WHAT DOES A JANITOR DO?

Published: Nov 11, 2025 - The Janitor is responsible for maintaining cleanliness across exterior and interior areas, including daily refuse collection, sidewalk and parking lot sweeping, and restroom and laundry room cleaning. This role involves preparing vacated units for re-occupancy, vacuuming carpets, and performing light groundskeeping tasks such as weeding. The janitor also participates in preventative maintenance programs and ensures compliance with company safety policies and procedures.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Janitor

1. Janitor Overview

  • Restroom Sanitation: Clean restrooms, lunchrooms, offices, conference rooms, and common areas.
  • Inventory Management: Stock toilet and sanitary supplies.
  • Waste Disposal: Empty and clean waste receptacles.
  • Equipment Operation: Operate and maintain the floor scrubber.
  • Floor Maintenance: Wax and refinish floors and shampoo carpets.
  • Groundskeeping: Pick up paper and other debris from grounds and buildings.
  • Surface Cleaning: Responsible for dust, polishing, and window cleaning.
  • Maintenance Reporting: Report needed repair work to their direct supervisor.
  • Production Support: Responsible for assisting in production.
  • Building Security: Assure the security of buildings and grounds during assigned times.

2. Janitor Job Description

  • Inventory Control: Inventory of all cleaning supplies and paper products related to office, shower, and toilet facilities.
  • Safety Compliance: Perform tasks according to safe work practices and safe job procedures.
  • Incident Reporting: Report all incidents and accidents immediately.
  • Housekeeping Standards: Responsible for practicing good housekeeping in the work area at all times.
  • Team Leadership: Lead daily toolbox meetings and complete daily log.
  • Facility Sanitation: Clean and sanitize all toilet and shower facilities.
  • Floor Care: Sweep and mop all floors in the toilet and shower facilities.
  • Waste Management: Administer the waste and recycling management program.
  • Linen Service: Wash, dry, and replace bed linens.
  • Garbage Disposal: Responsible for taking garbage to the dump.
  • Common Area Cleaning: Clean common spaces at the work site, including the TV room, dining room, laundry room, and rec room.
  • Kitchen Assistance: Support the first cook with cleaning in the kitchen and assist with the receipt of groceries.

3. Janitor Essential Functions

  • Janitorial Operations: Perform daily janitorial duties in occupied buildings across the PCAPP site under minimal supervision.
  • Policy Adherence: Adhere to company and department policies and objectives.
  • Professional Conduct: Exercise individual initiative, discretion, diplomacy, accuracy, and judgment.
  • Supervisor Coordination: Interface with the supervisor in the resolution of questions or problems that arise.
  • Process Improvement: Assist in the development of processes and procedures to improve or maintain the quality and safety of these services.
  • Meeting Participation: Responsible for participating in meetings.
  • Equipment Operation: Responsible for operating cleaning equipment.
  • Task Flexibility: Perform other duties as assigned by the Facilities Supervisor and/or O&AS Manager, as requested by customers.

4. Janitor Details

  • Kitchen Equipment Cleaning: Clean all equipment, from grills and ovens to ranges and griddles to various prep surfaces.
  • Dishwashing Operations: Operate the automatic dishwasher and hand-wash items.
  • Inventory Restocking: Restock all bottled beverages in the bar cooler.
  • Beverage Maintenance: Accurately change out empty beer kegs and “bag-in-a-box” products.
  • Facility Cleaning: Empty all trash canisters, vacuum carpets daily, wax tiled surfaces, and ensure various areas are free of debris.
  • Spill Response: Respond to accidental spills and messes throughout the center.
  • Utensil Sanitization: Ensure all food and beverage utensils (silverware, glassware, plates) are properly sanitized and returned to their appropriate service area.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Keep ball returns and other equipment free of dirt, dust, and graffiti.
  • Restroom Sanitation: Sanitize sinks, toilets, and urinals, and replenish paper towels, toilet paper, and soap dispensers.

