TourismISCO 9123
Window cleaner
Window cleaners use cleaning tools such as sponges and detergents to clean windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces of buildings, both on the interior and exterior. They use specific ladders to clean taller buildings, using safety belts for support.
Check yourself in a minute: window cleaner
Rate 5 of the 16 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
maintain inventory of cleaning supplies
maintain personal hygiene standards when cleaning
follow procedures to control substances hazardous to health
use a water-fed pole system
dispose of non-hazardous waste
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (16)
cleaning industry health and safety measurescleaning industry health and safety measuresPreventive and interventional methods used in the cleaning industry to maintain health and safety for all workers and tertiary persons.personal protective equipmentpersonal protective equipmentTypes of protective materials and equipment foreseen for various types of tasks such as general or specialised cleaning activities.risk assessment for window cleaningrisk assessment for window cleaningRisk assessment process that takes into consideration all the risk factors, monitoring of control measures and recording assessments related to working in the window cleaning field.maintain inventory of cleaning suppliesmaintain inventory of cleaning suppliesFollow the stock of cleaning materials, order new material when the stock is empty and follow their usage to maintain a constant supply.maintain personal hygiene standards when cleaningmaintain personal hygiene standards when cleaningMake sure to keep yourself clean and tidy and wear protective equipment when performing cleaning activities, as required by the health and safety procedures of the task or the organisation.follow procedures to control substances hazardous to healthfollow procedures to control substances hazardous to healthAdhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result i...use a water-fed pole systemuse a water-fed pole systemMake use of poles fitted with brushes and water dispersing mechanisms to reach windows and facades at heights.dispose of non-hazardous wastedispose of non-hazardous wasteDispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures except for waste incineration.maintain cleaning equipmentmaintain cleaning equipmentClean and preserve the equipment and material used for cleaning purposes in a proper state.report on window damagereport on window damageInform the client or responsible authorities about damage occurred during or prior to the window cleaning activities.follow reporting proceduresfollow reporting proceduresApply and follow the procedures for reporting any damage, breakages and/or complaints or disagreements to the appropriate supervisory authority.complete report sheets of activitycomplete report sheets of activityKeep written records of the service provided on a regular or punctual basis, with explicit hours of work performed and signature.prepare cleaning materials for window cleaningprepare cleaning materials for window cleaningEnsure the appropriate preparation of the cleaning products and equipment such as ladders, cradles and rope access equipment required to clean windows at heights.follow organisational guidelines in the cleaning industryfollow organisational guidelines in the cleaning industryApply and follow all protocols or guidelines described by the company within your specific cleaning area. It can also involve wearing the foreseen uniform or piece of clothing at all times or using sp...clean glass surfacesclean glass surfacesUse cleaning products to clean any surface covered by glass.protect window framesprotect window framesApply a protection sheet on the frames or borders of the windows in order to protect them against scratches or dirt.
Optional (18) — show
customer servicecustomer serviceProcesses and principles related to the customer, client, service user and to personal services; these may include procedures to evaluate customer's or service user's satisfaction.clean building facadeclean building facadePerform cleaning activities of the main face of a building, using appropriate equipment, as required by the complexity and height of the building.clean particular areas manuallyclean particular areas manuallyPerform cleaning activities in specific areas by hand, when the surface is small or obstructed and the only means to clean such places is manually.apply proofing membranesapply proofing membranesApply specialised membranes to prevent penetration of a structure by dampness or water. Securely seal any perforation to preserve the damp-proof or waterproof properties of the membrane. Make sure any...select hazard controlselect hazard controlPerform appropriate selection of hazard control measures and risk management.manage a small-to-medium businessmanage a small-to-medium businessManage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.perform cleaning activities in an environmentally friendly wayperform cleaning activities in an environmentally friendly wayUndertake all cleaning duties in a manner which minimises environmental damage, follow methods that lessen pollution and wastage of resources.operate aerial work platformsoperate aerial work platformsTend mechanical devices that allow momentary access to high, usually inaccessible areas. Ensure your own safety and the safety of surrounding people.read technical datasheetread technical datasheetRead and understand the technical specifications describing the characteristics and functionality mode of a product, component or machine, usually provided by the manufacturer.carry out pressure washing activitiescarry out pressure washing activitiesUse high pressure equipment in order to clean areas, surfaces and materials.maintain professional administrationmaintain professional administrationFile and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.perform glazing reconditioningperform glazing reconditioningRecondition and replace glass materials and windows.supervise the work of cleaning staffsupervise the work of cleaning staffCoordinate the work of staff in the cleaning areas by planning and monitoring the work of cleaning staff and giving feedback on their activity.manage routine wastemanage routine wasteTreat routine waste carefully when performing cleaning activities and ensure that the waste collection and surrounding areas are maintained clean at all times.clean public furnitureclean public furniturePerform cleaning activities of objects or equipment in the public domain, on streets or other public places, used for various purposes.issue sales invoicesissue sales invoicesPrepare the invoice of goods sold or services provided, containing individual prices, the total charge, and the terms. Complete order processing for orders received via telephone, fax and internet and...perform outdoor cleaning activitiesperform outdoor cleaning activitiesAdapt the cleaning working methods and procedures to the environmental conditions and adapt to weather conditions such as rain, strong wind or snow, when this affects the performance of the equipment ...follow safety procedures when working at heightsfollow safety procedures when working at heightsTake necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures...
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
building cleaner6 shared essential skillstoilet attendant6 shared essential skillstrain cleaner5 shared essential skillsdomestic cleaner4 shared essential skillsstreet sweeper3 shared essential skillsdomestic housekeeper2 shared essential skillsdrapery and carpet cleaner2 shared essential skillsfurniture cleaner2 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a window cleaner do?
Window cleaners use cleaning tools such as sponges and detergents to clean windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces of buildings, both on the interior and exterior. They use specific ladders to clean taller buildings, using safety belts for support.
What skills does a window cleaner need?
A window cleaner needs 16 essential skills, including cleaning industry health and safety measures, personal protective equipment, risk assessment for window cleaning, maintain inventory of cleaning supplies, maintain personal hygiene standards when cleaning.
Will AI replace window cleaner jobs?
The AI disruption score for window cleaner is 35/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: issue sales invoices, complete report sheets of activity, read technical datasheet. Most resilient: clean building facade, clean particular areas manually, use a water-fed pole system.
AI Replacement Risk
35/ 100
Moderate Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
Is window cleaner right for you?
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