cleaner

IPA/ˈkliːnə(r)/
KK[klˈinɚ]IPA/ˈkliːnər/

cleaner — noun

  • cleanersingular
  • cleanersplural

1. Someone who is paid to remove dirt and keep rooms, offices, or public buildings

1.nounA2
Definition

Someone who is paid to remove dirt and keep rooms, offices, or public buildings tidy.

Example

The office cleaner arrives every evening after everyone has gone home.

collocation: office cleaner

Aiko works as a cleaner at the City Hospital on weekends.

Common collocations
  • office cleaner
  • school cleaner
  • hospital cleaner
  • night cleaner
  • window cleaner
Synonyms
  • janitor

    US term; often for building maintenance including cleaning and repairs

  • housekeeper

    usually for homes or hotels; includes organizing and managing

  • custodian

    more formal; implies care and protection of a building

Usage Note

Frequently used with a location or workplace name, e.g. office cleaner, school cleaner, hospital cleaner.

Common Mistakes

My sister works as a cleaner person at the hospital.
My sister works as a cleaner at the hospital.
the word 'cleaner' already means the person; adding 'person' is redundant.

2. A chemical substance or a machine designed to remove dirt, grease, or stains fro

2.nounB1
Definition

A chemical substance or a machine designed to remove dirt, grease, or stains from surfaces, objects, or materials.

Example

Pour some floor cleaner into a bucket of warm water before mopping.

collocation: floor cleaner

This glass cleaner leaves no streaks on mirrors or windows.

Common collocations
  • floor cleaner
  • glass cleaner
  • oven cleaner
  • drain cleaner
  • chemical cleaner
  • steam cleaner
  • carpet cleaner
Synonyms
  • detergent

    specifically a chemical cleaning agent, often for laundry or dishes

  • cleansing agent

    more formal or technical term for any cleaning substance

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a specific brand or type (a good cleaner); uncountable when speaking generally (buy cleaner).

Common Mistakes

I need a cleaner for my hands.
I need hand soap for my hands.
'cleaner' is used for household surfaces and objects, not for washing the body.

3. A business where clothing and fabric items are treated with chemical solvents in

3.nounB1
Definition

A business where clothing and fabric items are treated with chemical solvents instead of water to remove stains and dirt.

Example

Nadia took her silk dress to the cleaner's on Elm Street.

collocation: take something to the cleaner's

The cleaner's said my coat would be ready by Friday afternoon.

Common collocations
  • take to the cleaner's
  • pick up from the cleaner's
  • drop off at the cleaner's
  • same-day service
Synonyms
  • dry cleaner

    same meaning; 'dry cleaner's' with apostrophe emphasizes the shop location

Usage Note

Often written with an apostrophe (the cleaner's) when it means the shop itself. In British English, 'the dry cleaner's' is more common.

Common Mistakes

I brought my shirt to the clean.
I brought my shirt to the cleaner's.
the shop is called 'the cleaner's' (or 'the dry cleaner's'), not 'the clean'.
Idioms

take (someone) to the cleaners

idiom

To cheat someone out of their money, charge them far more than what is fair, or defeat them completely in a competitive situation such as a game or sports match.

The taxi driver took the tourist to the cleaners by charging triple the normal fare.

The home team took their opponents to the cleaners, scoring five goals in the first half.

take somebody to the cleaners

idiom

To cheat someone out of all their money or possessions.

The con artist took the elderly woman to the cleaners.

Did that investment really take you to the cleaners?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While cleaner, janitor, housekeeper, custodian, and maid all refer to people who clean buildings or rooms, they differ in scope and setting. A cleaner is the most general term, used for anyone paid to clean — from offices to hospitals. A janitor (common in US English) typically works in a school or apartment building and may also do small repairs. A housekeeper usually works in private homes or hotels and may also manage laundry, groceries, or schedules. A custodian is a more formal title for someone who cares for a building, including cleaning and security. A maid is traditionally associated with cleaning private homes or hotel rooms, often with a more personal service role. For example, 'the office cleaner mops the floors each night,' but 'the hotel housekeeper restocked the mini-bar and changed the sheets.' Choosing the right word depends on the workplace and the range of duties.

janitor ↗housekeeper ↗custodian ↗maid ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • take to the cleaner's
  • pick up from the cleaner's

Prepositions

  • at the cleaner's
  • from the cleaner's

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'cleaner' comes from the adjective 'clean' (from Old English 'clæne', meaning free from dirt) combined with the agent suffix '-er' (someone who does something). It has been used since the 1400s to mean a person who cleans, and later expanded to mean cleaning substances and machines in the 1800s.