cleaning staff

[ˈkliːnɪŋ stɑːf]
nounpl: cleaning staffs
pessoal de limpeza
1. A group of employees responsible for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in a building, facility, or workplace
The cleaning staff arrives early in the morning to prepare the office building.
O pessoal de limpeza chega cedo pela manhã para preparar o edifício de escritórios.
2. Workers hired to perform janitorial and sanitation duties
We need to hire additional cleaning staff for the new hospital wing.
Precisamos contratar pessoal de limpeza adicional para a nova ala do hospital.
In Brazil, the cleaning staff is an essential part of institutional life, whether in schools, hospitals, offices, or public spaces. The profession is often undervalued socially despite its importance, particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when their role gained more recognition. In the USA, the term 'cleaning staff' is commonly used in formal business and institutional settings, while 'cleaning crew' may be more casual. Both cultures recognize this work as vital to public health and facility maintenance.
NYC Slang
cleaning crew / housekeeping
Synonyms / Sinônimos
janitorial staffhousekeeping staffmaintenance staffcleaning crewcustodial staff

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pessoal de limpeza
most common and standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
equipe de limpeza
alternative term, emphasizing team aspect
São Paulo
equipe de limpeza / pessoal de limpeza
both terms commonly used in business contexts
Portugal
pessoal de limpeza / pessoal de higiene
similar to Brazilian usage; pessoal de higiene slightly more formal

Related Words

janitorhousekeepercustodiansanitation workercleaning servicejanitorial supplies

Related Idioms & Phrases

clean house
sweep something under the rug
keep a clean slate
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