This course plan, its lessons and its assessments has not yet been verified by a credentialed professional in the field or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it as instructions for work on a job site or on live equipment. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.
VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.
13 courses · 600 clock hours · 2–4 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.
This foundational course equips learners with the safety knowledge, trade mathematics, technical literacy, digital skills, and professional behaviors required to work safely and effectively in a commercial drycleaning or laundry facility. Lessons are directly tied to OSHA 10 hazard-recognition competencies and provide the numeric and communication foundations that underpin every downstream course. Successful completion prepares learners to enter OSHA 10 Outreach training and to meet the professional-conduct expectations of DLI and TRSA credentialing bodies.
OutcomesThis foundational course equips learners with the safety knowledge, trade mathematics, technical literacy, digital skills, and professional behaviors required to work safely and effectively in a commercial drycleaning or laundry facility. Lessons are directly tied to OSHA 10 hazard-recognition competencies and provide the numeric and communication foundations that underpin every downstream course. Successful completion prepares learners to enter OSHA 10 Outreach training and to meet the professional-conduct expectations of DLI and TRSA credentialing bodies.
How the course runs. 7 blocks: Workplace Hazards and OSHA Foundations in Textile Care; OSHA 10 Outreach: Completing the Federal Safety Credential; Trade Math and Measurement for Garment Care; Reading Technical Documents: SDS, Care Labels, and Equipment Manuals; Digital Tools for the Textile-Care Business; Professional Communication and Customer Service in Garment Care; Career Planning and Credential Roadmap in Textile Care.
What competent looks like. Identify and control at least five common textile-care workplace hazards using OSHA's hierarchy of controls and complete OSHA 10 Outreach training with a passing card. Perform trade-specific math operations—including unit conversion, percentage concentration, production-rate calculation, and invoice reconciliation—accurately to within ±2% error. Read and interpret Safety Data Sheets, care-label symbols (ASTM/ISO/GINETEX), equipment manuals, and regulatory guidance documents relevant to garment care. Use a point-of-sale or plant-management software system to log a customer order, generate a receipt, and run a basic production report. Demonstrate professional workplace behaviors—punctuality, customer communication, conflict de-escalation, and proper use of personal protective equipment—during simulated scenarios. Develop a personal career plan that maps program credentials (DLI CPD, DLI CPW, TRSA CPLM, OSHA 10) to entry-level and advancement roles in the textile-care industry.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Workplace Hazards and OSHA Foundations in Textile Care | 26 | theory | Learners will identify the primary physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic hazards present in drycleaning and laundry facilities and apply OSHA's hierarchy of controls and General Duty Clause requirements to each hazard category. |
| OSHA General Industry Standards booklet (29 CFR Part 1910 overview handout), sample SDS documents for at least four textile-care chemicals, annotated plant layout diagrams, LOTO practice locks and tags, blank LOTO permit forms, whiteboard, projector. | Learners complete a 40-question written hazard-ID quiz covering hierarchy of controls, SDS sections, PPE selection, and LOTO steps; pass mark is 70% (28/40 correct). LOTO practical checklist must be completed with zero critical errors (failure to de-energize or verify counts as critical). |
| 2 | OSHA 10 Outreach: Completing the Federal Safety Credential | 12 | theory | Learners will complete all required modules of OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Outreach Training delivered by an authorized OSHA trainer and earn the OSHA 10 completion card. |
| Authorized OSHA 10 Outreach course materials (trainer-supplied), CPR manikins, AED trainer unit, PPE sample kit (nitrile gloves, neoprene gloves, safety glasses, splash goggles, N95 respirator, half-face APF respirator with organic vapor cartridge), first-aid scenario cards. | Attendance at all OSHA 10 Outreach module hours as required by the Outreach program rules; OSHA 10 completion card issued by the authorized trainer. CPR/AED practical: learners must demonstrate correct compression rate and depth on at least 2 of 2 evaluator-observed cycles; no pass/fail substitution is made—card issuance by a certifying organization is required. |
| 3 | Trade Math and Measurement for Garment Care | 24 | practice | Learners will solve textile-care math problems involving unit conversion, chemical dilution percentages, production metrics, and customer billing accurately to within ±2% of the correct answer. |
| Scientific calculators, trade-math workbook (instructor-developed, using realistic textile-care figures), digital conductivity/pH meter, small mixing containers for demonstration solutions, sample dilution charts from a commercial detergent supplier, blank invoice forms. | Graded math problem set of 30 items covering all topic areas; pass mark is 80% (24/30) with no answer deviating more than ±2% from the correct value. Practical dilution preparation graded by instructor measurement of finished solution: must fall within target range. |
| 4 | Reading Technical Documents: SDS, Care Labels, and Equipment Manuals | 20 | theory | Learners will accurately interpret safety data sheets, ISO/GINETEX care-label symbols, and equipment operator manuals to extract information needed for safe and correct textile-care operations. |
| Laminated ISO/GINETEX care-symbol reference chart, set of 20 sample garment tags, commercial washer-extractor operator manual (real or realistic trade-supplied facsimile), three sample SDS documents for common spotting chemicals, structured reading-response forms. | Care-label decoding scored on accuracy: 18/20 symbols interpreted correctly required to pass. Equipment manual form must contain all four required data points with correct page references. SDS cross-reference exercise evaluated by instructor against an answer key; all critical safety incompatibilities must be identified (zero omissions allowed for critical hazard data). |
| 5 | Digital Tools for the Textile-Care Business | 20 | lab | Learners will use a plant-management or point-of-sale software system to create a customer order, track garment status, generate a production report, and send a customer-ready electronic notification. |
| Computers or tablets with plant-management/POS training software installed (or a realistic spreadsheet simulation), barcode scanner, label printer, sample customer complaint scripts, professional-communication template handouts, email/messaging interface. | Instructor observation checklist for software tasks: learner must complete all order-entry and status-update tasks with no uncorrected errors remaining in the system at the end of the session. Written customer communications scored on clarity, professionalism, and correct resolution offer using a rubric; minimum score 70% on the rubric. |
| 6 | Professional Communication and Customer Service in Garment Care | 22 | demo | Learners will demonstrate professional verbal and written communication with customers and coworkers, including intake interviewing, complaint handling, and escalation procedures appropriate to a drycleaning or laundry facility. |
| Role-play scenario cards (customer and associate versions), blank inspection/intake tags, garment-damage letter template, communication rubric, sample disclosure letters from the DLI member resource library (or instructor-created equivalents), whiteboard for class debrief. | Role-play evaluated with a structured rubric covering question completeness, documentation accuracy, and professional tone; pass mark is 75% of rubric points. Damage disclosure letter scored on rubric; must score ≥70% and must not contain any statement admitting liability or guaranteeing outcomes not established by inspection. |
| 7 | Career Planning and Credential Roadmap in Textile Care | 24 | field | Learners will create a documented personal career plan that identifies their target role in the textile-care industry, maps each program credential (DLI CPD, DLI CPW, TRSA CPLM, OSHA 10) to that role, and outlines steps for credential maintenance and career advancement. |
| DLI credential overview materials (publicly available from dli.org), TRSA CPLM credential overview materials (publicly available from trsa.org), credential-mapping worksheet template, career-plan outline template, instructor scheduling tool for individual conferences, internet-connected devices for research. | Credential mapping worksheet scored for completeness and accuracy: all major credential exam domains must be identified and matched to at least one course lesson; pass requires 100% of domains addressed. Career plan evaluated on a rubric covering goal specificity, credential rationale, and plan feasibility; pass mark is 75% of rubric points. Instructor conference must occur before the lesson is marked complete. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSHA 10 and Workplace Safety Written Exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% (28/40 items correct); all LOTO-related questions must be answered correctly (zero critical omissions allowed). | A 40-question multiple-choice and short-answer exam covering OSHA hierarchy of controls, SDS interpretation, PPE selection, LOTO procedures, emergency response, and textile-care-specific hazard scenarios drawn from lessons 1 and 2. Questions are aligned to the OSHA 10 General Industry content areas so that performance on this exam predicts readiness for the OSHA Outreach card. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Trade Math and Technical Reading Exam | Written exam | 25% | 80% overall (24/30 items correct); no individual answer may deviate more than ±2% from the correct numeric value. | A 30-item exam combining calculation problems (dilution percentages, production rates, invoice totals) and document-interpretation questions (care-label symbols, SDS data extraction, equipment-manual lookups) drawn from lessons 3 and 4. The exam is administered without notes to confirm independent competence in the math and reading skills used daily in a textile-care facility. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Digital Tools and Communication Portfolio Project | Project | 25% | Average rubric score of 75% across all portfolio components; no single required component may be missing; the customer-damage letter must receive a passing mark on the 'accuracy and no-liability-admission' criterion. | Learners compile a portfolio demonstrating competence from lessons 5 and 6: a printed or exported plant-management software report showing a correctly entered multi-garment order, a status-tracking summary, a professional customer-notification message, and the written garment-damage disclosure letter. Each component is scored on a published rubric and the portfolio is submitted as a single organized document or digital folder. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Career Plan Oral Defense | Oral / panel | 25% | 75% of rubric points across all five oral-defense criteria; learner must correctly identify the exam content domains for at least two of the four program credentials without prompting. | Each learner presents their personal career plan to the instructor and at least one peer in a ten-minute structured oral defense, then answers five to seven follow-up questions about their credential choices, the credential exam domains they have mapped, and the study strategies they plan to use in the Certification Exam Preparation course. The defense evaluates communication clarity, depth of credential knowledge, and goal realism, and serves as the capstone of this course. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
Students learn to identify natural, manufactured, and synthetic textile fibers and fabric constructions using physical, chemical, and burn-test methods, then apply that knowledge to select appropriate cleaning processes. Correct fiber identification is the foundation of every drycleaning and wetcleaning decision and directly supports the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas on textile classification and care-label interpretation.
OutcomesStudents learn to identify natural, manufactured, and synthetic textile fibers and fabric constructions using physical, chemical, and burn-test methods, then apply that knowledge to select appropriate cleaning processes. Correct fiber identification is the foundation of every drycleaning and wetcleaning decision and directly supports the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas on textile classification and care-label interpretation.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Textile Fiber Families: Classification, Sources, and Trade Relevance; Burn Testing and Solubility Spot Testing; Fabric Construction: Weave, Knit, and Nonwoven Structures; Care Labels, FTC Labeling Rules, and ISO Symbols; Applied Fiber and Fabric Assessment: Full Garment Analysis.
