types of staining
The different kinds of stains on fabrics such as invisible, perspirative, and oxidation stains. The nature of the stain, the type of fabric (absorbed, built up and compound staining) and the colour fastness of the dye.
Laundry workers operate and monitor machines that use chemicals to wash or dry-clean articles such as cloth and leather garments, linens, drapes or carpets, ensuring the color and texture of these articles is being maintained. They work in laundry shops and industrial laundry companies and sort the articles received from clients by fabric type. They also determine the cleaning technique to be applied.
Competences and skills
42 ESCO relationsEssential knowledge 2 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
1 competenceCross-sector
1 competencequality standards
The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
Essential skills and competences 19 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
13 competencesapply prespotting
Remove stains in dry-cleaning by using the pre-spotting technique. Use a spotting board, which vacuums the garment attached to the spotting board through air suctions. Use a spotting gun to apply steam to loosen the stain and use a blow dryer to dry the fabric.
clean household linens
Wash linens such as sheets, towels and table cloths with water and soap or detergent. Clean linens by hand or by the use of a washing machine.
collect items for laundry service
Collect the dirty pieces of clothing or other linen within the facility and send them to the laundry service.
distinguish accessories
Distinguish accessories in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate accessories based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.
distinguish fabrics
Distinguish fabrics in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate fabrics based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.
eliminate stains
Use stain removal equipment to remove stains without damaging the fabric. Carry out garment and stain detection to identify the specific staining type such as wet or dry side staining in a safe and appropriate manner.
identify cloth items
Count and collect the items, and provide them with the drop off and delivery dates. Fix tags with a safety pin or staple, describing important information about the customer. Apply special colored tags for different sorts of treatments, and assemble and re-assemble the order after the laundry and dry cleaning process.
inspect dry cleaning materials
Check which items are suitable or unsuitable for dry-cleaning by interpreting care labels and decide which dry cleaning processes may be required.
maintain relationship with customers
Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.
operate tumble dryer
Operate machine to remove stains and achieve clean clothes. Measure the minimum and maximum load to insert in the machine and select the appropriate drying process for eventual moisture and leaking problems.
operate tunnel finisher machine
Handle wide or narrow body tunnel finishers which remove wrinkles from garments. Insert the material in a steam chamber, making the fabric moldable.
operate washer extractor
Prepare the equipment and safely load and unload clothing items in and out of the washer extractor. Select the right washing programme, recognize faults and malfunctions with the machine and report this to the right person.
read care labels
Sort clothing items according to their colour or fabric by inspecting and reading care tags or labels. They indicate agitations, how a particular fabric should best be washed, bleached, dryed, ironed and cleaned.
Cross-sector
6 competenceshandle chemical cleaning agents
Ensure proper handling, storage, management and disposal of cleaning chemicals (CIP) in accordance with regulations.
- Scope note
- The chemicals include hazardous materials.
handle linen in stock
Manage laundered items and store them in safe and hygienic conditions.
iron textiles
Pressing and ironing in order to shape or flatten textiles giving them their final finishing appearance. Iron by hand or with steam pressers.
maintain cleaning equipment
Clean and preserve the equipment and material used for cleaning purposes in a proper state.
maintain customer service
Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
- Scope note
- Might include keeping the customers informed about the current status of their orders or waiting times.
use solvents
Clean products or surfaces by using solvents to dissolve or extract other unnecessary substances.
Optional knowledge 8 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
3 competencesdyeing technology
Processes involved in textile dyeing using different dyeing technologies. Also, addition of colours to textile materials using dye stuffs.
organisational policies
The policies to achieve set of goals and targets regarding the development and maintenance of an organisation.
properties of textile materials
The characteristics and properties of different textile and fabric materials. These include strength, flexibility, elasticity, softness, durability, heat insulation, low weight, water absorbency/repellence, dyeability and resistance to chemicals. Moreover, the influence of chemical composition and molecular arrangement of yarn and fibre properties and fabric structure on the physical properties of textile fabrics; the different fibre types; the materials used in different processes and the effect on materials as they are processed.
Cross-sector
5 competencescleaning industry health and safety measures
Preventive and interventional methods used in the cleaning industry to maintain health and safety for all workers and tertiary persons.
leather colour chemistry
Colour chemistry is the application and behaviour of dyes and colouring materials in relation to leather.
personal protective equipment
Types of protective materials and equipment foreseen for various types of tasks such as general or specialised cleaning activities.
source colour chemicals
Full range of available dyes and colours chemicals suitable for leather and where to source them.
types of bleach
The range of bleach and others chemicals used to remove the colour from materials in a steam cooking process, adjusting the brightness and colour of the materials.
Optional skills and competences 13 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
5 competencesfollow up orders for customers
Follow-up/tracking of an order and notifying the customer when the goods have arrived.
identify defects on raw hides
Analyse, identify and evaluate the possible defects present on raw hides/skins. Defects may be of natural origin, caused by bad practices at the farm, in transport, at the abattoir or generated during the manufacturing process.
maintain wardrobe
Manage the client's wardrobe for laundry, dry cleaning, mending, steam press, seasonal catalogue and changes for closets, inventory of wardrobes and accessories.
monitor stock level
Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
operate dry cleaning pressing machines
Use assigned equipment such as shirt, sleeve, collar, cuff and single or double buck pressing machines to press a variety of customers garments.
Cross-sector
8 competencescontrol temperature
Measure and adjust temperature of a given space or object.
evaluate garment quality
Evaluating stitching, construction, attachments, fasteners, embellishments, shading within the garment; evaluating pattern continuity-, matching; evaluating tapes and linings.
greet guests
Welcome guests in a friendly manner in a certain place.
handle customer complaints
Administer complaints and negative feedback from customers in order to address concerns and where applicable provide a quick service recovery.
pack goods
Pack different kinds of goods such as finished manufactured products or goods in use. Pack goods by hand in boxes, bags and other types of containers.
process payments
Accept payments such as cash, credit cards and debit cards. Handle reimbursement in case of returns or administer vouchers and marketing instruments such as bonus cards or membership cards. Pay attention to safety and the protection of personal data.
sell products
Encourage sales by identifying the customer’s buying needs and by promoting benefits and features of the organisation’s products. Respond to and resolve customer objections and agree to mutually beneficial terms and conditions.
sell services
Encourage sales by identifying the customer’s buying needs and by promoting benefits and features of the organisation’s services. Respond to and resolve customer objections and agree to mutually beneficial terms and conditions.