Top 12 Custodian Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, distinguishing yourself as a custodian goes beyond showcasing basic cleaning abilities. Highlighting a diverse set of custodian skills on your resume can demonstrate your versatility, efficiency, and commitment to maintaining a pristine and safe environment, making you a standout candidate for potential employers.

Custodian Skills

1. Sanitization Protocols
2. Waste Management
3. Floor Care
4. Equipment Operation
5. Safety Compliance
6. Space Organization
7. Chemical Use
8. Repair Skills
9. Inventory Management
10. Pest Control
11. HVAC Maintenance
12. Electrical Basics

1. Sanitization Protocols

Sanitization protocols for a custodian involve standardized procedures for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and spaces to remove dirt, germs, and other harmful microorganisms, ensuring a safe, hygienic environment.

Why It's Important

Sanitization protocols are crucial for custodians because they reduce harmful pathogens, maintain a healthy environment, and help prevent disease transmission—protecting everyone who uses the space.

How to Improve Sanitization Protocols Skills

To strengthen sanitization protocols, focus on the following:

1. Stay Updated: Follow current public health guidance and internal policies; revise procedures when new recommendations emerge.

2. Use EPA-Approved Disinfectants: Select products proven effective against relevant pathogens and match them to the surface and soil load.

3. Follow Product Instructions: Apply correct dilution, coverage, and dwell time. Skipping contact time undercuts results.

4. Prioritize High-Touch Points: Door handles, switches, railings, elevator buttons, shared equipment—hit them often.

5. Implement a Routine: Build checklists by area and frequency. Log completions to spot gaps.

6. Wear Protective Gear: Use appropriate PPE and follow OSHA guidance for chemical handling and biohazard protocols.

7. Color-Code Tools: Separate cloths and mops by area (restrooms vs. offices) to prevent cross-contamination.

8. Train and Refresh: Conduct regular training and brief refreshers after audits, incidents, or product changes.

Consistent methods plus documentation lead to safer spaces and fewer missed spots.

How to Display Sanitization Protocols Skills on Your Resume

2. Waste Management

Waste management for a custodian covers the collection, segregation, transportation, recycling, and disposal of waste generated in a facility—keeping spaces clean and compliant with local rules.

Why It's Important

Effective waste management protects health, reduces pests and odors, supports environmental goals, and keeps facilities safe and orderly.

How to Improve Waste Management Skills

Improve waste programs with simple, steady actions:

1. Sort and Segregate: Use clearly labeled bins for recyclables, organics, and landfill waste at the point of discard.

2. Reduce and Reuse: Limit single-use items, repurpose supplies where appropriate, and right-size liners and containers.

3. Recycling Programs: Establish routes and schedules for paper, plastics, metals, and e-waste; post signage people actually notice.

4. Hazardous Materials: Handle batteries, bulbs, chemicals, and sharps under local regulations. Store safely and document pickups.

5. Composting: For food and landscape waste, implement organics collection or on-site composting if feasible.

6. Education and Training: Brief staff and occupants on what goes where; update after audits to correct common mistakes.

7. Monitor and Improve: Track volumes, contamination rates, and pickup frequency. Adjust container placement and sizes accordingly.

Small tweaks compound into cleaner rooms and lower disposal costs.

How to Display Waste Management Skills on Your Resume

3. Floor Care

Floor care involves cleaning, maintaining, and preserving different floor types to keep them safe, durable, and sharp-looking. Sweeping, mopping, extracting, buffing, scrubbing, sealing—each floor needs its own playbook.

Why It's Important

Good floor care reduces slip risks, improves indoor air quality, protects finishes, and elevates the overall impression of a facility.

How to Improve Floor Care Skills

Better floors come from matching method to material:

1. Know the Surface: Vinyl, rubber, stone, ceramic, concrete, hardwood, carpet—all require different chemistry, pads, and machines.

2. Daily Soil Control: Dust mop or vacuum routinely. Microfiber captures fine particles without scratching.

3. Spot Fast: Treat spills immediately. Use manufacturer-recommended products rather than homemade solutions.

4. Deep Cycles: Schedule periodic scrubs, extractions, or burnishing based on traffic patterns, not guesswork.

5. Right Tools: Use proper pads, brushes, and dilution ratios. Avoid over-wetting moisture-sensitive floors.

6. Safety First: Post wet floor signs, cordon off areas, wear slip-resistant footwear, and follow OSHA-safe practices.

7. Inspect and Repair: Patch grout, replace transition strips, and fix lifted edges before they become hazards.

8. Keep Learning: Stay current on finishes, low-VOC products, and equipment updates.

The right sequence and timing make the shine last longer with less effort.