What competent looks like. Identify at least ten common textile fibers—including cotton, linen, wool, silk, polyester, nylon, acrylic, rayon, acetate, and spandex—by burn behavior, hand feel, and microscopic appearance with at least 85% accuracy. Interpret ASTM and ISO fiber-content labels and FTC care-label symbols to determine fiber composition and recommended cleaning method. Distinguish woven, knit, and nonwoven fabric constructions and explain how construction affects dimensional stability and solvent or water tolerance. Apply burn-test and solubility-spot procedures safely, wearing required PPE and following laboratory safety protocols. Recommend an appropriate drycleaning, wetcleaning, or laundry pathway for a given garment based on fiber content, fabric construction, and care-label instructions. Document fiber and fabric test results in a standard identification log that meets shop record-keeping expectations.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Textile Fiber Families: Classification, Sources, and Trade Relevance | 6 | theory | Students will classify at least ten common fibers into natural, regenerated, and synthetic families and describe the physical and chemical properties of each that affect cleaning. |
| Labeled and unlabeled fiber sample kits, DLI Drycleaning Technology reference text, fiber classification worksheets, property description card sets, projector/slides | Completed classification worksheet graded against answer key; student must correctly classify at least 9 of 11 fiber samples (82%) to pass before advancing. |
| 2 | Burn Testing and Solubility Spot Testing | 6 | lab | Students will safely perform burn tests and acetone solubility spot tests on unknown fiber samples and record results that correctly identify each fiber with at least 85% accuracy. |
| Coded swatch sample set (minimum 10 unknowns), burn-test tray and ignition source (butane lighter), tweezers, ceramic tile, acetone in dropper bottle, safety glasses, heat-resistant gloves, lab coats, fume ventilation or outdoor work area, DLI burn-test reference chart, burn-test data table forms | Completed burn-test data table reviewed by instructor; student must correctly identify at least 9 of 10 unknown fiber samples and demonstrate all required PPE use without prompting — failure on PPE requires immediate repeat of safety briefing and re-test. |
| 3 | Fabric Construction: Weave, Knit, and Nonwoven Structures | 5 | demo | Students will identify plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, single-knit, double-knit, and nonwoven constructions from fabric samples and explain how each construction influences shrinkage risk and mechanical stress tolerance during cleaning. |
| 12-swatch construction sample kit (plain weave, twill, satin, jersey knit, rib knit, fleece, fusible nonwoven, needle-punched nonwoven, and others), 10× loupes or handheld microscopes, construction diagram worksheets, spray bottle of water | Construction diagram worksheet scored by instructor; student must correctly label at least 10 of 12 constructions and provide a reasonable shrinkage-risk rationale for each — 83% or better required to pass. |
| 4 | Care Labels, FTC Labeling Rules, and ISO Symbols | 5 | theory | Students will interpret FTC care-label symbols and written instructions on actual garments and translate them into a correct cleaning method recommendation with no more than one error in a set of ten garments. |
| Printed ISO/FTC care-symbol reference guide, collection of 15+ garments or cut care labels, care-label log forms, DLI Drycleaning Technology reference | Care-label log reviewed by instructor; student must correctly interpret symbols and recommend an appropriate process for at least 9 of 10 garments (90%) — any safety-critical error (e.g., recommending perchloroethylene solvent for a 'dryclean with petroleum solvent only' label) must be corrected before passing. |
| 5 | Applied Fiber and Fabric Assessment: Full Garment Analysis | 5 | practice | Students will complete an independent, documented fiber and fabric analysis for a set of five garments, integrating burn-test data, construction analysis, care-label reading, and cleaning-method recommendation into a shop-ready identification record. |
| Five coded garments per student, burn-test tray and safety supplies, 10× loupes, Fiber and Fabric ID Record forms, care-symbol reference guide, DLI Drycleaning Technology reference | Fiber and Fabric ID Record and written rationale graded by instructor using a 20-point rubric (4 points per garment: fiber ID correct, construction correct, care-label interpreted correctly, cleaning method appropriate); student must score 17/20 (85%) to pass — this score also serves as the skills demonstration prerequisite check. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber & Fabric Identification Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher (30 of 40 questions correct) | A 40-question written exam covering fiber family classification, physical and chemical properties of common fibers, fabric construction types, FTC and ISO care-label symbols, and the relationship between fiber/construction characteristics and appropriate cleaning-method selection. Questions are multiple-choice and short-answer, aligned to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas on textile science and care-label interpretation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Practical Fiber Identification Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Student correctly identifies fiber content and recommends an appropriate cleaning process for at least 4 of 5 unknown garments; all PPE requirements must be met without prompting | The instructor presents five coded garments; the student performs burn-test and care-label analysis without assistance and completes a Fiber and Fabric ID Record for each garment within a 45-minute time limit. The evaluator uses a standardized rubric scoring fiber ID accuracy, construction assessment, care-label interpretation, PPE compliance, and cleaning-method recommendation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Fiber Identification Lab Log | Log | 15% | Log is complete for all lab sessions (burn test and solubility lab, construction lab, applied assessment); all entries include date, sample code, observations, result, and a stated conclusion — no more than two minor recording omissions allowed | Students maintain a running lab log throughout all lab and practice lessons, recording raw test data, observations, fiber or construction conclusions, and care-label interpretations for every sample handled. The completed log is submitted at course end and reviewed for accuracy, completeness, and legibility as a measure of professional record-keeping habits required in a shop environment. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Laboratory Safety Compliance Check | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/Fail — all critical safety behaviors must be demonstrated correctly; any single critical failure (no PPE, open flame without metal tray, solvent without ventilation) results in an immediate fail and mandatory repeat | During the burn-test lab session, the instructor completes a safety observation checklist for each student, confirming correct PPE donning, proper flame and solvent handling, correct disposal of test materials, and appropriate response to a simulated minor hazard scenario (instructor announces 'small fire in tray' and observes student response). This check aligns with OSHA 10 hazard-recognition and safe-practice competencies. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
This course builds the scientific foundation learners need to identify, classify, and treat common textile stains by understanding the chemical nature of both stains and the agents used to remove them. Learners study fiber-stain interactions, pH, solubility, oxidation-reduction, and enzyme activity as they apply to real garment-care situations. Content maps directly to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam competencies in stain identification and chemical selection.
OutcomesThis course builds the scientific foundation learners need to identify, classify, and treat common textile stains by understanding the chemical nature of both stains and the agents used to remove them. Learners study fiber-stain interactions, pH, solubility, oxidation-reduction, and enzyme activity as they apply to real garment-care situations. Content maps directly to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam competencies in stain identification and chemical selection.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: The Chemistry of Stains: Origin, Structure, and Fiber Bonding; pH, Polarity, and Solubility: The Logic Behind Chemical Selection; Enzyme, Oxidizing, and Reducing Agents in Stain Removal; Dye and Fiber Sensitivity: Predicting and Preventing Damage; SDS Literacy, Safe Handling, and Chemical Regulatory Overview.
What competent looks like. Classify a stain by origin (protein, tannin, oil/grease, dye, oxidized, or unknown) using observable evidence and systematic testing. Explain how pH, polarity, solubility, and molecular structure determine which chemical agents will break a stain's bond with a fiber. Select an appropriate chemical treatment sequence for a given stain-fiber combination, justifying the choice with chemical reasoning. Predict and describe the risk of fiber or dye damage that results from applying an incompatible reagent, and choose a safer alternative. Read and interpret Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for spotting and pre-treatment chemicals used in dry-cleaning and wetcleaning plants. Apply safe handling procedures—including PPE selection, ventilation requirements, and spill response—whenever working with stain-removal chemicals.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Chemistry of Stains: Origin, Structure, and Fiber Bonding | 6 | theory | Students will classify stains into the six standard categories (protein, tannin/vegetable, oil/grease, dye, oxidized, and combination/unknown) and explain the chemical bond each category forms with textile fibers. |
| Whiteboard and projector, molecular bond diagrams handout, laminated stain-scenario card set (instructor-made), DLI Stain Removal Guide (current edition), fiber-stain bonding reference chart, student notebooks | Instructor reviews the completed worksheet; student must correctly classify at least 4 of 5 stains and provide a chemically accurate bond explanation for each correct classification to pass (80% accuracy). |
| 2 | pH, Polarity, and Solubility: The Logic Behind Chemical Selection | 6 | demo | Students will explain how pH (acid/alkaline balance) and the like-dissolves-like principle of polarity guide the selection of a chemical agent to release a specific stain from a specific fiber. |
| pH test strips, pre-made labeled solutions in dropper bottles, mineral spirits (in ventilated demo hood or fume cupboard), white cotton/polyester/wool/linen swatches pre-stained by instructor, nitrile gloves, safety glasses, decision tree handout, DLI Stain Removal Guide, SDS sheets for each chemical used | Students submit completed decision tree; pass requires correct first-choice agent and a chemically sound rationale for at least 3 of 4 stain-fiber combinations (75% accuracy); instructor checks that PPE was worn throughout the hands-on segment before any grade is recorded. |
| 3 | Enzyme, Oxidizing, and Reducing Agents in Stain Removal | 6 | lab | Students will demonstrate the correct selection and controlled application of enzyme preparations, oxidizing bleaches, and reducing agents to appropriate stain categories, documenting observations and results in a lab log. |
| Pre-stained fabric swatches (blood/cotton, tea/linen, rust/cotton), enzyme pre-soak powder with manufacturer data sheet, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, sodium hydrosulfite pre-diluted per instructor formula, measuring spoons, thermometer, timer, nitrile gloves, safety glasses, lab apron, photographic documentation sheet, lab log template, SDS for each chemical, DLI Stain Removal Guide | Completed lab log reviewed by instructor; pass requires a chemically accurate rationale for each agent choice, a correctly identified risk note for each station, and evidence (photo rating ≥ 3 or written explanation if stain was stubborn) that the procedure was executed correctly; minimum passing standard is all three stations documented with no safety omissions. |
| 4 | Dye and Fiber Sensitivity: Predicting and Preventing Damage | 5 | practice | Students will apply a systematic test-and-treat protocol to assess dye and fiber sensitivity before full treatment, correctly identifying at least three scenarios where a standard reagent would cause irreversible damage. |
| Written case study packet, dyed fabric squares (assorted: acid dyes on nylon, direct dyes on cotton, reactive dyes on cotton, disperse dyes on polyester—some intentionally fugitive), white blotting cloth, dropper bottles of test solutions, sensitivity matrix worksheet, decision exercise worksheet, DLI Stain Removal Guide, AATCC reference on colorfastness testing (general overview handout) | Instructor reviews the sensitivity matrix and decision exercise; pass requires correct identification of at least 3 of 5 damage scenarios in the case study discussion (participation noted) and a written pre-treatment plan for 4 of 5 scenarios that includes a chemically defensible safer substitute where a spot test would be positive (80%). |
