English For: Cleaners
In my online English lessons, I help cleaners and housekeepers speak to clients in a friendly, professional way. We practise polite arrivals, confirming tasks, asking about products, giving quick updates, and saying goodbye naturally — all in clear British English.
Useful Phrases and Idioms (Natural & Friendly)
- Arriving: “Good morning — it’s Luke, here for the cleaning.” / “Shall I take my shoes off?”
- Confirming tasks: “Would you like me to focus on the kitchen today?” / “Any areas to avoid?”
- Products & tools: “Do you prefer your own products, or may I use mine?” / “Where do you keep the vacuum?”
- Updates: “The oven needs a deeper clean — shall I book extra time next visit?”
- Finishing: “All finished — I’ve left the place spotless.” / “Anything else before I head off?”
- Idioms: “Spick and span” (very clean) / “Good as new.”
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Wipe down: clean a surface. “I’ll wipe down the worktops.”
- Mop up: clean a spill. “I’ve mopped up the water by the sink.”
- Dust off: remove dust. “I’ll dust off the shelves.”
- Pick up: collect scattered items. “I’ll pick up the toys before I vacuum.”
- Take out: remove the rubbish. “I’ve taken out the bins.”
- Put away: store things tidily. “Shall I put the dishes away?”
- Run out of: have none left. “We’ve run out of bin liners.”
- Sort out: organise and fix. “I’ll sort out the utility cupboard.”
Example Conversation (Client Home Visit)
Cleaner: Good afternoon — Luke here for the weekly clean. Would you like me to focus on the bathrooms today?
Client: Yes, please. The shower has some limescale, and the kitchen floor needs a good mop.
Cleaner: No problem. Do you prefer your own products, or may I use mine?
Client: Please use yours — they work better.
Cleaner: Great. I’ll start in the bathroom, then wipe down the kitchen surfaces and mop the floor. I’ll let you know if I run out of anything.
Client: Thanks! Give me a shout if you need anything.
Discussion Practice
- How do you confirm a client’s priorities at the start?
- What polite phrases help you ask for equipment or products?
- How do you report a small issue without causing stress?
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write a quick note after a clean: tasks finished + anything to flag.
- Write a polite message to reschedule next week’s visit.
- Write a short shopping list for supplies the client needs to buy.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Disinfectant | Liquid that kills germs. | “Use disinfectant on high‑touch areas.” |
| Microfibre cloth | Soft cloth for dusting and polishing. | “A microfibre cloth won’t scratch the screen.” |
| Squeegee | Tool for removing water from glass. | “I’ll use a squeegee on the shower doors.” |
| Limescale | Hard mineral build‑up from water. | “There’s limescale around the taps.” |
| Degreaser | Cleaner that removes oil and grease. | “A degreaser helps with the oven hood.” |
| High‑traffic area | Places people walk through often. | “Let’s focus on high‑traffic areas first.” |
| Inventory | List/stock of supplies. | “I’ll check the inventory before I leave.” |
| Hazard sign | Warning sign for wet floors, etc. | “I’ll put out a hazard sign while the floor dries.” |
| Rota / schedule | Work timetable. | “I’ll add you to my Friday rota.” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
In my lessons, we practise friendly, simple English that works every day — short questions, clear confirmations, and polite updates. I’ll help you sound relaxed, professional and natural with clients at home or at work.
If you want focused speaking practice for your job, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course is practical and conversational. You can take English lessons online from a native speaker online, wherever you are.