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Looking for steady work? Cleaning jobs might be the way in you’ve been missing!

Cleaning is one of those sectors that rarely shuts the door on anyone. If you are after a friendly way in, with your pay landing right on time at the end of the month, this one was written with you in mind.

No experience, no expensive training and no reference letter. See what it really takes to get into this field before the month is over.

Plenty of people get into cleaning looking for some extra cash and end up building a steady career.
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Looking for cleaning job openings is, for a lot of people, the fastest way into the job market in Portugal. It is a sector with constant demand, one that accepts candidates with no previous experience and offers flexible hours, from full shifts in office buildings to a few hours in the late afternoon or at the weekend.

In this guide we have put together the essentials. Where the openings are, what employers ask for, what to expect in terms of pay and working hours, and how to prepare an application that stands out even without a long CV.

Why there are so many cleaning job openings

Professional cleaning follows practically every other sector of the economy. Every time a hotel, a shopping centre, a care home, an office or a clinic opens its doors, the need for cleaning teams is created, and those teams are usually hired through facility services companies that serve several clients at once.

On top of that, three factors keep new openings coming week after week.

Tourism and hospitality, heavily concentrated in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and Madeira, with clear peaks in high season.

High turnover, typical of sectors with plenty of fixed-term contracts and part-time work.

An ageing population, which drives demand in care homes, continuing care units and home support services.

In practice, this means anyone looking for work in this field rarely depends on a single opening. There are always several available at the same time.

The most common types of cleaning jobs

Not all openings are the same. Understanding the differences helps you apply for the one that actually fits your availability.

Office and building cleaning. The classic of the sector. It usually involves cleaning offices, bathrooms, kitchenettes and common areas, almost always outside business hours, either early in the morning (around 6 or 7 a.m.) or late in the afternoon. This is the type of role with the most part-time openings.

Hotel cleaning (room attendant). Tidying and cleaning rooms, changing bed linen and restocking amenities, with targets for the number of rooms per shift. It demands a good pace, but it is one of the areas that hires the most in high season and one of the easiest to get into without experience.

Domestic and residential building cleaning. Private homes, short-term rentals and the common areas of apartment buildings. Here it is essential to check the type of arrangement, since it can be an employment contract with a company, a domestic service contract with the household, or self-employed work invoiced through green receipts. These are legally different situations.

Industrial, hospital and specialised cleaning. Factories, warehouses, hospitals and clinics. It requires stricter protocols and, in many cases, specific training in hygiene and safety. In return, it tends to pay above the sector average and to offer more stable contracts.

Part-time, weekend and night shifts. Many openings run from 2 to 6 hours a day. This is the usual route for students, for anyone topping up their income, or for people who are only available at specific times. Night work carries a legally required pay supplement.

How much cleaning jobs pay

The starting point is the national minimum wage, set at 920 euros a month in 2026 (gross figure, paid 14 times a year under the general rules). Most entry-level full-time offers sit around that mark and can go up depending on the role, the region and the applicable collective agreement.

What you actually take home depends on several factors worth confirming before you accept.

Contracted hours, since in a part-time role the pay is proportional to the hours you are actually contracted for.

Meal allowance, almost always paid per day actually worked.

Travel or transport allowance, common in roles covering several sites.

Supplements for night work, public holidays or Sundays.

Training and specialisation, such as hospital cleaning, operating industrial machinery or working at height.

One practical tip. Always ask for the hourly rate and the number of weekly hours. It is the only way to compare offers that, at first glance, look very different.

What employers usually ask for

Unlike other sectors, most cleaning job openings do not require specific academic qualifications. What companies normally look for is this.

Minimum legal working age and the right to work in Portugal, with an identification document, a tax number (NIF) and a social security number (NISS).

Availability that matches the advertised shift, which is the criterion that rules out the most candidates.

Being able to get to work independently, especially for very early or night shifts when public transport is limited.

Experience, which is valued but often waived, since many companies provide initial training.

Care and method, usually assessed in the interview and during the trial period.

Roles in hospitals, care homes or the food industry may come with extra requirements, such as hygiene and safety training or a criminal record certificate.

Where to find cleaning job openings

It pays to combine several channels rather than relying on a single job board.

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Public employment service (IEFP). The state employment service gathers vetted openings from the north to the south of the country and gives access to certified vocational training and hiring support schemes. You can register online or at a local branch through the official IEFP website. It is the safest channel for anyone just starting out.

General job boards. Sites such as Net-Empregos, SAPO Emprego and Indeed post cleaning openings every day. Use the filters by district and by type of schedule, and turn on email alerts so you do not miss the most recent listings.

Cleaning and facility services companies. A large share of the hiring is done by specialised companies that provide services to third parties. Look for the ones operating in your area and apply directly through the recruitment tab on their website.

Walk-in applications nearby. Hotels, gyms, clinics, schools and residential buildings often hire without advertising at all. Handing in your CV in person, outside the busiest hours, still works very well in this sector.

Local groups and word of mouth. Neighbourhood groups on social media and tips from people you know account for a good share of the placements, as long as you always confirm who is really doing the hiring.

How to put together a simple, effective CV

In a sector where the recruiter goes through dozens of applications a day, a one-page CV works better than a long document.

Include the following, in this order. Your name and phone number clearly visible. Your availability right at the top, something like “Available immediately, morning shifts and weekends”. Previous experience, even if it was informal, naming the type of space you cleaned and the tasks you handled. Any relevant training. And, where it applies, a driving licence and your own vehicle.

Avoid generic phrases. “Cleaned 12 rooms per shift in a hotel” says far more than “responsible, dedicated and hard-working”.

Finally, answer your phone. In this sector a lot of the contact happens by call, and whoever does not pick up the first time is rarely called again.

How to avoid fake offers and scams

Unfortunately, high demand also attracts fraudulent ads. Keep an eye out for these warning signs.

Being asked to pay for training, a uniform, a medical exam or a “registration fee”. No legitimate company charges you to hire you.

Wages well above the market for basic duties and short hours.

No company name, contact only through messaging apps, and refusal to hold an interview in person or by video call.

Requests for your bank details or copies of your documents before there is any formal contract offer.

Work with no written contract at all, which leaves you without social security contributions and without cover if you have an accident.

If you have doubts about working conditions or about whether the arrangement is legal, you can report the situation to the labour authority or ask for guidance at your local employment office.

Conclusion

Getting this far already shows you are taking your job search seriously, and believe us, that counts for a lot out there.

Cleaning opens doors to anyone who is willing, who shows up at the agreed time and treats every space as if it were their own home.

Keep the warning signs in mind, put together a simple and honest application, and send it without hesitating. The right opening does turn up in the end.

Enjoyed this? Want to discover another company that is hiring right now? Read the article just below and see the openings available at Decathlon.