5. Janitor Duties

  • Surface Dusting: Responsible for dusting all counters, furniture, and related surfaces.
  • Floor Care: Sweep and mop all floors, including behind doors.
  • Trash Removal: Empty all trash receptacles.
  • Window Cleaning: Responsible for cleaning windows.
  • Detail Cleaning: Clean bed rails, door knobs, hall rails, and similar fixtures in the assigned area.
  • Shower Sanitation: Responsible for cleaning showers.
  • Bathroom Maintenance: Clean and stock bathrooms.
  • Task Completion: Responsible for completing all assigned work.
  • Deadline Management: Responsible for meeting all deadlines.

6. Janitor Roles and Responsibilities

  • Facility Maintenance: Keep assigned areas such as offices, conference rooms, and copy rooms in the main building clean and orderly during the afternoon shift.
  • Team Collaboration: Work successfully with fellow employees and others.
  • Instruction Compliance: Understand and follow instructions, both verbal and written.
  • Task Communication: Explain how to complete a task and understand instructions for the task using basic communication skills.
  • Safety Compliance: Comply with safety rules, policies, and procedures.
  • Risk Prevention: Stop at-risk behavior of others and self.
  • Teamwork Execution: Perform work assignments in a team with other employees.
  • Repetitive Task Performance: Responsible for performing repetitive tasks.

7. Janitor Duties and Roles

  • Work Area Maintenance: Responsible for maintaining a clean work area.
  • Policy Compliance: Follow all company procedures, policies, and rules.
  • Supervisor Direction: Take direction and respond to supervision.
  • Professional Communication: Talk with lead, supervisor, co-workers, managers, and customers in a professional manner.
  • Staff Support: Fill in during staff shortage.
  • Safety Practices: Use proper personal protective equipment.
  • Professional Conduct: Present a professional appearance and conduct.
  • Customer Service: Understand customer service and satisfaction.
  • Reporting Knowledge: Understand reporting systems and the environment.

8. Janitor Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Room Cleaning: Clean clients' rooms, bathrooms, public areas, and offices (which entail a lot of squatting, bending, and reaching).
  • Floor Maintenance: Clean and mop floors, mop with mops weighing approximately twenty-four (24) ounces.
  • Surface Dusting: Dust furniture, light fixtures, lamps, window sills, and equipment.
  • Furniture Polishing: Use furniture polish on furniture once per week.
  • Waste Disposal: Empty and change liners in all waste cans daily.
  • Restroom Cleaning: Clean and wash all basins, commodes, lavatories, and fixtures.
  • Room Inspection: Check vacant rooms daily to keep them fresh and keep furniture straight.
  • Repair Reporting: Responsible for completing repair requisitions.
  • Safety Compliance: Responsible for obeying all safety rules.
  • Schedule Adherence: Follow the cleaning schedule.
  • Training Participation: Attend in-service training classes.
  • Respectful Communication: Communicate with persons served in a supportive and respectful manner.

9. Janitor Roles and Details

  • Facility Cleaning: Clean offices, lobbies, faculty lounge, corridors, and stairwell.
  • Restroom Sanitation: Sanitize restrooms and restock standard toiletry items.
  • Disinfection Procedures: Disinfect commonly used items such as door handles.
  • Waste Removal: Empty trash cans around the property, replacing trash bags.
  • Surface Dusting: Responsible for dusting and wiping down all surfaces.
  • Floor Care: Vacuum, sweep, and mop floors.
  • Equipment Operation: Operate walk-behind floor cleaning machines.
  • Glass Cleaning: Spot clean the lobby glass doors and windows.
  • Supply Restocking: Restock supplies in break rooms and the faculty lounge.
  • Inventory Management: Maintain cleaning inventory and place orders for new products.
  • Closet Organization: Keep organized and maintain janitorial closets.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Maintain janitorial equipment in an operable condition.

10. Janitor Role Purpose

  • Carpet Cleaning: Clean carpets, including steam cleaning and shampooing.
  • Floor Stripping: Responsible for stripping and waxing floors.
  • Tile Maintenance: Responsible for scrubbing and sealing tile floors.
  • Equipment Operation: Responsible for operating auto scrubbers, sweeping, and mopping floors.
  • Waste Management: Perform waste management functions.
  • Linen Handling: Clean linen delivery and soiled linen pickup.
  • Snow Removal: Remove snow from around the Baycrest campus.
  • Ladder Work: Perform work on a ladder.
  • Groundskeeping: Sweep and clean the grounds around the campus.
  • Event Setup: Responsible for meeting room and special event setups.
  • Furniture Moving: Responsible for moving boxes and furniture.
  • Deep Cleaning: Responsible for washing walls and windows, and terminal cleaning.
  • General Cleaning: Responsible for general cleaning, including washrooms.
  • Policy Compliance: Adhere to infection control practices, departmental policies, and procedures.

