National

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, fine linens, rugs, and carpets.

Sample of reported job titles: Laundry Worker, Laundry Aide, Laundry Attendant, Laundry Housekeeper, Personal Clothing Laundry Aide, Drycleaner, Spotter, Laundress

Tasks

• 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.