Cleaning, janitorial and housekeeping jobs

Offices, schools, hotels, malls, and stores all need to be cleaned every day. That's why there are cleaning jobs across Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area. Many of them don't need experience. You can learn the basics quickly, and you often work with a small team or on your own.

We checked the facts in this guide on October 12, 2026. Rules change, so follow the links to the official pages for the latest details.

Types of cleaning jobs

Janitor or commercial cleaner. You clean offices, schools, malls, and other buildings. Tasks include emptying garbage and recycling, vacuuming and mopping, cleaning washrooms, and restocking soap and paper. Many janitors work for cleaning companies that hold contracts with building owners, so you may clean at different sites.

Hotel room attendant (housekeeper). You clean guest rooms after guests check out. You make beds, change towels and linens, clean bathrooms, vacuum, and restock supplies. Hotels also hire laundry attendants to wash and fold linens, and housepersons to move supplies and clean hallways and lobbies.

Store maintenance or porter. In grocery stores, big-box stores, and malls, you keep floors, washrooms, and entrances clean, clean up spills, gather carts, and take out garbage. Some stores run floor-cleaning machines overnight.

Shifts

Cleaning schedules depend on the building:

Offices and schools are often cleaned in the evening or overnight, after people leave.
Hotels need room attendants mostly during the day, after checkout time. Weekends and holidays are busy.
Stores and malls need cleaning all day, and sometimes overnight or early in the morning.

Ask about start and end times in your interview. If you will work late at night, read Overnight and night shift jobs for tips on safety, sleep, and getting home.

Working safely with chemicals

Cleaning products can burn your skin and eyes, and some give off fumes. In Canada, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) helps workers stay safe with hazardous products.

Labels and safety data sheets. Each hazardous product needs a label and a safety data sheet (SDS). The label shows the product's hazards and how to stay safe. The SDS gives more detailed information (WorkSafeBC).

Training. In Ontario, your employer must train you on hazardous products before you use them (ontario.ca). In BC, employers must provide WHMIS education and training, make sure products are properly labelled, and keep SDSs easy for workers to get. Workers must take part in the training and tell their employer if a label is missing or can't be read (WorkSafeBC).

Our WHMIS training guide explains the symbols and how training works.

Safe habits. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) gives this advice for cleaning products (CCOHS):

Never mix cleaning products. Products containing bleach and ammonia must never be mixed. Hazardous gases may be released.
Read the label or safety data sheet before you use a product.
Keep the air moving. Use products where there is good airflow, and take fresh air breaks if you need them.
Wear the protective equipment the job needs, such as gloves and goggles.
Keep products in their original containers, stored the way the manufacturer says.
When you dilute a product, first make sure it does not react with water. Then always add the concentrate to the water, not the other way around.

If a product makes you feel sick, dizzy, or short of breath, stop, get fresh air, and tell your supervisor.

Other hazards to know

Lifting and repeated movements. Making beds, carrying linens, and pushing carts can strain your back and shoulders. Ask how to do these tasks safely, and use carts instead of carrying heavy loads.
Wet floors. Put out a warning sign before you mop, and wear non-slip shoes.
Sharp objects in garbage. Never push garbage down with your hands. If you find a needle or broken glass, don't pick it up with your bare hands. Tell your supervisor and follow the workplace's procedure.
Working alone. Cleaners often work alone, especially at night. In BC, employers must have procedures to check on the well-being of workers who work alone or in isolation, and lone workers must be able to get help in an emergency (WorkSafeBC). The regulation requires a written check-in procedure that includes a check at the end of the shift (OHS Regulation, section 4.21).

Your rights. In both provinces, you have the right to know about hazards, the right to take part in health and safety, and the right to refuse unsafe work (WorkSafeBC, Ontario). WorkSafeBC says your employer can't punish you for raising a health and safety concern. Read more in Refusing unsafe work in BC and Ontario.

How old do you have to be?

Ontario: The minimum age is 14 in stores and offices, and 15 in laundries, such as a hotel laundry. You must be 18 for window cleaning.
BC: From 16, the regular rules apply. At 14 or 15, you can do "light work" with written permission from a parent or guardian (Hiring young people). BC's light work list includes cleaning and tidying, and laundry. It does not include work with hazardous substances, or using machinery that could cause harm.

How to get hired

Show you are trustworthy. Cleaners often have keys to buildings or enter guest rooms. Employers want people they can trust. Some may ask for a criminal record check.
Pay attention to detail. Managers notice the small things, like a clean mirror or a full soap dispenser. Say that you take pride in doing a job well.
Be reliable. If you are the only cleaner on a shift, the work doesn't get done without you.
Offer flexible availability. Evenings, nights, and weekends can help you get hired.
Ask about training. A good employer will show you the products, the equipment, and the safety steps before you start.

If English is not your first language, cleaning jobs can be a good way to start working while you improve your English. Read Your first job in Canada as a newcomer for more help.

Next steps

Cleaning jobs in Metro Vancouver and the GTA
Learn about chemical safety: WHMIS training
Know your rights: BC and Ontario
Build your resume: Writing your first resume with no work experience