Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

Overview Nature of Work Knowledge Areas Skills Utilized Job Activities Abilities Job Conditions Work Satisfaction Education/Training

Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers produce fibers, cloth, and upholstery, and fashion them into a wide range of products that we use in our daily lives. Textiles are the basis of towels, bed linens, hosiery and socks, and nearly all clothing, but they also are a key ingredient in products ranging from roofing to tires. This statement covers a wide variety of occupations related to the production and care of textiles, apparel, and furnishings, ranging from heavy industrial machine operators to craft workers who make custom clothing and upholster furniture.

Laundry and dry-cleaning workers, the largest specialty, clean garments, linens, draperies, blankets, and other articles. They also may clean leather, suede, furs, and rugs. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers ensure proper cleaning by adjusting machine settings for a given fabric or article, as determined by the cleaning instructions on each item of clothing. When necessary, workers treat spots and stains on articles before laundering or dry-cleaning. They tend machines during cleaning and ensure that items are not lost or misplaced with those of another customer.

Closely related to dry-cleaning workers are pressers, textile, garment, and related materials. These workers often work in dry-cleaning establishments and are responsible for starching, steaming and ironing clothing and other items to remove wrinkles. When finished, they assemble each customer's items, bag or box the articles, and prepare an itemized bill for the customer.

Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers alter and repair garments in local neighborhood shops, department stores, or dry-cleaning establishments. Alterations may include hemming pants or dresses, and repairs commonly consist of patching or sewing a torn article of clothing. Some workers may be required to make elaborate custom clothing for special occasions or other unique events.

Most workers in apparel occupations, however, are found in manufacturing, performing specialized tasks in the production of large numbers of garments that are shipped to retail establishments for sale. Fabric and apparel patternmakers convert a clothing designer's original model of a garment into separate parts that can be laid out on a length of fabric. They use computers to outline the parts and draw in details to indicate the position of pleats, buttonholes, and other features. They then alter the size of the pieces in the pattern to produce garments of various sizes and, in doing so, determine the best layout of pieces to minimize waste of material. Once a pattern has been created, mass production of the garment begins.

The first step in manufacturing textiles is preparing the fibers. Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers, set up and operate machines that extrude or force liquid synthetic material, such as rayon, fiberglass, or liquid polymers through small holes and draw out filaments. Other operators put natural fibers such as cotton or wool through carding and combing machines that clean and align them into short lengths. Textile winding, twisting, and drawing-out machine setters, operators, and tenders make yarn from this material, taking care to repair any breaks. Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders control machines that wash, bleach, and dye yarn or finished fabrics.

When the yarn or fiber has been prepared, the next step is to produce fabric. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders put the yarn on machines that weave, knit, loop, or tuft it into a product. Different types of machines are used for these processes, but operators may perform similar tasks, repairing breaks in the yarn and monitoring the yarn supply. Some products, such as hosiery and carpeting, emerge nearly finished. In other cases, the fabric goes on to the next step in the manufacturing process.

Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders use patterns—those from patternmakers—to prepare the pieces from which finished apparel will be made. Sewing machine operators then join these pieces together, reinforce seams, and attach buttons, hooks, zippers, and accessories. In some cases, hand sewers may be employed to make adjustments and perform specialty work. After the product is sewn, other workers remove lint and loose threads, inspect, and package the garments.

Shoe machine operators and tenders tend machines used in making footwear. They perform a variety of duties including cutting, joining, decorating, reinforcing, and finishing shoes and shoe parts. Shoe and leather workers and repairers may finish work that cannot be done by machine. Most repairers are employed in cobbler shops, where they fix shoes and other leather products, such as luggage and saddles.

Upholsterers make, fix, and restore furniture that is covered with fabric. Those who produce new furniture typically start with bare wooden frames. First, they install webbing, tacking it to one side of the frame, stretching it tight, and tacking it to the other side. They then tie each spring to the webbing and its neighboring springs, covering it with filler, such as foam or polyester batting. Next, they measure and cut pieces of fabric for the arms, backs, seats, sides, and other surfaces, leaving as little waste as possible. Finally, they sew the fabric pieces together and attach them to frames with tacks, staples, or glue, while also affixing any ornaments, such as fringes, buttons, or rivets. Some upholsterers work with used furniture, often repairing or replacing fabric that is in poor condition.