How to Display Floor Care Skills on Your Resume

4. Equipment Operation

Equipment operation means safely and efficiently using cleaning and maintenance tools—vacuums, auto-scrubbers, burnishers, extractors, pressure washers—so the job gets done right and machines last.

Why It's Important

Competent operation improves results, reduces downtime, lowers repair costs, and protects people and property.

How to Improve Equipment Operation Skills

Sharpen your approach with disciplined habits:

1. Read the Manual: Know controls, settings, and restrictions for each machine.

2. Routine Maintenance: Empty recovery tanks, rinse filters, inspect cords and squeegees, check pads and belts—log it.

3. Use as Intended: Correct pads, speeds, passes, and pressure. Don’t force a tool to do the wrong job.

4. Training: Attend hands-on demos and short refreshers; use internal SOPs and checklists for consistency.

5. Report Issues: Tag out faulty equipment and communicate symptoms early to prevent bigger failures.

6. Follow Safety Standards: Apply OSHA-aligned procedures for cords, noise, ergonomics, and chemical feed systems.

Good care turns machines into reliable workhorses.

How to Display Equipment Operation Skills on Your Resume

5. Safety Compliance

Safety compliance means following established health and safety rules to protect yourself and others during cleaning and maintenance work, including proper chemical handling, PPE, and hazard controls.

Why It's Important

Strong compliance prevents injuries, reduces liability, supports uptime, and builds a culture where people trust the space they’re in.

How to Improve Safety Compliance Skills

Make safety visible and routine:

1. Education and Training: Cover chemical labels (GHS), SDS, emergency response, and equipment safety. Refresh often.

2. Open Communication: Encourage hazard reporting without blame. Close the loop with corrective actions.

3. PPE: Provide and enforce gloves, goggles, masks, and footwear appropriate to each task.

4. Regular Audits: Inspect storage rooms, cords, signage, and machine guards. Fix findings quickly.

5. Update Protocols: Revise SOPs when products, regulations, or layouts change.

Safety isn’t a binder. It’s daily behavior supported by clear systems.

How to Display Safety Compliance Skills on Your Resume

6. Space Organization

Space organization is the systematic arrangement and upkeep of rooms and storage so areas stay clean, orderly, and easy to use.

Why It's Important

Organized spaces speed up cleaning, cut accidents, reduce lost items, and make facilities feel calm instead of chaotic.

How to Improve Space Organization Skills

Bring structure without clutter:

1. Declutter: Remove unused items routinely; surplus invites mess.
2. Systematize Storage: Label bins and shelves, group by task, and standardize layouts across closets.
3. Routine Cleaning: Use rotation schedules so no zone gets overlooked.
4. Standard Procedures: Create open/close checklists for rooms, events, and turnovers; keep them posted.
5. Continuous Improvement: Review traffic patterns and feedback, then adjust placement and processes.

Less searching, more doing. That’s the goal.

How to Display Space Organization Skills on Your Resume

7. Chemical Use

Chemical use for a custodian means selecting, handling, mixing, applying, and storing cleaning products safely and effectively.

Why It's Important

Proper chemical use delivers real cleanliness without harming people, surfaces, or the environment—extending asset life and trust.

How to Improve Chemical Use Skills

Keep it safe and smart:

1. Prefer Safer Options: Choose low-toxicity, certified products where performance allows.

2. Train Thoroughly: Cover SDS, labeling, dilution, first aid, and incompatibilities.

3. Follow Instructions: Use correct dilutions and dwell times; more isn’t better.

4. Dilution Control: Use calibrated systems or pre-measured packs to reduce waste and exposure.

5. PPE and Ventilation: Wear required protection and work with adequate airflow.

6. Safe Storage: Secure, labeled, upright containers; segregate acids and oxidizers; maintain spill kits.

7. Minimize Use: Mechanical action and microfiber often cut chemical demand.

8. Review Regularly: Audit usage, rotate stock (FIFO), and retire redundant products.

Clarity and control keep people safe and results consistent.

How to Display Chemical Use Skills on Your Resume

8. Repair Skills

Repair skills cover identifying, troubleshooting, and fixing basic issues in plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and general maintenance to keep buildings functional and safe.

Why It's Important

Quick, competent fixes reduce downtime, cut contractor costs, and prevent small problems from snowballing into major repairs.

How to Improve Repair Skills

Build capability step by step:

1. Structured Learning: Take entry-level maintenance courses or workshops focused on facilities basics.

2. Hands-On Practice: Tackle small tasks first—replace faucet washers, adjust door closers, patch drywall—then scale up.

3. Learn by Watching: Use reputable video tutorials and manufacturer guides for specific repairs.

4. Ask Pros: Shadow experienced techs when possible; note tools and diagnostic steps.

5. Right Tools: Build a core kit: multimeter, screwdrivers, nut drivers, pliers, utility knife, tape measure, hex keys, bits, anchors.

