BlissPoint Analytics

Occupation AtlasLaundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

O*NET · 51-6011.00

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers

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.

Also called Bag Washer · Benzene Washer · Benzene Worker · Blanket Washer · Carpet Cleaner · Cleaner · Cleaning Machine Operator · Cleaning Tech
80 more

Cleaning Technician (Cleaning Tech) · Clothes Separator · Clothes Shaker · Curtain Cleaner · Drier · Drier Operator · Dry Cleaner · Dry-Cleaning Machine Operator · Dry-Cleaning Machine Tender · Dryer Operator · Drying Machine Operator · Dyer · Folder · Folding Machine Operator · Fur Cleaner · Fur Glazing and Polishing Machine Operator · Fur Glosser · Fur Polisher · Furniture Cleaner · Garment Sorter · Glove Cleaner · Hand Launderer · Handy Worker · Hat Cleaner · Hotel Laundry Attendant · Housekeeping Laundry Aide · Industrial Laundry Attendant · Launderer · Laundress · Laundromat Worker · Laundry Aide · Laundry Assistant · Laundry Associate · Laundry Attendant · Laundry Equipment Operator · Laundry Helper · Laundry Housekeeper · Laundry Machine Operator · Laundry Machine Tender · Laundry Operator · Laundry Person · Laundry Press Operator · Laundry Room Attendant · Laundry Sorter · Laundry Tech · Laundry Technician (Laundry Tech) · Laundry Worker · Leather Cleaner · Linen Folder · Machine Filler · Machine Fur Cleaner · Machine Rug Cleaner · Machine Washer · Marking Machine Operator · Night Guest Laundry Attendant · Personal Clothing Laundry Aide · Rug Cleaner · Rug Dyer · Separator · Sheet Finisher · Sheet Folder · Sheet Sorter · Shirt Cleaner · Shirt Folder · Shirt Operator · Silk Blocker · Silk Finisher · Silk Spotter · Sorter · Spot Cleaner · Spot Remover · Spotter · Steam Cleaner · Suede Cleaner · Towel Folder · Towel Sorter · Upholstery Cleaner · Washer · Washing Machine Operator · Washroom Operator

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCE35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Dishwashers

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCERealistic · Conventional · Enterprising — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.38
  • C Conventional4.26
  • E Enterprising1.54
  • S Social1.36
  • A Artistic1.18
  • I Investigative1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma21%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent74%
  • Some College Courses4%
  • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate1%
Related work experience
None (64%)
On-site or in-plant training
Up to and including 1 month (70%)
On-the-job training
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month (61%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Monitoringbasic2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Operation and Control2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Active Listeningbasic2.92.3Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Critical Thinkingbasic2.82.4Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Social Perceptiveness2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Time Management2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Operations Monitoring2.62.3Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
  • Coordination2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Speakingbasic2.62.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Service Orientation2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.41.9Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
Show the other 23
  • Active Learningbasic2.32.3Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Quality Control Analysis2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Persuasion2.11.6Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Instructing2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Writingbasic2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Management of Personnel Resources2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Negotiation2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Complex Problem Solving1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Learning Strategiesbasic1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Systems Analysis1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Troubleshooting1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Systems Evaluation1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Repairing1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Tighten a screw to get a door to close properly
  • Equipment Maintenance1.91.3Level 2 looks like: Add oil to an engine as indicated by a warning light
  • Mathematicsbasic1.60.8
  • Equipment Selection1.50.8
  • Operations Analysis1.50.6
  • Management of Material Resources1.50.5
  • Management of Financial Resources1.40.4
  • Installation1.0—
  • Programming1.0—
  • Sciencebasic1.0—
  • Technology Design1.0—