| 5 | SDS Literacy, Safe Handling, and Chemical Regulatory Overview | 4 | theory | Students will locate and interpret the sections of a Safety Data Sheet relevant to stain-removal chemical handling, and accurately state the required PPE, first-aid response, and disposal method for three chemicals used in the trade. |
| Printed SDS documents for three trade chemicals (e.g., a protein spotter, a tanning spotter, and a rust remover—instructor selects current plant-realistic examples), SDS scavenger hunt question sheet, laminated PPE card set, OSHA Hazard Communication Standard overview handout (general), plain-language guide template, pens | SDS scavenger hunt scored immediately in class debrief; students must answer at least 10 of 12 questions correctly (83%). Plain-language guide reviewed by instructor before end of class; pass requires all four required sections present and no incorrect PPE or first-aid information—any safety inaccuracy requires a same-day correction and resubmission. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stain Chemistry Written Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher (30 of 40 questions correct) | A 40-question closed-book exam covering stain classification, bond types, pH and polarity principles, enzyme/oxidizer/reducer selection logic, dye and fiber sensitivity, and SDS interpretation; questions are multiple choice and short answer. Mapped to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas for stain identification and chemical knowledge. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Stain Identification and Chemical Selection Skills Demo | Skills demonstration | 45% | Student must correctly classify at least 4 of 5 unknown stains and propose a chemically sound treatment sequence for each, with no unsafe chemical-fiber pairings; evaluator uses a rubric with a minimum score of 80%. | The instructor presents five garment swatches with unknown stains; the student examines each, states the stain category and reasoning, selects appropriate agents from a reagent tray, explains the chemical rationale, and identifies any fiber or dye risk before treating. Evaluator observes the full sequence using a structured rubric. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Lab Log Portfolio | Log | 15% | All three lab station entries complete and accurate; no missing safety or chemical rationale fields; instructor signature required on each entry before submission. | Students submit the lab log completed during Lesson 3 (enzyme, oxidizing, and reducing agent stations), reviewed for scientific accuracy, correct SDS-referenced risk identification, and quality of before-and-after documentation. This ongoing record demonstrates understanding of controlled chemical application aligned to DLI wetcleaner and drycleaner competencies. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| SDS and Chemical Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on PPE and first-aid fields; no safety errors permitted; SDS scavenger hunt score of 83% or above already confirmed in class; plain-language guide must pass instructor review with no inaccuracies before the course grade is awarded. | A two-part safety check: the graded SDS scavenger hunt from Lesson 5 and the plain-language chemical handling guide; together they confirm that the student can extract and communicate safety-critical information from regulatory documents. This check maps directly to OSHA 10 Hazard Communication competencies and is a prerequisite for progression to Course 4. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
This course covers the science, equipment operation, and regulatory compliance for both hydrocarbon/GreenEarth/CO2 drycleaning solvent systems and professional wet-cleaning systems. Students learn to select the correct cleaning system for a garment, operate solvent and wet-cleaning machines safely, and document solvent usage and waste in accordance with EPA and OSHA requirements. Mapped to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas.
OutcomesThis course covers the science, equipment operation, and regulatory compliance for both hydrocarbon/GreenEarth/CO2 drycleaning solvent systems and professional wet-cleaning systems. Students learn to select the correct cleaning system for a garment, operate solvent and wet-cleaning machines safely, and document solvent usage and waste in accordance with EPA and OSHA requirements. Mapped to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Drycleaning Solvents: Properties, Hazards, and Regulations; Drycleaning Machine Operation and Load Management; Professional Wet-Cleaning Systems: Equipment, Chemistry, and Garment Selection; Cleaning System Selection, Defect Diagnosis, and Troubleshooting; Solvent Waste Handling, Spill Response, and Shop Safety Compliance.
What competent looks like. Identify and compare the properties, advantages, hazards, and environmental regulations governing perc, hydrocarbon, GreenEarth (D5 silicone), and CO2 drycleaning solvents. Select the appropriate cleaning system—solvent or wet-cleaning—based on fiber content, fabric construction, care label, and soil type. Operate a commercial drycleaning machine and a professional wet-cleaning machine according to manufacturer procedures, including load preparation, cycle selection, and solvent/water recovery. Apply EPA solvent-waste and still-residue disposal rules and OSHA hazard-communication requirements relevant to drycleaning solvents at the shop level. Troubleshoot common machine malfunctions and cleaning defects (redeposition, shrinkage, bleed) and document corrective actions in a shop log. Demonstrate all required PPE use, emergency shutdown, and spill-containment procedures for solvent and wet-cleaning operations.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drycleaning Solvents: Properties, Hazards, and Regulations | 6 | theory | Students will compare perc, hydrocarbon, GreenEarth D5, and CO2 solvents on flash point, solvency (KB value), environmental classification, and applicable EPA and OSHA hazard-communication requirements. |
| SDS documents for perc, hydrocarbon, GreenEarth D5, and CO2 solvents; DLI 'Drycleaning Solvents' reference module; EPA National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) consumer fact sheets; OSHA Hazard Communication standard overview; whiteboard and comparison-chart worksheets | Students score 80% or higher on a 20-question written quiz covering solvent properties, SDS sections, and regulatory classification; all four solvents must be correctly characterized. |
| 2 | Drycleaning Machine Operation and Load Management | 7 | demo | Students will demonstrate correct pre-load inspection, machine setup, cycle programming, solvent recovery, and post-cycle unloading on a commercial drycleaning machine, following the manufacturer's operating manual and DLI best-practice guidelines. |
| Commercial drycleaning machine (hydrocarbon or GreenEarth type); manufacturer operating manual; route tickets; platform scale; shop log forms; solvent turbidity reference cards; nitrile gloves; solvent-resistant apron; safety goggles; DLI equipment operation reference cards | Instructor checklist: student correctly completes all 12 pre-operation and post-operation steps without prompting; solvent log entries are complete and accurate; pass requires zero critical safety steps missed and fewer than two procedural errors. |
| 3 | Professional Wet-Cleaning Systems: Equipment, Chemistry, and Garment Selection | 6 | lab | Students will select appropriate wet-cleaning programs, detergents, and conditioners for a set of test garments and operate the professional wet-cleaning washer and dryer/cabinet dryer through complete cycles, measuring pH and temperature to verify process parameters. |
| Professional wet-cleaning washer and finisher/cabinet dryer; wet-cleaning detergent and conditioners (manufacturer-supplied); graduated cylinders; pH meter and strips; thermometer; test garments (wool suiting, silk blouse, structured linen, polyester blend); wet-cleaning decision-matrix handout; DLI 'Professional Wetcleaning' reference module; lab log forms; nitrile gloves; apron | Lab log reviewed by instructor: correct program and chemistry selected for each garment category (80% accuracy); pH and temperature values recorded within specified ranges; no garment damaged due to incorrect program selection; full lab log submitted with no missing entries. |
| 4 | Cleaning System Selection, Defect Diagnosis, and Troubleshooting | 5 | practice | Students will diagnose at least four common cleaning defects—including redeposition, graying, shrinkage, color bleed, and solvent odor retention—and recommend documented corrective actions that align with DLI troubleshooting guidelines. |
| Six defect-sample garments; DLI troubleshooting reference cards; completed shop log from Lesson 2; defect-diagnosis worksheets; scenario cards; whiteboard for group defense presentations | Written defect-diagnosis worksheet: students correctly identify cause and corrective action for at least 4 of 6 samples (67% minimum); instructor initials each correct entry; any safety-related misidentification (e.g., incorrect solvent exposure response) requires immediate remediation before course completion. |
| 5 | Solvent Waste Handling, Spill Response, and Shop Safety Compliance | 3 | field | Students will correctly execute solvent-waste labeling, still-residue container handling, and a simulated spill-containment procedure, demonstrating compliance with EPA and OSHA requirements and proper PPE use throughout. |
| Simulated still-residue container; blank hazardous-waste labels; EPA hazardous-waste generator requirements overview handout; spill kit (absorbent pads, disposal bags, labels); chemical-splash goggles; nitrile gloves; solvent-resistant apron; sample EPA Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest (training copy); incident-report form template; stopwatch | Instructor compliance checklist: waste label contains all required fields (pass = all fields present and accurate); spill drill completed within 5 minutes with correct PPE donned before any contact with simulated spill material (any PPE failure = automatic repeat); manifest form completed with no missing required fields—pass requires 100% on safety behaviors and 80% on documentation accuracy. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solvent & Wet-Cleaning Systems Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 80% (32/40 questions correct) | A 40-question written exam covering solvent properties and SDS interpretation, EPA and OSHA regulatory requirements, wet-cleaning chemistry and program selection, and defect diagnosis—mapped directly to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas. Students have 60 minutes to complete the exam independently with no reference materials. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Machine Operation Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Pass requires zero critical safety errors and 90% of procedural steps completed correctly on the instructor checklist | Each student independently operates the drycleaning machine through one complete cycle and the wet-cleaning machine through one complete cycle, from pre-load inspection to unloading, while the instructor scores performance on a 20-item standardized checklist covering setup, cycle parameters, solvent/water recovery, PPE use, and log documentation. Any unsafe act (e.g., opening solvent drum without PPE, bypassing a safety interlock) results in an immediate stop and automatic failure requiring full remediation and retest. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Lab Log Portfolio | Log | 15% | All entries complete and accurate; instructor initials required on each lesson's log page; no more than one incomplete entry permitted | Students submit the cumulative lab log maintained across all five lessons, including solvent comparison worksheets, machine operation records, wet-cleaning cycle data, defect-diagnosis forms, and waste-handling documentation. The log is evaluated for completeness, accuracy of recorded measurements, and quality of written corrective-action notes, demonstrating the real-world recordkeeping habits required for DLI certification and EPA compliance. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Solvent Safety & Compliance Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on all critical safety behaviors; any failure requires immediate remediation and a full retest before the student may proceed to Course 5 | A structured observation checklist administered during the spill-response drill and waste-labeling station from Lesson 5, plus a verbal review in which the student must correctly state the required PPE for each solvent type used in the program, the location of the spill kit and SDS binder, and the first step in the emergency shutdown procedure for the drycleaning machine. This check is non-negotiable for course completion and maps to OSHA 10 hazard-recognition and PPE selection competencies. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
This course covers the equipment, techniques, and professional judgment required to press and finish garments and textile items to industry standards in both drycleaning and wetcleaning operations. Students develop hands-on skill with steam irons, hand irons, tensioning equipment, and form finishers, learning how heat, moisture, and pressure interact with different fiber types. Proper ergonomics, equipment safety, and quality-inspection protocols are integrated throughout to support DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Wetcleaner exam readiness.
