cleaner
person paid to clean places
A person who is paid to clean homes, offices, or other places.
a/the cleaner cleans [a place]
- We pay a cleaner to come once a week and do the bathrooms and floors.
- The office cleaner usually empties the bins after everyone has gone home.
- She works as a school cleaner in the early mornings before classes start.
- They hired a cleaner to get the apartment ready for the new tenants.
- Our regular cleaner is on holiday, so the manager asked us to tidy our own desks.
- We have a cleaner who comes every Friday.
- The cleaner washes the floor in the evening.
- My aunt works as a cleaner in a big office.
- They hired a cleaner because they are very busy.
- The cleaner opened the window and started to dust the shelves.
chemical or liquid for cleaning
A product, usually a liquid, that you use to clean things like glass, floors, or bathrooms.
[type] cleaner for [surface]
- Use a mild glass cleaner so you don't leave streaks on the windows.
- This oven cleaner is strong enough to remove burned-on grease.
- She bought an eco-friendly floor cleaner at the supermarket.
- Always wear gloves when using powerful bathroom cleaners.
- The label says this cleaner is safe for wood surfaces.
- I need some glass cleaner for the windows.
- This cleaner is only for the kitchen floor.
- He used a special cleaner to remove the mark.
- The smell of the bathroom cleaner is very strong.
- Please do not mix this cleaner with other products.
more clean; less dirty
More clean; having less dirt or mess than another thing or than before.
[something] is cleaner than [something]
- The kitchen looks much cleaner now that you've done the dishes.
- Electric cars are considered cleaner than petrol cars.
- This hotel room is cleaner and brighter than the one we had last year.
- After the rain, the air felt cleaner and fresher.
- She wants to live in a cleaner, quieter neighborhood.
- My hands are cleaner now.
- This shirt is cleaner than that one.
- The city is cleaner than it was before.
- Solar power is cleaner than coal.
- Your room will be cleaner if you put your clothes away.
machine used for cleaning
A machine that you use to clean, for example to remove dust from the floor or carpet.
use the cleaner on [surface]
- The cleaner is in the cupboard under the stairs if you need to vacuum.
- We rented a carpet cleaner to freshen the living room.
- This steam cleaner is great for getting marks off the tiles.
- He bought a small handheld cleaner to use in the car.
- The old cleaner finally broke, so they ordered a new one online.
- The cleaner is very noisy when it is on.
- We use a cleaner to clean the carpet.
- She put the cleaner back in the closet.
- He bought a new cleaner for his small apartment.
- I need the cleaner to remove the dust from the floor.
shop that professionally cleans clothes
A shop where you take clothes so that a company cleans and presses them for you.
take [clothes] to the cleaner(s)
- I need to pick up my suit from the cleaner before the interview.
- She took her wedding dress to a specialist cleaner after the ceremony.
- There's a new cleaner on the corner that offers same-day service.
- He forgot to bring the curtains back from the cleaner.
- These jackets are dry-clean only, so you'll have to use a professional cleaner.
- I took my coat to the cleaner.
- You can get your dress cleaned at the cleaner near my house.
- He will pick up his suit from the cleaner tomorrow.
- This shirt is expensive, so I will take it to the cleaner.
- The cleaner closed early on Sunday.
criminal who removes evidence or kills
In crime films or books, a criminal whose job is to kill people or remove a dead body and other signs of a crime.
call in a cleaner to [action]
- In the movie, the gang hires a cleaner to deal with anyone who talks to the police.
- The organization sent in a cleaner to remove all traces of the operation.
- He worked as a so‑called cleaner, making bodies and weapons disappear after a job.
- The crime boss trusted only one cleaner to take care of his problems.
- Rumors spread that a professional cleaner had been flown in to handle the situation.
- In the TV show, the cleaner removes the body after the crime.
- The boss calls a cleaner to make the problem go away.
- A cleaner in this story is not a normal worker; he is a criminal.
- The police think a professional cleaner helped the gang.
- In many films, a cleaner comes after the killing.
- Base: cleaner
- Plural: cleaners
dry cleaner
1business that dry‑cleans clothes
A shop or business that cleans clothes with a special liquid instead of water, and usually presses them.
- I have to take this suit to the dry cleaner before the wedding.
- The dry cleaner lost one of my shirts, so they gave me a refund.
- There's a reliable dry cleaner just around the corner from my office.
get a cleaner in
1hire someone to come and clean
To pay a person whose job is cleaning to come to your home or office and clean it.
- The flat is such a mess that we really should get a cleaner in.
- They decided to get a cleaner in once a week after the baby was born.
- If you're too busy, you can always get a cleaner in to help.
glass cleaner
1liquid used to clean glass
A liquid that you spray on windows or glass to make them clean and clear.
- Use glass cleaner and a soft cloth to avoid scratching the window.
- She sprayed some glass cleaner on the mirror and wiped it dry.
- We ran out of glass cleaner, so I used a bit of soapy water instead.
oven cleaner
1strong chemical for cleaning ovens
A strong cleaning product that removes burnt food and grease from the inside of an oven.
- You should wear gloves when using oven cleaner.
- He sprayed oven cleaner on the trays and left it for an hour.
- This oven cleaner works well on very old grease.
vacuum cleaner
1electric machine for vacuuming
An electric machine that cleans floors and other surfaces by sucking up dust and dirt.
- The vacuum cleaner stopped working in the middle of the job.
- She uses a small vacuum cleaner to clean the stairs.
- They bought a robot vacuum cleaner that runs every night.