Consistency and curiosity are the real force multipliers.

How to Display Repair Skills on Your Resume

9. Inventory Management

Inventory management means tracking and organizing supplies and equipment so the right items are available, in the right quantities, at the right time.

Why It's Important

Good control minimizes waste, avoids stockouts, reduces costs, and keeps operations moving without frantic runs for basics.

How to Improve Inventory Management Skills

Bring order to your stockroom:

1. Use Simple Software: Even lightweight tools beat spreadsheets for alerts and audit trails.
2. Regular Audits: Cycle counts catch discrepancies early and keep records honest.
3. Categorize Clearly: Group by task (restroom, floors, trash liners) and by consumable vs. durable.
4. FIFO: First-in, first-out to prevent product aging and caking.
5. Reorder Points: Set par levels and automate alerts based on lead time and usage rates.
6. Supplier Relationships: Align on delivery schedules, substitutes, and emergency orders.
7. Train the Team: Standardize check-in/out and labeling so everyone follows the same playbook.

Visibility curbs waste and makes budgets behave.

How to Display Inventory Management Skills on Your Resume

10. Pest Control

Pest control is preventing and addressing insects, rodents, and other pests to maintain a clean, safe, and healthy facility.

Why It's Important

Effective control protects health, prevents property damage, and meets public health standards.

How to Improve Pest Control Skills

Blend prevention with targeted response:

1. Seal Entry Points: Caulk gaps, repair screens, weatherstrip doors, and close utility penetrations.

2. Sanitation: Remove food debris, clean spills, and keep storage off the floor and away from walls.

3. Waste Discipline: Empty trash routinely; keep dumpsters sealed and positioned away from entrances.

4. Monitor and Identify: Use sticky traps and regular inspections; correct ID guides the right treatment.

5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Favor exclusion, sanitation, and mechanical controls first; use least-toxic chemicals as needed.

6. Educate and Communicate: Train staff on food storage, report sightings quickly, and document actions taken.

Clean habits and sealed buildings beat infestations before they begin.

How to Display Pest Control Skills on Your Resume

11. HVAC Maintenance

HVAC maintenance includes inspecting, cleaning, and servicing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems so they run efficiently and safely—filters, coils, belts, drains, thermostats, and electrical connections all count.

Why It's Important

Regular maintenance improves air quality, trims energy costs, extends equipment life, and prevents surprise breakdowns.

How to Improve HVAC Maintenance Skills

Stay consistent and seasonal:

1. Filter Changes: Replace or clean on schedule to maintain airflow and IAQ.

2. Coil Care: Keep evaporator and condenser coils clean to protect capacity and efficiency.

3. Duct and Drain Attention: Inspect ducts for leaks and clean as needed; clear condensate lines to prevent water damage.

4. Thermostat Calibration: Verify setpoints and accuracy to avoid short cycling and discomfort.

5. Seasonal Inspections: Check belts, electrical connections, refrigerant indicators, and safeties before heating and cooling seasons.

6. Professional Service: Schedule annual checks by certified HVAC technicians for deeper diagnostics.

7. Documentation: Log dates, readings, parts replaced, and notes for trend tracking and warranty support.

Air moves better, bills drop, and comfort holds steady.

How to Display HVAC Maintenance Skills on Your Resume

12. Electrical Basics

Electrical basics for a custodian include safe handling of electrical devices, recognizing common hazards, and performing simple tasks like resetting breakers or replacing outlets and switches within policy limits.

Why It's Important

Knowing the basics reduces risk, supports quick troubleshooting, and improves communication with licensed electricians when issues escalate.

How to Improve Electrical Basics Skills

Learn fundamentals, then build confidence:

1. Core Concepts: Understand voltage, current, resistance, and how they relate (Ohm’s Law). Know AC vs. DC at a high level.

2. Safety First: De-energize before work, verify with a tester, and use insulated tools and proper PPE. Respect lockout/tagout rules.

3. Essential Tools: Practice with a multimeter, non-contact voltage tester, wire strippers, and proper connectors.

4. Wiring Basics: Learn conductor types and color codes; practice making secure, code-compliant terminations.

5. Panels and Protection: Locate panels, identify circuits, and safely reset tripped breakers. Replace fuses correctly where used.

6. Energy Efficiency: Swap to LED, install occupancy sensors, and report vampire loads—small changes save big.

7. Training: Take beginner-friendly courses and follow manufacturer instructions for devices you maintain.

Steady practice and strict safety habits keep both people and equipment out of trouble.

How to Display Electrical Basics Skills on Your Resume