A rich variety of fabrics helps make clothing wearable, unique, and beautiful. Fabrics as diverse as spandex, linen, silk, wool, and leather all have one thing in common sooner or later, they need to be cleaned! That provides an endless supply of customers for laundry and dry-cleaning workers. These workers may help customers use washers and dryers at a public laundromat, or operate specialized equipment at a dry-cleaner. They treat different fabrics with specialized cleaning methods, and advise customers on how to avoid damaging clothing. Dry-cleaning workers treat spots and stains before cleaning, steam press or iron by hand to remove wrinkles, and may make minor repairs such as sewing on buttons. Some also clean rugs and draperies. This is a physical job, laundry and dry-cleaning workers are on their feet most of the time, and do a lot of bending, lifting, and carrying. Work environments may be noisy, odorous, and hot, while chemicals used in dry-cleaning are often harsh. But it’s a business that can reward hard work and attention to detail with a steady stream of satisfied customers. With enough experience and motivation, a laundry and dry-cleaning worker may go on to open their own shop.
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
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.
Business
customer service
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
manufacture and distribution of products
Basic Skills
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
understanding people's reactions
Hand and Finger Use
keep your arm or hand steady
hold or move items with your hands
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Independence
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Dependability
Cooperation
Self Control
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software
Email software
Point of sale POS software
Sales processing software
no high school diploma/GED or high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
In the military:
see titles from the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy.
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