Work environment. Most people in textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations work a standard 5-day, 35- to 40-hour week. Working on evenings and weekends is common for shoe and leather workers, laundry and dry-cleaning workers, and tailors, dressmakers, and sewers, who often are employed in retail stores. Many textile and fiber mills often use rotating schedules of shifts so that employees do not continuously work nights or days.

Working conditions vary by establishment and by occupation. For example, machinery in textile mills is often noisy, as are areas in which sewing and pressing are performed in apparel factories; patternmaking and spreading areas tend to be much quieter. Older factories are cluttered, hot, and poorly lit and ventilated, but more modern facilities usually have more workspace and are well lit and ventilated. Textile machinery operators use protective glasses and masks that cover their noses and mouths to protect against airborne particles. Many machines operate at high speeds, and textile machinery workers must be careful not to wear clothing or jewelry that could get caught in moving parts. In addition, extruding and forming machine operators wear protective shoes and clothing when working with certain chemical compounds.

Work in apparel production can be physically demanding. Some workers sit for long periods, and others spend many hours on their feet, leaning over tables and operating machinery. Operators must be attentive while running sewing machines, pressers, automated cutters, and the like. A few workers may need to wear protective clothing, such as gloves. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that full-time shoe machine operators and tenders experienced a work-related injury and illness rate that was higher than the national average.

Laundries and dry-cleaning establishments are often hot and noisy. Employees also may be exposed to harsh solvents, but newer environmentally-friendly and less-toxic cleaning solvents are improving the work environment in these establishments. Areas in which shoe and leather workers make or repair shoes and other leather items can be noisy, and odors from leather dyes and stains frequently are present. Workers must take care to avoid punctures, lacerations, and abrasions.

Upholstery work can be dangerous, and upholsterers usually wear protective gloves and clothing when using sharp tools and lifting and handling furniture or springs. During most of the workday, upholsterers stand and may do a lot of bending and heavy lifting. They also may work in awkward positions for short periods. Full-time upholsterers also experienced a work-related injury and illness rate that was much higher than the national average.

1.	Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.
2.	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.
3.	Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
4.	Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
5.	Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
6.	Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.
7.	Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
8.	Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
9.	Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
10.	Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.
11.	Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.
12.	Spray steam, water, or air over spots to flush out chemicals, dry material, raise naps, or brighten colors.
13.	Operate dry-cleaning machines to clean soiled articles.
14.	Test fabrics in inconspicuous places to determine whether solvents will damage dyes or fabrics.
15.	Pre-soak, sterilize, scrub, spot-clean, and dry contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.
16.	Start pumps to operate distilling systems that drain and reclaim dry cleaning solvents.
17.	Operate machines that comb, dry and polish furs, clean, sterilize and fluff feathers and blankets, or roll and package towels.
18.	Spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.
19.	Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.
20.	Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.
21.	Mix bleaching agents with hot water in vats, and soak material until it is bleached.
22.	Match sample colors, applying knowledge of bleaching agent and dye properties, and types, construction, conditions, and colors of articles.
23.	Apply chemicals to neutralize the effects of solvents.
24.	Identify articles' fabrics and original dyes by sight and touch, or by testing samples with fire or chemical reagents.
25.	Dye articles to change or restore their colors, using knowledge of textile compositions and the properties and effects of bleaches and dyes.
26.	Iron or press articles, fabrics, and furs, using hand irons or pressing machines.
27.	Hang curtains, drapes, blankets, pants, and other garments on stretch frames to dry.
28.	Wash, dry-clean, or glaze delicate articles or fur garment linings by hand, using mild detergents or dry cleaning solutions.
29.	Rinse articles in water and acetic acid solutions to remove excess dye and to fix colors.
30.	Mend and sew articles, using hand stitching, adhesive patches, or sewing machines.
31.	Immerse articles in bleaching baths to strip colors.
32.	Clean fabrics, using vacuums or air hoses.

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