Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Dry Cleaner

🎯 Role Definition

A Dry Cleaner is responsible for professionally cleaning, finishing and inspecting garments and textiles using dry-cleaning solvents and laundering equipment, applying advanced spotting and stain-removal techniques, and delivering consistent, high-quality garment care while providing excellent in-person and phone customer service. This role combines technical knowledge of fabric care and chemical handling with operational responsibilities such as machine operation, quality control, inventory tracking, and adherence to environmental and safety regulations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Laundry Attendant / Washroom Technician
Retail Associate with textile or apparel experience
Garment Care Assistant or Spotting Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Dry Cleaner / Lead Pressing Technician
Store Manager or Operations Manager (cleaning services)
Quality Control Supervisor or Production Manager

Lateral Moves:

Alterations / Tailoring Specialist
Customer Service Supervisor / Front-of-House Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate and monitor dry cleaning machines, washers, and finishing equipment to clean garments and textiles to company standards while minimizing solvent and resource waste.
Inspect incoming garments for stains, fabric type, labels, and damage; document special instructions and ensure appropriate ticketing for accurate processing.
Apply professional spotting and pre-treatment techniques using appropriate solvents and chemicals to remove oil, grease, ink, protein, and other common stains without damaging fabric.
Identify fibers and fabric blends (wool, silk, rayon, polyester, cotton, leather, suede) and select the correct cleaning method and solvent for each garment to protect fabric integrity.
Load and unload machines, ensuring correct cycle selection, proper solvent levels, and balanced loads to maintain cleaning quality and equipment longevity.
Press, steam, and hand-finish garments using presses, irons, steamers, and finishing equipment to remove wrinkles and restore garment shape and structure.
Perform manual or mechanical repairs such as replacing buttons, minor stitching, and small hem adjustments, or mark garments requiring alterations for the tailoring team.
Conduct final quality inspections on finished garments, checking for residual stains, pressing defects, mislabels, or damage before releasing items to customers.
Maintain accurate work tickets and processing records, ensuring that customer preferences, special instructions, and item counts are correctly documented.
Provide courteous, knowledgeable customer service at the counter: accept drop-offs, explain cleaning options and expected turnaround times, and advise on garment care and stain prevention.
Operate point-of-sale (POS) systems to process payments, issue receipts, schedule deliveries, and reconcile cash and electronic transactions at shift end.
Prepare and package cleaned garments for pickup or delivery, using appropriate protective coverings and packaging to protect finished items in transit.
Conduct daily equipment checks, routine maintenance, and cleaning of presses, machines, and finishing stations to prevent downtime and maintain a safe workspace.
Follow all safety protocols for handling and storing dry-cleaning solvents, flammable materials, and hazardous chemicals; use PPE and consult Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) as required.
Monitor and maintain solvent recovery and wastewater treatment systems to ensure environmental compliance and efficient solvent use.
Track inventory of cleaning chemicals, hangers, packaging supplies, and garment care products; reorder supplies in a timely manner to prevent production delays.
Log and report any damaged or lost items promptly, communicate with customers about claims or compensation, and escalate to management according to company policy.
Train and mentor junior staff and new hires on spotting techniques, machine operation, quality standards, and customer service expectations.
Adhere to all company policies and local regulations related to environmental safety, solvent disposal, and workplace health standards, participating in audits as needed.
Schedule and coordinate special cleaning orders (wedding dresses, leather/suede, uniforms), managing longer lead times, specialty treatments, or hand-cleaning requirements.
Optimize workflow on the production floor to meet daily volume targets while maintaining consistent garment quality and minimizing rework.
Maintain accurate records for chemical use and safety inspections to support regulatory reporting and internal audits.

Secondary Functions

Assist with promotional activities and upselling of specialty services such as alterations, stain protection, or premium finishing.
Support basic bookkeeping tasks like tracking daily sales, reconciling receipts, and preparing bank deposits when required.
Participate in monthly inventory counts and collaborate with management to reduce shrinkage and control supply costs.
Help coordinate pickup and delivery routes, loading and unloading van(s) and ensuring correct customer order fulfillment for off-site deliveries.
Provide input on process improvements and recommend equipment upgrades or workflow changes to improve quality and efficiency.
Serve as backup cashier or front-counter agent during peak times, handling inquiries and resolving routine customer concerns.
Maintain shop cleanliness and organization, including laundry rooms, pressing areas, and customer-facing spaces to present a professional environment.
Support emergency response for spills or equipment malfunctions and assist with incident reporting and corrective actions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Professional dry cleaning machine operation and maintenance (perc, hydrocarbon, solvent-based systems)
Advanced stain removal and spotting techniques for oil, ink, protein, tannin, and dye transfer
Fabric and fiber identification with appropriate selection of cleaning and finishing methods
Pressing, steaming, and hand-finishing skills for a wide range of garments including suits, dresses, and outerwear
Operation of finishing equipment: pants presses, shirt finishing machines, steamers, and hand irons
Knowledge of solvent recovery systems, wastewater treatment basics, and environmental compliance procedures
Chemical handling and safety (MSDS compliance, PPE use, correct storage and disposal of solvents)
Basic sewing and minor repair skills: button replacement, small seam repairs, and simple hems
Point-of-sale (POS) operation, order tracking systems, and ticketing accuracy
Quality control inspection procedures and standards to ensure consistent garment presentation
Inventory tracking and reorder point management for chemicals, packaging, and supplies
Basic vehicle loading and delivery coordination for route-based services
Record keeping of customer preferences, special instructions, and claims documentation

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and a strong quality-driven mindset
Excellent customer service and communication skills, both in person and by phone
Strong time management and organizational skills to prioritize high-volume workloads
Problem-solving ability to diagnose difficult stains and determine appropriate treatments
Reliability, punctuality, and the physical stamina to stand, lift, and handle garments all day
Teamwork and willingness to train/mentor junior staff in best practices
Adaptability to changing customer needs, peak seasons, and special-order requirements
Professional demeanor and discretion in handling customer garments and sensitive items
Basic numeracy and cash-handling integrity for accurate transactions and reconciliation
Initiative to recommend process improvements and contribute to operational efficiency

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (GED)

Preferred Education:

Vocational certificate or technical training in textile care, garment finishing, or dry cleaning operations
OSHA, HAZWOPER, or other workplace safety/chemical handling certifications (preferred)

Relevant Fields of Study:

Textile Science or Fabric Care
Hospitality Management / Retail Management
Fashion Merchandising / Apparel Construction
Environmental Health & Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

Entry: 0–1 year of hands-on experience (trainee/apprentice)
Experienced: 1–5+ years in dry cleaning, laundry services, or garment finishing

Preferred:

1–3 years minimum experience operating dry cleaning equipment and performing advanced spotting and finishing; 3+ years preferred for lead or supervisory roles.