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What Does a Laundry Attendant Do?
A laundry attendant can do many different tasks and fulfill a number of different roles depending on the environment in which he or she works. Many laundry attendants work in the hospitality industry at hotels and resorts and oversee laundry to ensure that guests have clean linens and towels. A person in this position can also be someone who works at a dry cleaning facility and ensures that all clothes and linens brought in are cleaned properly. Others work at coin-operated laundries and other public laundry facilities, providing assistance to customers.
In the hospitality industry, a laundry attendant will typically work with other staff members to ensure clean linens are provided to all guests. He or she will usually work in the laundry room at this type of facility and his or her duties typically involve physically organizing laundry during all phases of cleaning. He or she may also be responsible for stocking carts so housekeeping associates can provide guests with clean sheets and towels. Larger hotels or resorts may require several such attendants as well as managers to supervise the activities of the other attendants.
A laundry attendant at a dry cleaning or similar laundering facility will often work with customers to establish their needs and ensure the cleaning is done properly. He or she will typically talk to a customer as clothes or linens are brought in to assess the specific cleaning needs of the customer. A laundry attendant may also then physically work to clean the garments, and this may be especially necessary for certain stains or materials that require special handling. The attendant may also need to keep track of several orders and jobs at once to ensure garments are cleaned on time and ready for customer pickup.
In a Laundromat or similar facility, a laundry attendant will typically be someone who works at the facility to help customers and ensure safety and security. This can include helping customers make change for the machines, helping with any issues regarding malfunctioning machines or similar problems, and watching what is going on in the laundry. A laundry attendant at this type of facility will typically not be responsible for other people’s laundry, however, since this would potentially allow a person or business to be targeted for lawsuits over lost or stolen items. He or she will likely be more concerned about the security and cleanliness of the facility, to ensure customers feel safe and comfortable while doing their laundry.
In addition to these roles, a laundry attendant may also provide valuable insights to customers about effective laundering practices, including the utilization of the best detergent sheets. These innovative sheets offer a convenient and efficient way to enhance the laundering process. By suggesting the use of these detergent sheets, attendants can empower customers to achieve superior cleaning results while simplifying their laundry routine.
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![A laundry attendant might keep things in order at a laundromat.]()
By: dutourdumondeA laundry attendant might keep things in order at a laundromat. -
![People might be able to buy items such as bleach from a laundry attendant.]()
By: WimLPeople might be able to buy items such as bleach from a laundry attendant. -
![Many laundry attendants work in the hospitality industry at hotels and resorts and oversee laundry to ensure that guests have items like clean towels.]()
By: chonlawitMany laundry attendants work in the hospitality industry at hotels and resorts and oversee laundry to ensure that guests have items like clean towels. -
![Laundry attendants might be able to help customers operate machines.]()
By: George DolgikhLaundry attendants might be able to help customers operate machines. -
![Laundry attendants at a hotel ensure regular washing and changing of bed linens.]()
By: pio3Laundry attendants at a hotel ensure regular washing and changing of bed linens. -
![Some gyms and other athletic facilities have a laundry attendant who ensures there are always clean towels and other amenities.]()
By: СеÑгей ЧиÑковSome gyms and other athletic facilities have a laundry attendant who ensures there are always clean towels and other amenities.
Discussion Comments
My job as a laundry attendant at a hospital only lasted a few months. I really couldn't handle it any longer than that.
There were a lot of gross things that you needed to deal with and I didn't have the stomach for it. It never got any easier, and I had to find something else to do.
My sister also worked as a laundry attendant at a hotel. She also had some interesting stories to tell. Most people are considerate, but it never ceased to amazed me how sloppy and messy some people could be.
I applaud those people who can stick with this job for longer than I did.
When I was in college, I took a part time laundry attendant job at a hotel to help pay my way through school.
This can be a hard job, but one that is necessary. You are on your feet all the time, and I was exhausted at the end of my shift.
