Laundry and dry cleaning workers receive, clean, and press clothing and other articles.

Laundry and dry cleaning workers may staff the counter and receive items from customers. Workers talk to customers about cleaning instructions and give them laundry tickets. They clean items including garments, wedding gowns, drapes, and bedding.

Workers mark stains on garments and try to remove them. They often test fabrics to make sure they won't be damaged by the cleaning process. They apply stain removers and may soak articles before washing them. Workers also sort garments based on their color, fabric, and cleaning technique.

Once stains are removed, workers load and tend:

• Washing machines
• Extractors
• Dryers

Dry cleaners run dry cleaning machines with pumps that drain and reclaim the dry cleaning solution. They also clean the filters in washing machines and dryers. Some workers maintain and repair washing machines and other cleaning equipment.