What does a cleaning porter do?

A floor care specialist is in charge of the maintenance of floors in public or private establishments. They typically ensure the cleanliness of floors by sweeping, dry and wet mopping, disinfecting areas, extracting or sanitizing carpets, vacuuming, and scrubbing bathroom floors. They may also participate in installing or refinishing floor tiles, preparing facilities, and re-arranging furniture. Moreover, a floor care specialist must maintain the cleanliness of floors while maintaining an active communication line with co-workers and managers for a smooth and efficient workflow.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between cleaning porters and floor care specialist. For instance, cleaning porter responsibilities require skills such as "clean bathrooms," "shovels," "food preparation," and "clean windows." Whereas a floor care specialist is skilled in "patients," "home health," "rehabilitation," and "patient care." This is part of what separates the two careers.

A custodian, also referred to as janitor, is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and helping protect all facilities. Custodians make sure everything is clean, neat, in order, and free from clutter and safe. They perform routine maintenance tasks and heavy cleaning duties. They do everyday things to sweep floors, mop, scrub, vacuum, collect and empty trash, dust furniture, walls, and equipment. They mix solutions and chemicals in containers based on proportions for disinfecting windows, mirrors, and other partitions requiring cleaning. Some also do minor building maintenance and light repairs, while others are exposed to biohazardous materials.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that cleaning porter responsibilities requires skills like "food preparation," "clean glass," "recycle," and "glass windows." But a custodian might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "work ethic," "customer service," "minor maintenance," and "ladders."

A floor technician's role is to maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of various areas within an establishment. Their responsibilities include operating cleaning equipment, conducting minimal repairs and inventory checks, arranging furniture and fixtures, organizing supplies, and keeping floors free from obstructions. There are also instances where they must replenish soap or tissue dispensers, use strong chemicals, and even dispose of hazardous waste. Furthermore, a floor technician follows directives from managers or supervisors, reporting to them should there be any issues.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, cleaning porters are more likely to have skills like "cleanliness," "clean bathrooms," "shovels," and "food preparation." But a carpet technician is more likely to have skills like "upholstery," "customer service," "clean carpets," and "carpet care."