Career Overview
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 Known As
- Laundry Aide
- Laundry Attendant
- Laundry Housekeeper
- Laundry Worker
Alternate Job Titles
- Assorter
- Bag Hanger
- Bag Washer
- Benzene Washer
- Benzene Worker
- Blanket Washer
- Box Storage Worker
- Bundle Breaker
- Buttoner
- Carpet Cleaner
- Carpet Renovator
- Classifier
- Cleaner
- Cleaner and Dyer
- Cleaner and Presser
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
- Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
- Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
- Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Control Precision
- Manual Dexterity
- Trunk Strength
- Multilimb Coordination
- Finger Dexterity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Less than a High School Diploma
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air purifying respirators
- Automatic folding machines
- Carbon absorbers
- Centrifugal laundry extractors
- Chemical protection aprons
- Clothes pressing irons
- Clothing presses
- Clothing steamers
- Colorimetric detector tubes
- Continuous tunnel washers
- Direct read air monitors
- Dry-cleaning machines
- Dry-to-dry closed loop machines
- Electronic cash registers
- Exhaust dampers
Work Environment
- Spend Time Standing
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $26,270 |
| Median | $33,800 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $42,370 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 195,360
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $35,270
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $33,880
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $41,460
Sewing Machine Operators
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $36,000
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $40,860
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.