OutcomesThis course covers the equipment, techniques, and professional judgment required to press and finish garments and textile items to industry standards in both drycleaning and wetcleaning operations. Students develop hands-on skill with steam irons, hand irons, tensioning equipment, and form finishers, learning how heat, moisture, and pressure interact with different fiber types. Proper ergonomics, equipment safety, and quality-inspection protocols are integrated throughout to support DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Wetcleaner exam readiness.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Heat, Steam, and Pressure Fundamentals; Equipment Identification, Safe Operation, and Lockout/Tagout; Pressing Techniques by Garment Type and Construction; Specialty Finishing: Delicates, Beaded and Embellished Items, and Pleating; Quality Inspection, Defect Communication, and Finishing Workflow.
What competent looks like. Adjust steam temperature, moisture, and pressure settings correctly for at least six fiber categories without causing distortion, glazing, or shrinkage. Operate a flatwork ironer, tunnel finisher, form finisher, and hand steam iron safely following manufacturer procedures and lockout/tagout protocol before any maintenance task. Identify and correct common finishing defects—including shine, scorch, press marks, and distorted seams—using visual inspection against a quality standard. Select the appropriate pressing aid (pressing cloth, sleeve board, tailor's ham, buck cover) and technique for at least four garment construction types. Apply ergonomic body mechanics and use required PPE—including heat-resistant gloves and steam-resistant apron—to reduce burn and musculoskeletal injury risk throughout a full finishing sequence. Document finishing quality inspection results on a standard shop form and communicate defects to the appropriate re-work station.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heat, Steam, and Pressure Fundamentals | 5 | theory | Students will explain how heat, moisture, and pressure interact with natural and synthetic fiber structures to set or distort shape during pressing. |
| DLI Technical Manual (Pressing & Finishing sections), ASTM care label symbol chart, projector, whiteboard, printed fiber temperature reference cards, student notebooks | Exit quiz: 10 multiple-choice questions matching fiber types to correct heat/steam settings and identifying damage causes; pass mark 70%. |
| 2 | Equipment Identification, Safe Operation, and Lockout/Tagout | 6 | demo | Students will demonstrate the pre-operation inspection, startup sequence, safe shutdown, and lockout/tagout procedure for a hand steam iron, steam press buck, form finisher, and flatwork ironer. |
| Shop steam iron, buck press, sleeve/form finisher, flatwork ironer, lockout/tagout kit (padlocks, tags, hasps), OSHA lockout/tagout procedure poster, equipment ID worksheet, instructor checklist, heat-resistant gloves, steam-resistant apron | Instructor-observed lockout/tagout checklist for each student on at least two machines; all steps must be completed in correct order with zero skipped steps to pass—any skipped or out-of-order step requires immediate remediation and re-demonstration before the student proceeds. |
| 3 | Pressing Techniques by Garment Type and Construction | 8 | practice | Students will apply correct pressing technique—including tool selection, direction of press, and moisture control—to at least four garment categories: trousers, dress shirts, tailored jackets, and knit garments. |
| Steam press buck, hand steam iron, sleeve board, tailor's ham, seam roll, pressing cloth (wool and cotton), form finisher, practice garments (trousers, shirts, jackets, knits), six-point quality inspection checklist, quality-standard reference photographs, shop quality log forms, heat-resistant gloves, steam-resistant apron | Instructor scores each student's four pressed garments on the six-point checklist (1 point each criterion per garment, 24 points possible); pass mark is 18 out of 24, with no criterion scored zero on the tailored jacket (highest complexity item). |
| 4 | Specialty Finishing: Delicates, Beaded and Embellished Items, and Pleating | 4 | lab | Students will select protective finishing aids and apply reduced-heat, low-moisture techniques to finish delicate, embellished, and pleated textile items without damage. |
| Hand steam iron with adjustable thermostat, wool and cotton pressing cloths, thick terry-cloth pad, sleeve board, tailor's ham, practice delicate garments (silk, chiffon), beaded/sequined sample garments, pleated wool skirt samples, temperature indicator strips, lab worksheet, reference cards, PPE (heat-resistant gloves, apron) | Lab worksheet reviewed by instructor: student must correctly document technique rationale for all three item types, and the finished items must show no new damage (instructor visual inspection); any damaged sample requires student to explain what went wrong and re-press an identical sample correctly before credit is awarded. |
| 5 | Quality Inspection, Defect Communication, and Finishing Workflow | 4 | practice | Students will conduct a complete finishing-room quality inspection on a batch of ten mixed garments, document defects on shop forms, and route items to the correct station (approved, re-press, or re-clean) within a timed workflow simulation. |
| Ten pre-staged garments with documented defects, shop quality log forms, decision flowchart, garment routing racks (approved / re-press / re-clean), steam iron and buck press for corrections, timer, answer key sealed envelope | Students must correctly route at least 8 of 10 garments and have zero critical routing errors (no garment with a chemical or structural damage defect may be routed to 'approved'); pass mark is 80% correct routing with no critical errors. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressing & Finishing Written Examination | Written exam | 25% | 70% correct (28 of 40 questions) | A 40-question multiple-choice and short-answer exam covering fiber temperature ranges, care symbol interpretation, equipment identification, pressing defect causes, and quality inspection decision rules. Questions are drawn from DLI technical reference content to directly align with the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam domains covering finishing and textile care procedures. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Pressing Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Score of 18 or higher out of 24 on the six-point quality checklist across four garment types, with no critical failure (no scorch, melt, or irreversible damage to any sample) | Each student presses one garment from each of four categories—trousers, dress shirt, tailored jacket, and knit top—under timed, unsupported conditions while the instructor scores crease sharpness, seam alignment, absence of shine or scorch, collar and lapel lay, sleeve symmetry, and overall appearance. The demonstration maps to DLI exam practical-judgment areas for finishing sequence and press quality standards. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Finishing Lab Log | Log | 15% | All ten entries complete and accurate; no more than one routing error; zero critical routing errors | Students submit the shop quality log forms completed during the timed batch-inspection simulation, covering ten garments with documented defect descriptions, severity ratings, and routing decisions. The log is evaluated for completeness, accuracy of defect language, and correctness of routing against the instructor answer key, providing evidence of the documentation habit required for commercial plant quality systems and relevant to TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager competencies in quality control. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Equipment Safety and Lockout/Tagout Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% completion of all required lockout/tagout steps in correct sequence on both assigned machines; correct PPE worn throughout; zero skipped or out-of-order steps | The instructor uses a standardized step-by-step checklist to observe each student performing the full lockout/tagout procedure on a buck press and a flatwork ironer, verifying that steam supply is isolated, residual pressure is released, and the lockout device is applied and tagged before any simulated maintenance task begins. This assessment directly supports OSHA 10 training competencies in control of hazardous energy and is a prerequisite for advancement to the Spotting and Commercial Laundry courses. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Students develop hands-on proficiency in professional spotting — the systematic identification of stain type and fiber content followed by the correct sequence of mechanical, chemical, and thermal treatments to remove spots without damaging the fabric. The course integrates knowledge from stain chemistry and fiber ID to build a safe, disciplined spotting workflow at a commercial spotting board. Lessons are mapped to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam domains covering spotting procedures, chemical selection, and garment evaluation.
OutcomesStudents develop hands-on proficiency in professional spotting — the systematic identification of stain type and fiber content followed by the correct sequence of mechanical, chemical, and thermal treatments to remove spots without damaging the fabric. The course integrates knowledge from stain chemistry and fiber ID to build a safe, disciplined spotting workflow at a commercial spotting board. Lessons are mapped to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam domains covering spotting procedures, chemical selection, and garment evaluation.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Spotting Board Setup, PPE, and the Spotting Workflow; Stain Classification and Chemical Selection; Spotting Techniques: Mechanical Action, Feathering, and Flushing; Fiber-Specific Spotting: Delicates, Blends, and Special Fabrics; Difficult and Combination Stains: Case Studies and Full Garment Spotting.
