Guidance.help

Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment

In the Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment occupation, workers wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. O*NET rates it as some preparation, which usually means a few months to a year of learning on the job. It leans on quality control analysis, operation and control, and operations monitoring. You may also need to rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces. With a code of RCI, this is mostly a job for people drawn to hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Conventional interests also help, rated 4.0 out of 7. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.

Main tasks

  • Rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces.
  • Apply paints, dyes, polishes, reconditioners, waxes, or masking materials to vehicles to preserve, protect, or restore color or condition.
  • Clean and polish vehicle windows.
  • Drive vehicles to or from workshops or customers' workplaces or homes.
  • Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes, cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, or hoses.
  • Inspect parts, equipment, or vehicles for cleanliness, damage, and compliance with standards or regulations.

Skills

  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Operation and Control
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Time Management
  • Monitoring
  • Speaking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on quality control analysis and operation and control.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Aircraft Cleaner
  • Automotive Detailer (Auto Detailer)
  • Bus Cleaner
  • Car Detailer
  • Car Washer

Related careers

Is this your direction?

See how your interests line up with RCI and 906 other careers.

Take the career test

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.