Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

What the job really is

Operate or tend washing or dry-cleaning machines to wash or dry-clean industrial or household articles, such as cloth garments, suede, leather, furs, blankets, draperies, linens, rugs, and carpets. Includes spotters and dyers of these articles.

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-6011
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
• 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.
• Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
• Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
• Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
• Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
• Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
• Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.
• Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.
• 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.
• Pre-soak, sterilize, scrub, spot-clean, and dry contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Air purifying respirators, Automatic folding machines, Carbon absorbers, Centrifugal laundry extractors, Cents, Chemical protection aprons, Clothes pressing irons, Clothing presses

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
• Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
• Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
• Sewing Machine Operators
• Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
• Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
• Machine Feeders and Offbearers
• Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.