What competent looks like. Identify at least ten common stain categories by their chemical nature (protein, tannin, oil/grease, dye, oxidizable, combination) and select the correct treatment sequence for each. Operate a commercial spotting board safely, applying steam, air, and vacuum in correct sequence while wearing required PPE and following lockout/tagout procedures during setup and breakdown. Apply pre-spotting, lubrication, digestion, and oxidation treatments in the correct order without spreading the stain, using the minimum effective concentration of each chemical agent. Feather and flush treated areas on at least five fiber types (wool, silk, cotton, polyester, rayon) without leaving rings, color loss, or distortion visible to the naked eye under shop lighting. Document each spotting attempt in a spotting log that records stain type, fiber content, chemicals used, sequence, result, and any garment damage, meeting the recordkeeping expectations of professional plant practice. Demonstrate safe handling, storage, and disposal of spotting agents including enzyme digestants, reducing agents, oxidizing agents, and volatile solvents in compliance with SDS requirements and EPA regulations.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spotting Board Setup, PPE, and the Spotting Workflow | 5 | demo | Students will demonstrate safe spotting board startup and shutdown, correct PPE selection, and recite the five-step spotting sequence (identify, pre-treat, treat, flush, finish) before touching a garment. |
| Commercial spotting board with steam/air/vacuum, spotting gun, complete PPE set (nitrile gloves, chemical-splash goggles, chemical-resistant apron), SDS binder for all spotting chemicals in use, DLI spotting guide (current edition), startup/shutdown checklist handout, laminated five-step flowchart | Student completes the startup/shutdown checklist with zero missed steps on two consecutive trials and correctly states the PPE requirements for each of the six chemicals on the SDS table with 100% accuracy; both must be met before the student advances to Lesson 2. |
| 2 | Stain Classification and Chemical Selection | 5 | theory | Students will classify twenty stain samples into the correct chemical category and select the appropriate primary spotting agent and backup treatment for each, scoring at least 85% on a written classification exercise. |
| Slide presentation, twenty laminated stain ID cards with photographs, blank classification worksheets, answer key, DLI stain chemistry reference chart, samples of dried stains on white cotton swatches for demonstration, whiteboard | Written classification exercise scored at 85% or higher (17/20 correct) on both stain category and primary chemical selection; students scoring below 85% complete a targeted review and a ten-item alternate-form quiz before proceeding. |
| 3 | Spotting Techniques: Mechanical Action, Feathering, and Flushing | 7 | lab | Students will remove a minimum of eight assigned stains from fabric swatches using correct mechanical action and flushing technique, producing results free of rings, color loss, or distortion as judged against a grading standard. |
| Commercial spotting board, spotting gun, tamping brush, bone spatula, complete spotting chemical kit, pre-stained swatches (wool, silk, cotton, polyester, rayon in multiple colors), spotting log forms, four-criterion grading rubric, magnifying lamp, DLI spotting guide | At least seven of eight swatches rated satisfactory (no visible ring, no color loss, stain absent or reduced to faint trace undetectable at arm's length) on the four-criterion rubric; students with fewer than seven satisfactory swatches receive additional practice swatches and must resubmit before the skills demonstration assessment. |
| 4 | Fiber-Specific Spotting: Delicates, Blends, and Special Fabrics | 5 | practice | Students will adjust spotting chemical concentrations, dwell times, and mechanical pressure appropriately for at least five fiber types including delicate and blended fabrics, avoiding damage on every trial garment. |
| Assorted fabric swatches in pure and blended fiber types, care label samples, spotting chemical kit, steam/air board, spotting log forms, DLI fiber identification reference, DLI spotting guide fiber-hazard table | Zero instances of student-caused fiber damage (scorching, shrinkage, color stripping, pile distortion) across all trial garments in the session; any damage incident triggers an immediate debrief and a documented corrective entry in the spotting log, and the student must demonstrate the corrected technique on a fresh swatch before the session closes. |
| 5 | Difficult and Combination Stains: Case Studies and Full Garment Spotting | 5 | practice | Students will develop and execute a documented treatment plan for two multi-component combination stains on complete garments, demonstrating correct sequencing, re-inspection between steps, and professional finishing. |
| Pre-stained full garments (variety of fiber types and stain types), complete spotting chemical kit, spotting board, spotting log forms, four-criterion rubric, DLI spotting guide, peer-review worksheet | Both garments rated satisfactory on all four rubric criteria by the instructor; treatment plan submitted before spotting begins and reviewed for logical sequence — plans with a critical sequencing error (for example, applying an oxidizing agent before removing an oil-based component) must be corrected in writing before the student touches the garment. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stain Classification and Chemical Selection Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 80% or higher (40/50 items correct) | A fifty-item written exam covering stain categories, chemical agent selection and sequencing, fiber hazard considerations, SDS interpretation, and vocabulary from the DLI spotting guide; questions are multiple-choice and short-answer, mapped to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam domains for spotting and chemical use. Students who do not reach 80% on the first sitting receive one remediation session and one alternate-form retake. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Spotting Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Satisfactory rating (no more than one minor deficiency) on all five garments evaluated on the four-criterion rubric | The student receives five pre-stained garments of mixed fiber content and stain type, unseen before the assessment, and must inspect, plan, spot, flush, and finish each within a realistic time frame using the commercial spotting board; the instructor scores each garment live on stain removal, ring-free finish, color integrity, and surface condition. This assessment maps directly to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Certified Professional Wetcleaner hands-on competency expectations. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Spotting Lab Log Portfolio | Log | 15% | All required entries present and accurate; 90% of entries include correct stain classification, chemical rationale, and outcome notation | Students submit the cumulative spotting log kept throughout Lessons 3, 4, and 5; each entry must record garment description, fiber content, stain category, chemicals applied in sequence, mechanical actions used, steam and vacuum settings, result, and any corrective action taken. The log is evaluated for completeness, accuracy of chemical rationale, and evidence of systematic improvement — this recordkeeping habit aligns with the plant-management documentation practices tested in the TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager exam domain. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Spotting Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on all critical safety behaviors; any critical failure requires immediate remediation and recheck before the student may continue unsupervised spotting | Using a printed critical-behavior checklist, the instructor observes the student completing a full spotting board setup, treating one stain, and performing shutdown; every item is binary pass/fail — critical items include correct PPE donned before chemicals are opened, SDS consulted or available for each chemical used, no cross-contamination of chemical containers, correct steam gun direction away from body and bystanders, and proper chemical disposal per SDS. This assessment supports OSHA 10 hazard-recognition and PPE competencies. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
This course teaches the hand-sewing, machine-sewing, and pressing skills needed to perform routine garment alterations that are commonly requested at dry cleaning and laundry plants—hemming, seam repairs, zipper replacement, button reattachment, and simple resizing. Students learn to evaluate garment construction and fabric type before selecting an alteration method, and to communicate realistic expectations and pricing to customers. Lesson content maps to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam areas covering garment evaluation, finishing, and customer-service competencies.
OutcomesThis course teaches the hand-sewing, machine-sewing, and pressing skills needed to perform routine garment alterations that are commonly requested at dry cleaning and laundry plants—hemming, seam repairs, zipper replacement, button reattachment, and simple resizing. Students learn to evaluate garment construction and fabric type before selecting an alteration method, and to communicate realistic expectations and pricing to customers. Lesson content maps to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam areas covering garment evaluation, finishing, and customer-service competencies.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Garment Construction Fundamentals & Alteration Evaluation; Hand-Sewing Techniques for Garment Repair; Sewing Machine Operation & Common Alteration Seams; Zipper Replacement & Specialty Repairs; Customer Communication, Alteration Ticketing & Finishing.
What competent looks like. Identify garment construction features—seam allowance, grain line, interfacing, lining attachment—and select an appropriate alteration approach for at least five common garment types. Perform hand-sewing stitches (slip stitch, catch stitch, bar tack, lock stitch) and machine-sewing operations (straight stitch, backstitch, basting) to industry-quality standards with consistent stitch length and thread tension. Complete four routine alterations—plain hem, seam let-out or take-in, zipper replacement, and button or snap reattachment—that meet a finished-seam-allowance and appearance standard acceptable for customer return. Apply correct pressing techniques before, during, and after each alteration to avoid fabric distortion, shine, or press marks, using the appropriate iron temperature and moisture level for the fiber content identified. Explain alteration limitations, pricing logic, and turnaround time to a customer, and complete a written alteration ticket with garment description, requested work, and pricing notation. Follow all relevant PPE, needle/blade disposal, and machine-guarding safety procedures throughout every hands-on session without prompting.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garment Construction Fundamentals & Alteration Evaluation | 5 | theory | Students will correctly identify seam type, seam allowance, grain line, interfacing, and lining attachment on five different garments and record findings on a written evaluation form. |
| Assorted garments representing six construction types, seam ripper, tape measure, magnifying loupe, printed garment-evaluation checklist forms, DLI Professional Drycleaner study guide sections covering garment construction, whiteboard | Completed evaluation checklist for each of the six garments; instructor scores using a rubric—students must correctly identify seam type, seam allowance to within 1/8 inch, grain line, and lining method on at least five of six garments to pass (83%). |
| 2 | Hand-Sewing Techniques for Garment Repair | 5 | practice | Students will execute slip stitch, catch stitch, bar tack, and lock stitch on fabric samples to a standard of even stitch spacing, concealed thread, and secure knot finish, verified by instructor examination. |
| Assorted woven and knit fabric swatches, hand-sewing needles (sharps, betweens), thread in contrasting and matching weights, thimbles, needle threader, small scissors, 6-inch ruler, fabric-marking pencil, instructor demonstration board with pinned samples | Instructor examines each stitch sample card against a posted photo rubric; all four stitch types must meet the standard of even spacing (within 1/16 inch variation), concealed thread on face side, and secure starting and finishing knots—all four stitches must pass; any failing stitch is re-practiced before the next lesson. |
| 3 | Sewing Machine Operation & Common Alteration Seams | 6 | lab | Students will thread, tension-set, and operate an industrial straight-stitch sewing machine to complete a plain hem, a seam take-in, and a seam let-out on practice fabric, each meeting a specified seam-allowance tolerance and appearance standard. |
| Industrial straight-stitch sewing machines (one per student or shared), bobbins, machine needles in sizes appropriate for medium-weight fabric, muslin practice fabric, practice trousers or pants panels, seam ripper, ruler and hem gauge, iron and pressing pad at each machine station, measurement mat with grid, lab log notebooks, lockout/tagout equipment for machine power leads | Instructor measures completed hem and both seam alterations on each student's practice pants: hem must be within 1/8 inch of marked line with no visible skipped stitches; take-in and let-out seams must be within 1/8 inch of the specified width and show no puckering or thread breaks; all three elements must pass—failed elements are corrected and re-checked within the session. |
| 4 | Zipper Replacement & Specialty Repairs | 6 | lab | Students will remove a worn zipper and install a replacement centered or lapped zipper in a practice garment, with the zipper lying flat, teeth concealed according to the installation type, and pull operating smoothly through the full length. |
| Practice garments with centered and lapped zippers pre-installed, replacement zippers of matching length, zipper foot attachment for sewing machine, seam ripper, hand-sewing needle and thread for bar tacks, iron and sleeve board, pins, measuring tape, printed zipper inspection checklist, camera or smartphone for documentation photos | Instructor operates the zipper and inspects the face of the finished installation against the checklist: pull must operate without catching or skipping, topstitching must be parallel within 1/16 inch, and no zipper tape visible when closed—both installations must pass; any failed item is corrected before the lab session closes. |
| 5 | Customer Communication, Alteration Ticketing & Finishing | 5 | demo | Students will conduct a simulated customer intake conversation, complete a written alteration ticket with garment description and pricing notation, and perform final pressing on a completed altered garment to a customer-ready standard. |
| Blank alteration ticket forms, sample shop price schedule handout, role-play scenario cards, completed altered garments from previous labs, iron and pressing station with appropriate attachments (sleeve board, ham, pressing cloth), hangers, garment bags, DLI customer service module reference sheet | Alteration ticket scored on a 10-point rubric (garment ID, fiber content, alteration description, limitation noted if applicable, pricing notation)—7/10 required to pass; final garment presentation assessed by instructor on a pass/fail basis covering absence of press marks, shine, or distortion, and proper hanger presentation—both elements must pass. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garment Alterations Written Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% correct (30 of 40 items) | A 40-item multiple-choice and short-answer exam covering garment construction terminology, stitch identification, seam allowance standards, zipper types and installation methods, pressing temperatures by fiber type, and customer communication principles. Items are aligned to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam content areas related to garment evaluation, finishing, and textile care. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Practical Alterations Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Pass on all four alterations; any item scored below standard must be corrected and re-demonstrated within one week | Students receive an uninspected garment and complete four timed tasks—a plain hem, a seam take-in, a zipper replacement, and a button reattachment with bar tack—then press the garment to customer-ready condition. An instructor evaluates each completed task against a standardized rubric covering dimensional accuracy (within 1/8 inch of spec), stitch quality, zipper operation, and finished appearance. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Lab Log Review | Log | 15% | Entries present and complete for all five lessons; no safety omissions; minimum 'satisfactory' rating on the holistic rubric | Students submit their cumulative lab log containing dated entries for each hands-on lesson: materials used, machine settings, step-by-step procedure notes, self-evaluation of each practice piece, corrections made, and any safety observations recorded. The instructor reviews for completeness, accuracy of technical language, and evidence of reflective practice using a holistic four-point rubric. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Safety Practices Verification Checklist | Safety audit | 15% | All critical safety behaviors marked 'observed consistently'; any 'not observed' item requires documented remediation before course credit is awarded | Instructor completes a behavior-based safety checklist across the lab sessions of lessons 3 and 4, recording whether the student consistently followed needle/blade disposal procedures, applied lockout/tagout before changing machine needles, wore PPE (safety glasses when operating the machine, cut-resistant thimble during hand-sewing), and maintained a clear work area. This check aligns with OSHA 10 general industry hazard-recognition competencies covered in the program's core safety course. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
This course covers the full operational cycle of a commercial laundry plant, from soil sorting and wash-formula programming to flatwork finishing, linen and uniform processing, and quality control. Students operate industrial washers, dryers, and flatwork ironers to professional production standards while applying water chemistry, detergent dosing, and mechanical safety principles. Lesson content maps directly to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, and TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager credential exam domains.
