1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Laundry And Dry Cleaning Workers
  4. Required Skills Responsibilities Activities

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Occupation Detailed Description

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

The main tasks and work activities of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers are to mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information, apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel, operate garment treatment equipment, sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading. In general, for the Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers, monitoring, active Listening and other -1 skills are required.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Job Description
EducationSome of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Related ExperienceLittle or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
ExampleThese occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers jobs. 34.16% of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 0.62% of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
65.22%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
34.16%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.62%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

  • Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.
  • Start washers, dry cleaners, driers, or extractors, and turn valves or levers to regulate machine processes and the volume of soap, detergent, water, bleach, starch, and other additives.
  • Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
  • Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
  • Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
  • Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.
  • Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
  • Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
  • Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
  • Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.
  • Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.
  • Spray steam, water, or air over spots to flush out chemicals, dry material, raise naps, or brighten colors.
  • Operate dry-cleaning machines to clean soiled articles.
  • Test fabrics in inconspicuous places to determine whether solvents will damage dyes or fabrics.
  • Pre-soak, sterilize, scrub, spot-clean, and dry contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.
  • Start pumps to operate distilling systems that drain and reclaim dry cleaning solvents.
  • Operate machines that comb, dry and polish furs, clean, sterilize and fluff feathers and blankets, or roll and package towels.
  • Spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.
  • Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.
  • Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Apply water or solutions to fabrics or apparel.
  • Operate garment treatment equipment.
  • Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading.
  • Count finished products or workpieces.
  • Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains.
  • Direct operational or production activities.
  • Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Compare physical characteristics of materials or products to specifications or standards.
  • Test chemical or physical characteristics of materials or products.
  • Prepare fabrics or materials for processing or production.
  • Smooth garments with irons, presses, or steamers.
  • Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
  • Operate sewing equipment.
  • Repair textiles or apparel.
  • Sew clothing or other articles.

Skills and Abilities for Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Respiratorse.g. Air purifying respirators
  • Folding machinese.g. Automatic folding machines
  • Molecular sievee.g. Carbon absorbers
  • Centrifugal laundry extractore.g. Centrifugal laundry extractors
  • Protective apronse.g. Chemical protection aprons
  • Domestic clothing ironse.g. Clothes pressing irons
  • Ironing machines or pressese.g. Clothing presses
  • Garment steamere.g. Clothing steamers
  • Gas detectorse.g. Colorimetric detector tubes
  • Laundry type washing machinese.g. Continuous tunnel washers
  • Multi gas monitorse.g. Direct read air monitors
  • Dry cleaning machinese.g. Dry-cleaning machines
  • Dry cleaning machinese.g. Dry-to-dry closed loop machines
  • Cash registerse.g. Electronic cash registers
  • Ventilation damperse.g. Exhaust dampers
  • Air exhausterse.g. Exhaust ventilation systems
  • Processing tankse.g. Filter tanks
  • Spongese.g. Garment sponges
  • Identification markerse.g. Hand markers
  • Leak testing equipmente.g. Handheld refrigerant leak detectors
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.