11. Janitor General Responsibilities

  • Restroom Cleaning: Clean bathroom fixtures and floors.
  • Waste Disposal: Responsible for emptying trash barrels.
  • Equipment Operation: Responsible for safely operating a motorized long jack to move about the warehouse to collect debris.
  • Floor Scrubbing: Drive the floor scrubber in the Dry Grocery Department.
  • Debris Removal: Pick up cardboard and plastic debris.
  • Damaged Goods Handling: Move damaged goods from the loading dock to the storage area.
  • Outdoor Maintenance: Clean outdoor break and smoking areas.
  • Pallet Organization: Pick up pallets and place them in the appropriate areas.

12. Janitor Tasks

  • Floor Cleaning: Clean building carpeted floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming.
  • Trash Collection: Gather and empty restroom, food, and other trash.
  • Restroom Maintenance: Service, clean, and supply restrooms.
  • Glass Cleaning: Clean windows, glass, partitions, and mirrors.
  • Equipment Operation: Operate equipment including scrubbers, pressure washers, and carpet extractors.
  • Customer Assistance: Assist customers, vendors, contractors, employees, and management in a friendly and engaging manner.
  • Safety Practices: Conduct operations in a manner that promotes safety.
  • Order Accuracy: Responsible for the completeness and correctness of all orders filled.
  • Warehouse Maintenance: Maintain a clean, debris-free warehouse floor.
  • Task Completion: Accomplish customer service and the organization's mission by completing related tasks.
  • Productivity Standards: Meet company standards for productivity.

13. Janitor Roles

  • Refuse Collection: Responsible for picking up refuse daily.
  • Grounds Cleaning: Sweep sidewalks and parking lots.
  • Unit Preparation: Prepare vacated units for re-occupancy.
  • Laundry Area Cleaning: Sweep and clean the laundry room.
  • Restroom Sanitation: Clean common area restrooms.
  • Carpet Maintenance: Vacuum the hallway and project office carpet.
  • Preventative Maintenance: Participate in preventative maintenance programs.
  • Safety Compliance: Comply with company safety policies and procedures.
  • Lawn Care: Weed the lawn as directed by the maintenance supervisor.

14. Janitor Job Summary

  • General Cleaning: Responsible for cleaning (sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning windows).
  • Trash Removal: Gather and empty trash.
  • Chemical Safety: Proper use of cleaning chemicals and related equipment must be used in a safe manner.
  • Closet Organization: Maintain janitor closets in a clean, organized, and safe manner.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Maintain janitorial equipment in a clean, safe, and operable condition.
  • Safety Practices: Wear proper personal protective equipment at all times.
  • Material Handling: Responsible for running out for parts, materials, etc.
  • Grounds Maintenance: Responsible for cleaning the grounds, putting up decorations, moving boxes, and loading and unloading.

15. Janitor Responsibilities

  • Breakroom Cleaning: Clean all break rooms.
  • Window Washing: Wash windows inside and out.
  • Floor Care: Responsible for vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping floors.
  • Surface Wiping: Wipe down baseboards, doors, and walls.
  • Office Cleaning: Dust and Windex all offices, conference rooms, lobby, and workstations.
  • Blind Dusting: Dust blinds in the offices and lobby.
  • Trash Removal: Empty the trash and place it in the dumpster.
  • Supply Organization: Maintain organization of cleaning chemicals and supplies.