OutcomesThis course covers the full operational cycle of a commercial laundry plant, from soil sorting and wash-formula programming to flatwork finishing, linen and uniform processing, and quality control. Students operate industrial washers, dryers, and flatwork ironers to professional production standards while applying water chemistry, detergent dosing, and mechanical safety principles. Lesson content maps directly to the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, and TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager credential exam domains.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Soil Classification, Linen Categories, and Safe Handling; Water Chemistry, Detergent Systems, and Wash-Formula Programming; Industrial Washer-Extractor and Dryer Operation; Flatwork Finishing: Ironers, Folders, and Stackers; Quality Inspection, Production Metrics, and Customer-Contract Compliance.
What competent looks like. Sort and classify commercial laundry loads by fiber content, soil level, and end-use category, applying OSHA bloodborne-pathogen and biohazard protocols for healthcare and hospitality linen. Select and program wash formulas—including water temperature, pH targets, mechanical action, and dwell time—appropriate to the textile type and soil condition. Measure and document detergent, builder, bleach, and softener concentrations using titration or test-strip methods, adjusting dosing to maintain formula specifications. Operate industrial flatwork ironers, folder/stackers, and tunnel finishers safely, performing pre-shift inspections and reporting defects using a written maintenance log. Inspect finished goods against commercial quality standards, identifying rewash, tear, or stain failures and routing rejects through the correct correction path. Calculate production metrics—pounds per operator-hour, rewash rate, and water consumption—and relate them to plant cost control and customer-contract compliance.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soil Classification, Linen Categories, and Safe Handling | 6 | lab | Given a mixed cart of commercial linens, the student will correctly sort every item by soil category (lightly, moderately, and heavily soiled; biohazardous; heavily contaminated) and linen type at a rate of fewer than two misclassifications per 50 pieces. |
| Simulated soiled linen samples with color-coded soil tags, fluid-resistant aprons, nitrile and cut-resistant gloves, face shields, OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard reference card, DLI Commercial Laundry Operations reference manual, hamper carts, tally sheets | Student sorts 60-piece cart with no more than 2 misclassifications; PPE sequence completed correctly without prompting; case study score 70% or higher. Maps to TRSA CPLM domain: Linen Classification and Regulatory Compliance. |
| 2 | Water Chemistry, Detergent Systems, and Wash-Formula Programming | 7 | theory | The student will explain how water hardness, pH, temperature, and mechanical action interact to determine cleaning effectiveness, and will select a correct wash formula for at least four of five given textile/soil scenarios. |
| pH/hardness test strips and digital meter, water samples, detergent and chemical reference SDS sheets, DLI wash-formula reference chart, industrial washer-extractor operator manual (OEM), whiteboard, 15-question printed quiz | Quiz score 70% or higher; water-chemistry lab data sheet completed with readings within ±5% of instructor's reference values; corrective action paragraph identifies the correct root cause and a plausible remedy. Maps to DLI CPD/CPW exam domains: Cleaning Agents and Chemistry; TRSA CPLM: Wash-Formula Management. |
| 3 | Industrial Washer-Extractor and Dryer Operation | 6 | demo | The student will load, program, run, and unload an industrial washer-extractor and dryer safely, completing a full wash-and-dry cycle to specification while documenting machine readings and applying lockout/tagout procedures correctly. |
| 50 lb open-pocket industrial washer-extractor, commercial gas or steam dryer, cotton flatwork (sheets, pillowcases), OSHA lockout/tagout procedure card, personal padlocks, hasp, voltage tester, run log forms, OEM operator manual, lint trap tool | Pre-shift checklist completed with all planted defects identified; run log values within acceptable range per formula spec; lockout/tagout sequence completed in correct order with zero errors—any missed step is an automatic remediation. Maps to OSHA 10 domain: Equipment Safety; TRSA CPLM: Equipment Operation and Maintenance. |
| 4 | Flatwork Finishing: Ironers, Folders, and Stackers | 5 | practice | The student will feed, finish, and stack commercial flatwork (sheets and tablecloths) on a small-chest or roll flatwork ironer at a production rate and quality level meeting commercial standards with no burn or rewash rejects. |
| Small-chest or roll flatwork ironer with folder/stacker attachment, 30 cotton sheets and tablecloths, laminated quality-standards card, tally sheets, thermometer for surface verification, OEM operator guide, emergency-stop awareness poster | Zero burn rejects; defect rate (wrinkles, misaligned folds) below 10% of pieces processed; output rate at or above the stated commercial benchmark for trainees; improvement plan reflects a plausible and correctly identified adjustment. Maps to DLI CPD/CPW: Finishing Standards; TRSA CPLM: Production Workflow. |
| 5 | Quality Inspection, Production Metrics, and Customer-Contract Compliance | 3 | theory | The student will audit a finished production batch using a standardized inspection form, calculate the rewash rate and pounds-per-operator-hour for that batch, and identify at least two process adjustments to bring an out-of-compliance metric back within contract specification. |
| Pre-staged 40-piece finished linen batch with planted defects, commercial inspection forms, sample service-level agreement, production data worksheet, calculator, DLI quality standards reference, TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager study guide sections on metrics and compliance | Inspection form: no more than 2 misclassified pieces out of 40; rewash rate calculation mathematically correct; both production metrics calculated correctly; corrective action memo identifies a specific, actionable process change rather than a generic statement. Score 70% or higher on the combined metric worksheet. Maps to TRSA CPLM: Quality Management and Customer Relations; DLI CPD/CPW: Production Efficiency. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Laundry Operations Written Exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% or higher (28 of 40 questions correct) | A 40-question multiple-choice and short-answer exam covering soil classification, water chemistry, wash-formula selection, detergent systems, machine operating parameters, flatwork finishing standards, and production-metric calculations. Questions are aligned to DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, and TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager exam content domains. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| End-to-End Production Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All critical safety steps performed correctly; defect rate below 10%; production metric calculations within ±5% of correct values; evaluator checklist score 80% or higher overall | Working independently, the student sorts a mixed 20-piece soil load, selects and programs the correct wash formula, runs a full washer-extractor cycle with lockout/tagout entry, transfers to dryer, and finishes flatwork on the ironer; an instructor evaluates each phase using a structured checklist. This demonstration maps to TRSA CPLM production-operations competencies and DLI CPW finishing standards. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Production Run Log and Lab Data Portfolio | Log | 15% | All five run logs submitted; data entries complete and legible; calculations verified correct; reflections demonstrate understanding of at least one adjustment made during the course | Students compile the run logs, water-chemistry data sheets, inspection tally sheets, and corrective-action memos completed across all five lessons into a single portfolio with a one-page reflective summary explaining how they adjusted their practice in response to a quality or chemistry finding. This portfolio serves as evidence for TRSA CPLM documentation-and-recordkeeping competencies. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Safety and Regulatory Compliance Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on critical safety items (PPE sequence, lockout/tagout steps, biohazard handling); overall checklist score 80% or higher; any critical failure triggers immediate remediation before course credit is awarded | An instructor-observed safety audit in which the student demonstrates PPE donning for soiled-linen handling, performs a complete lockout/tagout sequence on the washer-extractor, states the correct response to a simulated chemical splash, and identifies the SDS location for each chemical in use. Outcomes map directly to OSHA 10 general industry safety requirements and to the safety domains of all four target credentials. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
This course covers federal OSHA and EPA requirements that govern solvent use, storage, disposal, and emergency response in commercial dry cleaning and laundry plants. Students learn to identify regulated solvents, read Safety Data Sheets, apply engineering and administrative controls, and comply with hazardous waste rules so they can work safely and keep their employer in compliance. Lesson content maps directly to the OSHA 10 Outreach Program framework and supports the regulatory-knowledge sections of the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Wetcleaner credential exams.
OutcomesThis course covers federal OSHA and EPA requirements that govern solvent use, storage, disposal, and emergency response in commercial dry cleaning and laundry plants. Students learn to identify regulated solvents, read Safety Data Sheets, apply engineering and administrative controls, and comply with hazardous waste rules so they can work safely and keep their employer in compliance. Lesson content maps directly to the OSHA 10 Outreach Program framework and supports the regulatory-knowledge sections of the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Wetcleaner credential exams.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Solvent Hazards, SDS, and Hazard Communication; Engineering Controls, Ventilation, and Regulatory Exposure Limits; PPE Selection and Lockout/Tagout for Solvent Tasks; EPA Hazardous Waste Rules and Solvent Waste Management; Emergency Action Plans, Spill Response, and Incident Reporting.