My college major was in the hospitality industry, so it was somewhat interesting to me how all aspects of the hotel industry worked.
I was a good worker and continued to work my way up to other positions in the hotel as I worked on my college degree.
In the end, this paid off for me, because when I graduated, this same hotel hired me as a manager.
Even though working as a laundry attendant was my first job here, it really did give me a good idea of how each job is important and needs to be done right.
I also understand how hard they work and how tiring the job can be day after day.
I'm not sure if this is really true, but the laundry attendants at my local dry cleaners really seem to like their jobs. They're always really friendly to the customers, and take a lot of pride in their work.
Of course, they own the business too, so that might have something to do with it!
@backdraft - You make a really excellent point. Most people don't have much respect for people who work menial jobs doing laundry or sanitation-but both of those things are necessary for our world to run smoothly. And they're definitely essential for helping the military run. So thank you for your service to our country!
I'm also heartened to know that laundromats have laundry attendants. I'm looking for a new apartment, and one place I'm looking at doesn't have a laundry room or a washer and dryer in the unit. I really like the location, but I was a little scared of having to use a laundromat. However, I feel better knowing that there's someone there keeping an eye on things.
@turkay1 - At first, I was thinking it would really stink to be a laundry attendant at a hotel. After all, people are gross. Also, I think a lot of people really let themselves go when they're at a hotel. They don't have to clean it up, so why not make an even bigger mess. Plus, the idea of dealing with, um, bodily fluids kind of grosses me out.
However, out of all the laundry jobs, I think I would prefer to work in a hotel. I hate working in customer service and dealing with people. I just have the wrong attitude for it. But give me a task to do and I'm happy. So despite the grossness factor, I bet I'd be better working as a laundry attendant than doing something "up front" at a hotel.
@anamur-- That's nice. It certainly isn't that way where I work which is a six-star hotel. We have a huge laundry area and aside from washing bedding and towels, we also do dry-cleaning for our guests. The laundry attendants only work in the laundry department and everyone is responsible for a separate task.
I think it's better where you work because there is more variety in terms of duties and responsibilities and you don't do it seven days a week. Laundry attendant jobs here are pretty repetitive. We don't deal with any customer service here unlike dry cleaners do. We just clean and deliver to the housekeepers.
I do my laundry at a coin laundry and the laundry attendant there is basically as a security measure and also to make sure that the machines are running in order.
A coin laundry is pretty much a public space, anyone can come in and use it. So a laundry attendant needs to be there to make sure clothes aren't getting stolen and that the washers and driers are working. Sometimes I put in my clothes in the washer and go over to the grocery store next door to do my shopping. I wouldn't be able to do that if there wasn't a laundry attendant there. She makes sure that people don't touch each other's belongings.
She also knows who to call if one of the washers or driers break down to get it fixed or if the coin machine breaks down or something.
I work as a housekeeper at a small hotel. What we do is take turns as the laundry attendant. So every day of the week, one housekeeper becomes the laundry attendant and stays in the laundry room the whole day.
The laundry room is attached to where we spend time and have lunch outside of our room duties. So we all help out the laundry attendant with folding the laundry when we happen to be there. But the laundry attendant of the day is responsible for starting the washers and dryers, moving clothes from one to the other, setting the timers and putting in the detergent and softeners.
But as housekeepers, we're also the laundry attendants and just fill in the gaps where help is needed. Plus, laundry work goes much faster when multiple people are helping. Five people can fold towels much faster than one person can. I'm sure it's different in a large hotel or in a laundry business. But as a small hotel, we manage everything between ourselves.
I worked as a laundry attendant when I was in the Marines. Lots of people wouldn't think of this kind of job when they think of serving in the armed forces but we performed an important service.
Military bases produce a lot of dirty laundry. Keeping everything running smoothly means that someone has to be responsible for all of that. That's where I came in. It may not have been as glamorous as a jet pilot, but what I did was important.
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