Business owners and facility managers often confuse janitors and custodians when talking about cleaning staff. These are two distinct roles with different responsibilities, and choosing the wrong one can affect your building’s cleanliness, security, and day-to-day operations. Let’s explore the differences between the two.
Understanding the Core Roles: Janitor vs. Custodian
Janitors focus primarily on cleaning inside buildings. They usually work odd hours when most people aren’t around. Their daily responsibilities include emptying trash cans and waste bins, cleaning and sanitizing restrooms, and wiping down spots such as door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, and shared equipment that multiple people touch or handle throughout the day.
They’ll also:
- Sweep and mop floors
- Clean windows and glass surfaces
- Keep break rooms tidy
- Clean up spills and potential hazards
- Wash walls
- Handle small repairs
Custodians handle much broader facility management duties, typically working regular daytime hours to keep buildings running smoothly. They maintain order in assigned areas, run commercial cleaning equipment, and handle outdoor maintenance.
A custodian also:
- Reports maintenance issues to supervisors
- Changes air filters
- Maintains equipment
- Dusts surfaces
- Waxes floors
- Helps set up and tear down events
- Keeps track of cleaning supply inventory
- Manages daily cleaning of common areas, food courts, restrooms, and offices
They also ensure repairs happen promptly to keep buildings safe and operational.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, custodians are janitors or cleaning workers who typically maintain institutional facilities such as schools and hospitals, where broader facility oversight is essential.
Key Differences Between Janitors and Custodians
The biggest difference between janitors and custodians is the scope of work. Janitors stick to specific cleaning tasks such as dusting, buffing, sweeping, and making sure buildings stay clean and meet safety standards. Most work evening or night shifts since office buildings are cleaned when they’re empty. Custodians work different hours, interacting with people in the building and coordinating maintenance work.
Most janitors and building cleaners work full-time, though part-time positions are available. Work schedules can include evenings, nights, or weekends. The two roles require different skills — janitors need a high school diploma, safety protocol knowledge, a willingness to take safety courses, and the ability to lift 50 pounds. Custodians need field experience, potentially a bachelor’s degree in physical science, and management skills. Time management abilities and knowing how to spot safety hazards are also helpful.
Both jobs use similar equipment, including:
- Commercial backpack vacuums
- Microfiber mop systems
- Janitorial carts
- Brooms and brushes
- Floor scrubbers and buffers
- Push brooms
- Deck scrub brushes
- Floor machines
- Automatic scrubbers
- Carpet extractors
- Industrial vacuum cleaners
The main difference between the roles is that custodians usually manage inventory, handle building security, and coordinate various maintenance activities, while janitors focus on getting specific cleaning tasks done in their assigned areas.
Professional Requirements and Career Path Comparison
Most janitors learn while working, with new hires typically paired up with experienced staff. All janitors must complete the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazard Communication Standard training because they handle cleaning chemicals regularly.
Both janitors and custodians can move into supervisory positions, but custodians have more direct routes into facility management roles, and many facility management positions require prior experience as a maintenance technician. As janitors gain experience, they might start planning and coordinating maintenance tasks for whole buildings.
When To Hire a Janitor vs. a Custodian for Your Business
Your business hours and facility needs should drive this decision. If you need evening or night shift cleaning when your building’s empty, a janitor fits perfectly. But if you need someone on-site during business hours to handle maintenance issues and supervise other staff, you’ll want a custodian instead.
While janitors earn less than custodians, they also handle smaller-scale tasks. If you need specialized knowledge, such as landscaping, exterior maintenance, building safety inspections, and cleaning equipment maintenance, you’ll need a custodian with specific skills.
Keep your job descriptions under 300 words, and look for dependability, problem-solving skills, customer service abilities, and trustworthiness you can verify through background checks.
Understanding the differences between janitors and custodians helps you make smart decisions that match what your facility needs. Both jobs keep work environments clean, safe, and functional, but selecting the right professional depends on your work scope, schedule needs, and how much responsibility you’re looking for.
Choose the Right Cleaning Professional for Your Business
Whether your southern New England business needs basic cleaning or full facility management, the right professional makes everything easier. Instead of dealing with hiring challenges, training costs, and managing cleaning staff yourself, many businesses do better partnering with experienced commercial cleaning companies. You’ll get expert services without the administrative hassle. Contact our friendly, knowledgeable team at Advantage Maintenance today to see how our professional cleaning and facility management services can streamline your operations while keeping everything clean and safe.