What competent looks like. Identify the physical and health hazards of common dry cleaning solvents—including perchloroethylene (PERC), hydrocarbon solvents, and GreenEarth/silicone fluid—using Safety Data Sheets and EPA/OSHA hazard classifications. Apply OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requirements by correctly labeling secondary containers, interpreting SDS sections 1–16, and conducting a simulated right-to-know training review. Demonstrate proper PPE selection, donning, doffing, and inspection for solvent-handling tasks, achieving a scored pass on a hands-on PPE skills check. Execute lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures on a dry cleaning machine mock-up before performing any solvent transfer or maintenance task, following OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy requirements. Classify and segregate dry cleaning solvent waste according to EPA hazardous waste rules and complete a simulated waste manifest, demonstrating understanding of generator duties. Respond correctly to a simulated solvent spill or vapor release using the plant's written emergency action plan, spill kit, and evacuation protocol without prompting.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solvent Hazards, SDS, and Hazard Communication | 6 | theory | Students will correctly interpret all 16 sections of a Safety Data Sheet for at least two regulated dry cleaning solvents and explain OSHA Hazard Communication Standard employer obligations. |
| Current SDS documents for PERC, hydrocarbon (petroleum) solvent, and GreenEarth/silicone fluid; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 text; GHS label blanks; dry-erase markers; OSHA HazCom Quick Card handouts; student worksheets | Students complete a 20-question SDS interpretation quiz; pass mark is 75%. Instructor verifies that each student's completed GHS label contains all required elements before the group moves to the next lesson. |
| 2 | Engineering Controls, Ventilation, and Regulatory Exposure Limits | 5 | demo | Students will describe the hierarchy of controls for solvent vapor reduction and correctly read a direct-reading vapor monitor to determine whether concentrations are below OSHA permissible exposure limits. |
| Direct-reading PID meter (instructor-operated demonstration unit) or colorimetric tube pump and PERC tubes; OSHA PEL reference table handout; EPA guidance document for dry cleaning facilities; DLI technical bulletin on ventilation; floor-plan worksheets; hierarchy-of-controls poster cards | Each student correctly reads and records a simulated PID reading and compares it to the appropriate PEL on a check-off form; instructor confirms correct identification of control tier for at least 10 of 12 cards. Pass mark: all required form fields completed accurately. |
| 3 | PPE Selection and Lockout/Tagout for Solvent Tasks | 6 | lab | Students will select appropriate PPE for a specified solvent-handling task and complete a full lockout/tagout procedure on a dry cleaning machine mock-up, meeting all steps in the OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy standard. |
| PPE supply cart stocked with nitrile and neoprene gloves of multiple thicknesses, chemical splash goggles, face shield, Tyvek suit, solvent-resistant apron; SCBA and half-face respirator (for demonstration only); LOTO mock-up (machine panel with simulated electrical disconnect and valve); OSHA-compliant personal locks and tags; LOTO procedure card; scored rubrics | PPE selection: student selects correct PPE for all three scenarios with correct SDS citation—pass requires zero critical errors (e.g., wrong glove material). LOTO: student completes all required steps in correct sequence on the scored checklist; any missed energy-isolation or verification step requires immediate repeat. Pass mark: 100% of critical safety steps correct on the LOTO rubric. |
| 4 | EPA Hazardous Waste Rules and Solvent Waste Management | 5 | theory | Students will correctly classify dry cleaning solvent waste as hazardous or non-hazardous under EPA RCRA regulations and complete a simulated uniform hazardous waste manifest for a PERC still-bottom waste stream. |
| EPA RCRA regulatory overview handout; waste classification table worksheets; blank practice EPA Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest forms; answer keys; DLI environmental compliance guide; sample hazardous waste labels; EPA small-quantity and large-quantity generator threshold reference card | Waste classification table: student correctly classifies all six streams and states correct storage rules—pass requires at least five of six correct. Manifest: completed form contains no errors in waste code, generator category, or required signature fields; instructor reviews individually before lesson ends. |
| 5 | Emergency Action Plans, Spill Response, and Incident Reporting | 5 | practice | Students will execute a solvent spill response and evacuation using the plant's written Emergency Action Plan and a spill kit, and will correctly complete an OSHA First Report of Injury/Illness form for a simulated exposure incident. |
| Model plant Emergency Action Plan (one-page handout); floor plan with evacuation routes; spill kit (absorbent pads, disposal bags, compatible gloves, splash goggles); colored tape for spill zone; drill scoring rubric; blank OSHA First Report of Injury/Illness practice forms; OSHA recordkeeping regulation overview card; stop watch | Spill drill rubric: student completes all required containment and disposal steps in correct PPE within the allotted time; any step that would have worsened exposure (e.g., removing PPE before decontamination) results in automatic repeat. Incident form: completed accurately with correct recordability determination—pass mark is zero errors in required fields and correct reporting threshold identified. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solvent Regulatory Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher (38 of 50 questions correct) | A 50-question written exam covering OSHA HazCom/GHS requirements, exposure limits and monitoring, LOTO principles, EPA RCRA hazardous waste generator duties, and emergency reporting obligations, mapped to OSHA 10 Outreach content domains and the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner regulatory knowledge exam area. Questions include multiple choice, label interpretation, and short SDS-based scenarios. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| PPE and LOTO Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All critical safety steps rated 'Satisfactory' on the rubric; no step may be skipped or performed out of sequence | The instructor evaluates each student individually as they select PPE for a solvent-handling scenario, don and doff the ensemble correctly, and perform a complete lockout/tagout sequence on the machine mock-up using a scored step-by-step rubric. Any critical failure (wrong glove material, missed energy-isolation point, skipped verification) requires the student to repeat the station before the course concludes. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Regulatory Compliance Lab Log | Log | 15% | All entries complete, legible, and accurate; instructor signs off each lab activity section before the student may proceed to the next lesson | Throughout the course, students maintain a bound lab log documenting their SDS annotations, GHS label drafts, PID readings, waste classification decisions, completed manifest practice, and spill drill checklist—providing an auditable record of hands-on regulatory compliance work that mirrors the documentation habits required in a licensed dry cleaning facility. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| End-of-Course Safety Walkthrough Check | Safety audit | 15% | Student correctly resolves all three planted deficiencies; any missed life-safety deficiency (e.g., missing LOTO tag, unlabeled waste container) results in a remediation session and re-check | The instructor deliberately introduces three regulatory deficiencies into the lab area (such as a mislabeled secondary container, an untagged isolation point, and an overfull waste drum) and asks each student to conduct a brief compliance walkthrough, identify every deficiency, state the applicable regulation or standard, and describe the corrective action—simulating the self-inspection duty of a plant manager and reinforcing the OSHA 10 hazard-recognition competency. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
This course teaches learners how to run a commercial garment-care plant as a productive, profitable, and compliant business unit. Topics span workflow layout, production scheduling, equipment maintenance programs, staff supervision, customer relations, and basic financial controls. Content maps directly to the operational and management competency areas tested by the TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager credential and the business-knowledge sections of the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Wetcleaner exams.
OutcomesThis course teaches learners how to run a commercial garment-care plant as a productive, profitable, and compliant business unit. Topics span workflow layout, production scheduling, equipment maintenance programs, staff supervision, customer relations, and basic financial controls. Content maps directly to the operational and management competency areas tested by the TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager credential and the business-knowledge sections of the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Wetcleaner exams.
How the course runs. 5 blocks: Plant Layout, Workflow Design, and Capacity Planning; Production Scheduling, Turnaround Standards, and Quality Checkpoints; Equipment Preventive Maintenance, Utility Management, and Environmental Recordkeeping; Labor Supervision, Onboarding, and HR Compliance Basics; Plant Financials: Pricing, Cost Control, and Profitability Basics.
