Laundry Worker
What the work is
Sorts, cleans, irons, presses, folds and packages linen, clothing and other garments in a commercial laundry or private residence.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Sorts and separates soiled linen, clothing and other articles by type, colour and hygiene requirements
- Mixes and adds detergents, dyes, bleaches, starches and other chemicals used in the cleaning process
- Operates washing machines, dryers and other laundry equipment to clean and dry linen, clothing and other articles
- Irons and presses clothing, garments and other articles using steam irons or pressing machines
- Checks clothing, linen, fabrics and other articles for damage or defects
- Folds or hangs garments, fabrics or other articles for storage or delivery
- May perform minor repairs or alterations to clothing, linen or other articles
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a neighbourhood drycleaner with a front counter, and a commercial laundry that serves hotels and cafes. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A crumpled suit comes back across the counter crisp and ready for the interview
- A big hotel delivery of towels and sheets is washed, folded and on the van before noon
- A customer takes back a jacket they thought was ruined and cannot find the stain
Hard days
- A steamy, hot room with a mountain of linen and not enough hours
- A garment with no care label and a customer who is certain it can be saved
- Being blamed for a stain that was already there when the item came in
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 811332, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.