Tasks

10 core · 22 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.4.4
  2. Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.4.4
  3. Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.4.4
  4. Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.4.3
  5. 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.4.2
  6. Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.3.9
  7. Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.3.7
  8. Inspect soiled articles to determine sources of stains, to locate color imperfections, and to identify items requiring special treatment.3.6
  9. Determine spotting procedures and proper solvents, based on fabric and stain types.3.6
  10. Sprinkle chemical solvents over stains, and pat areas with brushes or sponges to remove stains.3.6
Show the other 22
  1. Apply chemicals to neutralize the effects of solvents.3.8
  2. Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.3.6
  3. Apply bleaching powders to spots and spray them with steam to remove stains from fabrics that do not respond to other cleaning solvents.3.4
  4. Operate machines that comb, dry and polish furs, clean, sterilize and fluff feathers and blankets, or roll and package towels.3.3
  5. Pre-soak, sterilize, scrub, spot-clean, and dry contaminated or stained articles, using neutralizer solutions and portable machines.3.2
  6. Mix and add detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches, and other solutions and chemicals to clean, color, dry, or stiffen articles.3.1
  7. Wash, dry-clean, or glaze delicate articles or fur garment linings by hand, using mild detergents or dry cleaning solutions.3.1
  8. Operate dry-cleaning machines to clean soiled articles.3.0
  9. Match sample colors, applying knowledge of bleaching agent and dye properties, and types, construction, conditions, and colors of articles.3.0
  10. Iron or press articles, fabrics, and furs, using hand irons or pressing machines.3.0
  11. Hang curtains, drapes, blankets, pants, and other garments on stretch frames to dry.3.0
  12. Spray steam, water, or air over spots to flush out chemicals, dry material, raise naps, or brighten colors.2.8
  13. Test fabrics in inconspicuous places to determine whether solvents will damage dyes or fabrics.2.7
  14. Mix bleaching agents with hot water in vats, and soak material until it is bleached.2.7
  15. Dye articles to change or restore their colors, using knowledge of textile compositions and the properties and effects of bleaches and dyes.2.7
  16. Mend and sew articles, using hand stitching, adhesive patches, or sewing machines.2.7
  17. Clean fabrics, using vacuums or air hoses.2.7
  18. Start pumps to operate distilling systems that drain and reclaim dry cleaning solvents.2.5
  19. Rinse articles in water and acetic acid solutions to remove excess dye and to fix colors.2.4
  20. Immerse articles in bleaching baths to strip colors.2.4
  21. Spread soiled articles on work tables, and position stained portions over vacuum heads or on marble slabs.2.1
  22. Identify articles' fabrics and original dyes by sight and touch, or by testing samples with fire or chemical reagents.2.1

