Dry Cleaner Daily Workflow Checklist
A dry cleaner runs on a production cycle nobody outside the industry really sees. Garments come in, get tagged, get inspected, get cleaned, get pressed, get bagged, get racked, and get returned to the customer. If any step in that cycle breaks, the whole day backs up. And a busy cleaner cannot afford to back up.
Opening the Counter
The front counter is where everything starts and ends. It opens before the back room is fully running.
- Unlock and turn on lights and counter equipment
- Boot up the POS and tagging system
- Print and post the day's pickup list
- Confirm the racks are organized by pickup date
- Stock the counter with claim tickets, bags, and pens
- Count the till and confirm the float
Drop-Off Process
Every drop-off has the same routine. Skipping any step turns into a customer dispute about a missing button or a stained collar.
Inspect every garment in front of the customer. Note any pre-existing stains, tears, or damage.
Tag every garment with the customer's number and any special instructions. Lost tag, lost garment.
Sort immediately by service type. Dry clean, wash and fold, alterations, leather: each goes to its own bin.
Repeat the pickup date and total back to the customer. Sets expectations, prevents disputes.
Production Floor
The back room is where the real work happens. Each station has its own routine.
Spotters. Treat every visible stain before the cleaning cycle. Photograph any stains that need to be flagged for the customer.
Cleaners. Run loads with the right solvent for each fabric type. Log every load.
Pressers. Press to the cleaner's standard. Inspect every garment after pressing.
Quality control. Every garment gets a final inspection before bagging.
Tagging and Bagging
This is where finished work meets the rack and the rack meets the pickup ticket.
- Bag every garment with the customer's tag visible
- Hang on the rack in the customer's section
- Update the order in the POS to "ready for pickup"
- Notify the customer per their preference: text, email, or phone
Customer Pickup
- Pull the order by tag number
- Confirm garment count against the ticket
- Process payment
- Inspect for any issues before the customer leaves
Equipment and Solvent Management
The cleaning equipment is the heart of the operation and the most expensive thing in the building. It needs maintenance and logging.
- Check solvent levels and quality daily
- Clean lint traps and filters per the manufacturer schedule
- Log every solvent change and equipment maintenance
- Inspect boilers and steam systems daily
Closing Up
- Final QC on the day's finished work
- Sort tomorrow's expected pickups to the front
- Sweep production floor and counter areas
- Reconcile the till
- Lock up and set the alarm
Why Dry Cleaning is a Logbook Business
If you ever have a dispute, your log is your case. If a customer claims you damaged a $500 jacket, the photo you took at intake and the spotter's notes are what protect you. No log, no protection.
How MyTeamTasks Helps
A dry cleaner with a digital workflow system can see every garment's status from drop-off to pickup. The counter staff sees which orders are ready. The production team sees their queue. The owner sees the bottlenecks. Customers get faster notifications when their order is ready. Less paper, fewer lost tickets, fewer disputes.
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