Dry-cleaner Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

Dry-cleaners use chemicals and machinery to clean clothes and other items made from material that cannot be washed. Some work for high street dry-cleaning shops, while others are employed by large cleaning plants where they operate industrial dry-cleaning machinery.

As a dry-cleaner, your key duties could include:

• taking items from customers and giving them a collection ticket
• checking items for damage and sorting them according to colour and type of fabric
• tagging with bar codes or computer chips for identification
• treating heavy stains by spotting with chemicals before cleaning
• weighing items and loading them into machines
• setting the machine to the right programme depending on the type of fabric and the amount of soiling
• adding cleaning fluid, usually percholorethyne (known as ‘perc’)
• checking, pressing, folding or hanging and covering the items after cleaning
• giving cleaned items back to customers and handling payments.

In an industrial setting, you would operate large-scale machinery and work with supervisors and distribution teams.

Hours

In a high street shop you would usually work 40 hours a week, between Monday and Saturday, serving customers and operating dry-cleaning equipment. In an industrial cleaning company you may work longer hours on a shift system in a factory environment.

You will come into contact with chemicals and chemical fumes, so this type of work may not be suitable if you have any allergies, breathing problems or skin complaints.

Income

• Dry-cleaners can earn between around £12,000 and £14,500 or more a year
• Managers may earn up to around £20,000.

Figures are intended only as a guide.

Entry requirements

You do not usually need any qualifications to become a dry-cleaner. For work in a large dry-cleaning plant it will be useful if you have experience of operating machinery.

If you want to work as a dry-cleaner in a high street shop it could be an advantage to have previous experience of shop work or customer service.

Training and development

Once you start work you will usually receive on-the-job training from experienced staff. You may be able to work towards qualifications such as:

• NVQ Level 2 in Dry Cleaning Operations
• NVQ Level 2 in Dry Cleaning Service Support.

The Guild of Cleaners and Launderers (GCL) runs a Qualification Star Scheme with examinations in retail sales, stain removal, garment finishing and dry-cleaning. See the GCL website for details.

• Guild of Cleaners and Launderers

SATRA’s Cleaning Technology Centre runs short courses (mainly in Kettering, Northamptonshire) on various dry-cleaning skills, such as dry-cleaning practice, stain removal and setting up a dry-cleaning shop. See the SATRA website for details.

• SATRA

The Textile Services Association also runs short courses and seminars for members. The Dry Cleaning and Laundry Technology Centre, based in Ilkley runs courses on the higher level technical and management skills needed in the industry.

• Dry Cleaning and Laundry Technology Centre

Skills and knowledge

• good observational skills and attention to detail
• the ability to record items accurately
• customer service skills (if working in a dry-cleaning shop)
• the ability to operate machinery and follow instructions
• the ability to handle cash if working in a dry-cleaning shop
• an awareness of health and safety issues.

Skills and knowledge

Textile Services Association Ltd (TSA)
7 Churchill Court
58 Station Road
North Harrow
Middlesex
HA2 7SA
www.tsa-uk.org

Guild of Cleaners and Launderers
www.gcl.org.uk

SATRA
SATRA House
Rockingham Road
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN16 9JH
www.satra.co.uk

Creative Skillset Careers
Tel: 08080 300 900 (England and Northern Ireland)
Tel: 0845 850 2502(Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
www.creativeskillset.org/careers

Creative Skillset
Focus Point
21 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9GB
www.creativeskillset.org

Opportunities

In a dry-cleaning plant you could progress to supervisor or manager. In a dry cleaning shop, you could be promoted to shop manager. If your shop is part of a chain you may be able to progress to manager of a larger shop, or to area or district management.

Jobs may be advertised in the local press, through Jobcentre Plus offices and on Directgov (Jobseekers page).

• Directgov - (Jobseekers page)