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Production and Processing2.72.6
  • Customer and Personal Service2.52.7
  • English Language2.52.6
  • Chemistry2.22.1Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Education and Training2.11.5Level 1 looks like: Show someone how to bowl
  • Administration and Management2.01.4Level 1 looks like: Approve a reimbursement request
  • Computers and Electronics2.01.6Level 1 looks like: Operate a media player to watch a training video
  • Mathematics2.01.5Level 1 looks like: Add two numbers
Show all 33
  • Mechanical2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Replace the filters in a furnace
  • Public Safety and Security2.01.5Level 1 looks like: Use a seatbelt
  • Personnel and Human Resources1.91.3Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Administrative1.70.9Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Psychology1.71.2Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Communications and Media1.61.1Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Economics and Accounting1.60.9Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Engineering and Technology1.61.3Level 1 looks like: Install a door lock
  • Foreign Language1.60.8Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Telecommunications1.50.7Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Biology1.4—
  • Design1.4—
  • Law and Government1.4—
  • Sales and Marketing1.4—
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.4—
  • Therapy and Counseling1.4—
  • Geography1.3—
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.3—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.3—
  • Physics1.3—
  • Transportation1.3—
  • Building and Construction1.2—
  • Fine Arts1.2—
  • Food Production1.2—
  • History and Archeology1.1—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.33.1Level 4 looks like: Thread a needle
  • Trunk Strength3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Sit up in an office chair
  • Category Flexibility3.02.8Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Control Precision3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Adjust a room light with a dimmer switch
  • Information Ordering3.02.4Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Near Vision3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Oral Comprehension3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Understand a television commercial
  • Problem Sensitivity3.02.5Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
Show all 52
  • Manual Dexterity2.92.9
  • Multilimb Coordination2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Row a boat
  • Oral Expression2.92.6Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
  • Speech Clarity2.92.4Level 1 looks like: Call numbers in a bingo game
  • Speech Recognition2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Finger Dexterity2.82.9Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
  • Visual Color Discrimination2.82.3Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
  • Deductive Reasoning2.62.8Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Extent Flexibility2.52.6Level 2 looks like: Reach to adjust the radio in a car
  • Inductive Reasoning2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Selective Attention2.52.0Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Written Comprehension2.52.4Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Flexibility of Closure2.42.3Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Perceptual Speed2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
  • Static Strength2.32.0Level 1 looks like: Push an empty shopping cart
  • Auditory Attention2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Dynamic Strength2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Fluency of Ideas2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Rate Control2.11.9Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Reaction Time2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
  • Stamina2.12.1Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
  • Far Vision2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Gross Body Coordination2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Memorization2.01.5Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Number Facility2.01.0Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Speed of Closure2.01.9
  • Time Sharing2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
  • Visualization2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.01.1Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Written Expression2.02.0Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Gross Body Equilibrium1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Hearing Sensitivity1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Originality1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Explosive Strength1.80.8
  • Mathematical Reasoning1.80.8Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Response Orientation1.81.0Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Depth Perception1.61.0Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.40.4
  • Speed of Limb Movement1.40.4
  • Glare Sensitivity1.3—
  • Night Vision1.3—
  • Peripheral Vision1.3—
  • Sound Localization1.3—
  • Spatial Orientation1.3—

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Performing General Physical Activities3.74.2Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Getting Information3.63.1Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.53.5Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Handling and Moving Objects3.54.7Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials3.52.9
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.53.5Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Controlling Machines and Processes3.43.8Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.43.5Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
Show all 41
  • Training and Teaching Others3.23.4Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.13.0Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.03.4Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.03.0Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.02.7
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.02.9
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others2.93.2Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Developing and Building Teams2.92.9
  • Processing Information2.93.0Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Analyzing Data or Information2.82.6
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.82.8
  • Coaching and Developing Others2.82.9
  • Documenting/Recording Information2.82.3Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
  • Scheduling Work and Activities2.82.6
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge2.83.0Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People2.72.8
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.73.3Level 4 looks like: Work as a chef responsible for ordering food for the menu
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.72.9
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment2.62.4Level 1 looks like: Drive a car
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment2.62.9
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment2.62.8
  • Staffing Organizational Units2.62.6
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization2.52.1Level 1 looks like: Have little contact with people outside the organization
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.52.3Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.42.8
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.32.3Level 1 looks like: Plan the holiday schedule for an airline workforce
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.32.5Level 1 looks like: Work occasionally as a backup supervisor
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public2.32.3Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Thinking Creatively2.32.5Level 1 looks like: Change the spacing on a printed report
  • Working with Computers2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.21.7Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Selling or Influencing Others2.21.8Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.12.1Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Spend Time Standing4.6
  • Contact With Others4.2
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.2
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.2
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.0
  • Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment3.9
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions3.9
  • Physical Proximity3.7
  • Time Pressure3.7
  • Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body3.6

Technology

11 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (4)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
Other tools (7)
  • Cents
  • Curbside Laundries Wash and Fold POS Software
  • Email software
  • Property management system PMS software
  • Sales processing software
  • Wash-Dry-Fold POS
  • Web browser software

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
  2. Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
  3. Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
  4. Sewing Machine Operators
  5. Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
  6. Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
  7. Machine Feeders and Offbearers
  8. Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
  9. Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
  10. Packers and Packagers, Hand

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.