cleaners

[ˈkliːnərz]
noun
limpadores, produtos de limpeza, serviço de limpeza a seco
1. People or workers whose job is to clean buildings, homes, or spaces
The office cleaners come in after hours to tidy up the desks.
Os limpadores do escritório vêm depois do horário para arrumar as mesas.
2. Commercial cleaning products or substances used for cleaning
I need to buy some all-purpose cleaners for the kitchen.
Preciso comprar alguns produtos de limpeza multiusos para a cozinha.
3. A dry cleaning service or establishment
I took my suit to the cleaners yesterday.
Levei meu terno à limpeza a seco ontem.
In Brazilian culture, cleaning workers (limpadores) form an important but often undervalued part of the workforce. The phrase 'levado à limpeza' (taken to the cleaners) is used idiomatically to mean being swindled. In the USA, the dry cleaning service reference is particularly common in urban centers.
NYC Slang
The cleaners (as in 'taken to the cleaners') - meaning financially exploited or defeated
Synonyms / Sinônimos
cleaning staffjanitorshousekeeperscleaning productsdetergents
Antonyms / Antônimos
polluterscontaminants

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
limpadores, produtos de limpeza
Most common usage for cleaning workers and products
Rio de Janeiro
garis (street cleaners), limpadores
Garis is commonly used for street cleaners specifically
São Paulo
limpadores, equipe de limpeza
More formal corporate usage with 'equipe de limpeza'
Portugal
limpadores, produtos de limpeza, serviço de lavandaria
Portuguese uses 'lavandaria' for dry cleaning services

Related Words

cleaningcleansercleanjanitorialsanitation

Related Idioms & Phrases

taken to the cleaners - exploited financially or defeated badly
clean someone out - to take all of someone's money
get taken to the cleaners - suffer a significant loss
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