16. Janitor Functions

  • Heavy Cleaning: Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors and windows, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Ensure equipment, like heating and cooling systems, is maintained and repaired.
  • Groundskeeping: Keep sidewalks clean and free of debris.
  • Restroom Servicing: Responsible for servicing, cleaning, or supplying restrooms.
  • Trash Collection: Responsible for capturing and emptying trash.
  • Event Setup: Set up, arrange, or remove furniture, decorations, etc., as directed by the supervisor.
  • Facility Cleaning: Clean and maintain set areas, including offices, break areas, central service areas, washrooms, and toilets.
  • Consumable Restocking: Responsible for restocking consumables.
  • Waste Management: Ensure rubbish bins are maintained and emptied.
  • Surface Cleaning: Responsible for maintenance tasks such as sweeping, mopping, wiping, and scrubbing surfaces.
  • Customer Interaction: Work in a customer-facing environment.
  • Team Collaboration: Work individually and as part of a team.

17. Janitor Additional Details

  • Business Adaptability: Address business needs and changing business practices.
  • Trash Removal: Empty trash and replace trash bags.
  • Floor Maintenance: Sweep, dust, mop, and strip floors.
  • Supply Restocking: Responsible for restocking supplies.
  • Facility Cleaning: Clean toilets, sinks, and office windows.
  • Debris Disposal: Shovel debris into the dumpster.
  • Vehicle Operation: Drive the tiger truck to transport supplies.
  • Office Cleaning: Primarily responsible for the cleaning of the front offices.
  • Shop Maintenance: Take on the task of sweeping the shop floor, cleaning steel debris, and emptying trash or steel recycling containers.

18. Janitor Roles and Details

  • Customer Service: Provide superior customer service and support Farm Boy’s vision of the best fresh shopping experience.
  • Customer Interaction: Utilize Farm Boy Service Standards, welcome, greet, and offer customer assistance.
  • Housekeeping Maintenance: Keep the work, storage, and store areas clean and safe at all times by performing general housekeeping, including sweeping, mopping, and dusting.
  • Policy Compliance: Comply with all corporate policies, especially those related to Health and Safety, Food Safety, and equipment use.
  • Operational Support: Perform designated opening and closing procedures and offer assistance to other team members.
  • Inventory Assistance: Assist in inventory and purchases of store supplies.
  • Task Flexibility: Undertake other related duties on a periodic basis.
  • Facility Cleaning: Clean and maintain restrooms, breakroom, work supplies, conference rooms, ratio areas, smoke break areas, and water coolers, including refilling, stocking, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and emptying trash and recyclables.
  • Janitorial Support: Provide general janitorial support, assisting the Facilities Manager with tasks or setups upon request.
  • Hospitality Support: Prepare coffee upon request, providing support to enhance the consignor and customer experience.

19. Janitor Details

  • Facility Cleaning: Responsible for cleaning all plant buildings, including restrooms and lunchrooms.
  • Machine Cleaning: Responsible for cleaning the machines and the surrounding area.
  • Floor Maintenance: Vacuum, sweep, and mop floors.
  • Restroom Sanitation: Responsible for cleaning, disinfecting, and stocking restrooms.
  • Security Compliance: Ensure doors are locked after hours.
  • Spill Response: Clean up spills with appropriate equipment.
  • Minor Repairs: Responsible for performing minor repairs.
  • Surface Cleaning: Responsible for cleaning tasks such as sweeping, mopping, and wiping down surfaces.
  • Floor Care: Responsible for heavy-duty floor care, including stripping and waxing floors.
  • Linen Service: Responsible for washing and changing linens on patients' beds.
  • Waste Disposal: Ensure that all waste is disposed of properly.

20. Janitor Duties

  • General Cleaning: Perform general clean-up of all areas of the building.
  • Facility Maintenance: Manage routine upkeep of internal and exterior areas, green spaces, and parking lots.
  • Special Cleaning: Complete non-routine cleaning according to specified job orders.
  • Waste Management: Remove garbage and recycling daily and prepare bins for weekly pick-up.
  • Emergency Response: Handle emergency cleaning and upkeep requests.
  • Office Maintenance: Routinely clean and maintain the office area, kitchen, conference rooms, and production area.
  • Project Support: Conduct special clean-ups and organizational projects.
  • Event Assistance: Support the office, store events, and vendors (e.g., caterers).
  • Equipment Operation: Operate all standard cleaning equipment.