years -Time, Where Do You See Yourself?
In five years- time, I would like to be a residential cleaner with more understanding of how to perform all tasks involved in this industry. I would also want to be in a higher position such as cleaning supervisor in your company. This will allow me to exercise my knowledge and organizational skills to benefit my coworkers and our customers.
25. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Role?
I have gained a lot of skills and expertise from my current role. However, I am seeking a new and more challenging role to broaden my horizons. I believe that I can acquire more skillsets in this job and grow more in my career as a residential cleaner.
Conclusion
The above questions will give you a clue of what to expect in the residential cleaner’s interview. However, you might be asked behavioral and situational questions and you need to demonstrate your experience for you to win the job. You will also need to go through the company’s website as part of your interview preparation.