What competent looks like. Design and evaluate a plant workflow layout that minimizes garment handling steps and cross-contamination risk. Build a weekly production schedule that balances machine capacity, labor hours, and promised turnaround times. Implement a preventive maintenance log and explain how equipment downtime affects plant productivity and compliance. Apply basic cost-of-production math—including piece-rate pricing, labor cost percentage, and solvent consumption tracking—to make sound operational decisions. Describe federal and state employer obligations relevant to a garment-care plant, including wage-and-hour rules, required postings, and environmental recordkeeping. Demonstrate effective supervision practices, including onboarding a new hire, documenting a performance issue, and running a shift pre-task safety briefing.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant Layout, Workflow Design, and Capacity Planning | 6 | lab | Given a scaled floor-plan template, the learner will arrange workstations for receiving, sorting, cleaning, finishing, and packaging in a sequence that eliminates backtracking and meets fire-egress clearance requirements. |
| Scaled floor-plan worksheets, equipment-footprint cutouts, tape measure, stopwatch, graph paper, DLI Plant Management reference guide, OSHA minimum aisle-width guidelines (general industry standard) | Learner submits a completed revised floor plan with labeled stations, a garment-travel distance calculation, and a written rationale of at least 150 words. Layout must show compliant aisle clearance and logical one-way garment flow. Instructor scores on a 10-point rubric; 7/10 required to pass. |
| 2 | Production Scheduling, Turnaround Standards, and Quality Checkpoints | 5 | theory | The learner will construct a five-day production schedule for a hypothetical 300-piece-per-day plant that meets promised turnaround times while accounting for machine downtime and staff absences. |
| Scheduling worksheet templates, capacity-data handout, sample quality-control tickets, barcode log printouts, DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner exam content outline (operational sections) | Learner turns in a completed five-day schedule that meets all given turnaround commitments, a revised schedule reflecting the rush order, and the written customer script. Schedules are evaluated against stated machine capacities; no station may exceed 100% loading. Rubric score of 14/20 required to pass. |
| 3 | Equipment Preventive Maintenance, Utility Management, and Environmental Recordkeeping | 5 | demo | The learner will complete a preventive maintenance checklist for a drycleaning unit and a flatwork ironer, record entries correctly in a maintenance log, and explain how the log supports both EPA solvent-management compliance and insurance requirements. |
| Manufacturer PM checklists for drycleaning machine and flatwork ironer, lockout/tagout kit, blank maintenance log forms, fabricated utility-bill and solvent-purchase data, EPA solvent-management recordkeeping guidance (general reference) | Completed PM checklist must have zero omitted items and all lockout steps marked in correct sequence; any lockout error is an automatic re-do. Utility calculation must be within 5% of instructor's key answer. Rubric score of 8/10 required to pass. |
| 4 | Labor Supervision, Onboarding, and HR Compliance Basics | 5 | practice | The learner will demonstrate the ability to onboard a new plant employee, document a performance issue using factual language, and describe key federal employer obligations applicable to a garment-care operation. |
| New-employee orientation checklist, sample performance documentation template, one-page federal employer obligations summary, scenario cards, DLI and TRSA manager reference materials | Orientation role-play scored on a 6-point checklist (all required topics covered = pass). Performance note must be factual, specific, and contain no opinion language; instructor grades pass/fail using a rubric. HR quiz requires 80% correct to pass. |
| 5 | Plant Financials: Pricing, Cost Control, and Profitability Basics | 5 | theory | The learner will calculate the break-even piece count for a sample plant, set a retail price for three garment categories using a cost-plus method, and identify at least three controllable cost areas where a plant manager can take corrective action. |
| Monthly cost-sheet handout, break-even graph template, cost-plus pricing worksheet, fabricated P&L statement, regional price-survey sample, calculator, TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager exam content outline (financial management section) | Break-even calculation must be within ±5 pieces of instructor key. Pricing worksheet must show all calculation steps; final prices must fall within a defensible range relative to cost data. P&L group presentation scored on a 6-point rubric; 4/6 required to pass. All three deliverables must meet passing standard. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Management Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% correct (38 of 50 questions) | A 50-question multiple-choice and short-answer exam covering plant layout principles, scheduling concepts, preventive maintenance requirements, HR compliance basics, and cost-control math, mapped to the TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager and DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner exam content outlines. Learners have 75 minutes; all questions are drawn from lesson content and assigned readings. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Plant Supervisor Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Pass all three stations with no critical errors; rubric total of 21/30 | Learners rotate through three timed stations: (1) complete a PM checklist on the lab drycleaning unit with correct lockout/tagout sequence, (2) deliver a 5-minute new-employee orientation to the instructor playing the role of a new hire, and (3) review a fabricated P&L and verbally identify cost problems and corrective actions. Any lockout/tagout omission at Station 1 results in an automatic station failure and a required remediation before the station may be retaken. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Operations Lab Log | Log | 15% | All five lesson lab sheets submitted and scored at or above the per-lesson passing standard; average rubric score of 70% or higher across all sheets | Learners maintain a running lab log throughout the course, submitting a completed and signed worksheet for each of the five lessons—floor-plan redesign, production schedule, PM log entries, performance note, and pricing worksheet. The log is reviewed for completeness, accuracy of calculations, and correct use of trade terminology; it serves as a portfolio artifact for the Capstone Project in Course 11. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Safety Compliance Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on all critical safety items; no exceptions | A structured observation checklist administered during the equipment PM demonstration lesson verifies that the learner correctly performs lockout/tagout before opening any machine panel, wears required PPE throughout the inspection, and restores all guards before returning the machine to service. Any single critical item missed results in immediate remediation and a full re-check before the learner may continue with subsequent lab activities. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
Students design, execute, and defend a full-scale garment care scenario that integrates fiber identification, stain treatment, solvent or wet-cleaning selection, pressing, and plant-management principles into a single documented workflow. The capstone requires students to treat a batch of ten or more garments with varied fabrics and soiling, produce a complete customer-facing and regulatory documentation package, and present their decisions and results to a panel of instructors and an industry guest. All work is evaluated against DLI professional standards and OSHA solvent-handling requirements.
OutcomesStudents design, execute, and defend a full-scale garment care scenario that integrates fiber identification, stain treatment, solvent or wet-cleaning selection, pressing, and plant-management principles into a single documented workflow. The capstone requires students to treat a batch of ten or more garments with varied fabrics and soiling, produce a complete customer-facing and regulatory documentation package, and present their decisions and results to a panel of instructors and an industry guest. All work is evaluated against DLI professional standards and OSHA solvent-handling requirements.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Project Design and Batch Planning; Integrated Processing: Spotting, Cleaning, and Quality Control; Finishing, Final Inspection, and Documentation Completion; Capstone Defense and Panel Review.
What competent looks like. Execute a complete garment-care workflow—intake, classification, treatment, finishing, and release—on a mixed batch of at least ten garments while meeting DLI quality benchmarks and OSHA safety requirements. Select and justify solvent or wet-cleaning methods for each garment in the batch by citing fiber content, care-label instructions, and environmental compliance considerations. Produce a documentation package that includes care logs, Material Safety Data Sheet references, stain-treatment notes, and a mock customer invoice accurate enough for real plant use. Identify and correct at least two simulated processing errors—such as color bleed risk or unsuitable solvent choice—using systematic troubleshooting before garments are finished. Deliver a ten-to-fifteen-minute oral defense of all technical and business decisions to a panel, responding accurately to at least four evaluator questions drawn from DLI and TRSA exam domains. Demonstrate correct lockout/tagout procedure and personal protective equipment use for every machine operation observed by the panel during the defense.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project Design and Batch Planning | 12 | theory | Students will design a complete processing plan for an assigned mixed garment batch by classifying each item, selecting the appropriate cleaning system, and documenting the plan in a written workflow before any equipment is operated. |
| Assigned ten-piece garment batch with varied fibers and soiling, care-label symbol reference chart (DLI), blank intake and treatment log forms, decision matrix worksheet, MSDS binders for all solvents and detergents in use, DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner study guide, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner study guide, pencils and highlighters | Instructor reviews the completed decision matrix and documentation template; all ten garments must be correctly classified with valid justifications and no safety-critical errors (e.g., recommending a solvent-incompatible garment for perc cleaning); pass requires 80% of garments correctly matched with documented reasoning. |
| 2 | Integrated Processing: Spotting, Cleaning, and Quality Control | 30 | lab | Students will process all ten garments through spotting, cleaning, and interim quality-control inspection, applying correct chemistry, machine settings, and OSHA-compliant PPE at every stage. |
| Dry-cleaning machine and/or wet-cleaning cabinet, spotting board and steam gun, full spotting kit (dry solvent, protein agent, tannin agent, neutral lubricant, wet-side agents), chemical-resistant gloves, safety glasses or face shield, solvent-rated apron, lockout/tagout locks and tags, UV inspection lamp, fluorescent shop lighting, treatment log forms, DLI quality standard reference card, MSDS for all chemicals in use | Lab instructor observes each major operation; student must demonstrate correct PPE use and verbally state the lockout/tagout steps before any manual machine inspection; all ten garments must exit cleaning with no new damage caused by the student; at least eight of ten must be free of visible original staining (80% stain-removal success rate); treatment log must be fully updated with no blank fields—any PPE or lockout/tagout omission results in an immediate stop and remediation before the student continues. |
| 3 | Finishing, Final Inspection, and Documentation Completion | 18 | practice | Students will press and finish all ten garments to customer-ready standard, complete the full documentation package including the mock invoice, and package garments correctly for simulated customer pickup. |
| Steam-air form finisher, steam-air finishing board, hand iron and sleeve board, pressing cloth, polybags, wire hangers, ID tags and order labels, completed treatment logs, blank invoice template, EPA solvent-record-keeping guidance handout, DLI customer-ready quality standard card, printer or handwriting supplies for final document package | Instructor inspects all ten finished and packaged garments against the DLI customer-ready checklist; at least nine of ten must meet the standard with no shine, distortion, or soil remaining; the completed documentation package is checked for completeness—every field filled, every chemical cross-referenced to an MSDS—pass requires 100% document completeness and 90% garment quality threshold. |
| 4 | Capstone Defense and Panel Review | 12 | field | Students will deliver a structured oral defense of their project decisions and results to an evaluation panel and respond accurately to technical and business questions drawn from all program course areas and DLI, TRSA, and OSHA credential domains. |
| Finished garment batch and complete documentation package, one-page summary sheet, panel evaluation rubric, standardized question bank (instructor-held), lockout/tagout lock and tags, PPE kit for demonstration (gloves, eye protection, apron), timer for presentation, scoring sheets for panel members (minimum two: one instructor, one industry guest evaluator) | Panel scores the defense on a rubric with four scored areas: presentation clarity and completeness (25 points), technical accuracy of answers to panel questions (40 points, minimum two of four questions answered fully correctly), live safety demonstration (25 points, all steps performed without prompt), documentation package completeness (10 points); overall passing score is 80 out of 100; any failure of the live lockout/tagout demonstration requires remediation and a second defense attempt before program completion. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capstone Project: Processed Garment Batch and Documentation Package | Project | 60% | At least nine of ten garments meet DLI customer-ready quality standard; 80% stain-removal success; 100% documentation completeness with all chemicals cross-referenced to MSDS; zero safety violations during processing. | The physical deliverable of the capstone: a cleaned, pressed, and packaged ten-piece garment batch accompanied by the full documentation package including intake forms, decision matrix, treatment logs, MSDS cross-references, pressing notes, and a mock customer invoice. Evaluated by the lead instructor against the DLI quality standard and EPA solvent record-keeping guidance to confirm that every decision made during processing can be traced and justified in writing. Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation |
| Capstone Portfolio | Portfolio | 20% | All required documents present and fully completed; decision matrix shows correct classification for at least eight of ten garments with valid written justification; no MSDS cross-reference missing; summary sheet accurate and legible. | A compiled binder or digital folder containing every document generated during the project—intake form, decision matrix, treatment log, MSDS cross-reference sheet, pressing sequence notes, corrective-action records, mock invoice, and the one-page oral defense summary—organized in processing order and ready to be handed to a plant manager or regulatory inspector as a complete job record. Reviewed by the panel before the oral defense begins. Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality |
| Oral Defense and Live Safety Demonstration | Oral / panel | 20% | Overall panel score of 80 out of 100 using the four-area rubric; minimum two of four technical questions answered fully correctly; live lockout/tagout and PPE demonstration completed without prompting; any lockout/tagout failure requires remediation and re-defense. | A ten-to-fifteen-minute structured presentation to a panel of at least two evaluators—one program instructor and one industry guest—followed by a minimum of four technical and business questions drawn from all DLI, TRSA, and OSHA credential domains, and concluded with a live demonstration of lockout/tagout and PPE selection on a designated machine. Scored on a four-area rubric and documented on a signed panel evaluation form that becomes part of the student's permanent program record. Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication |
Students complete 108 supervised hours at a licensed dry-cleaning plant, commercial laundry, or textile-care facility, applying every technical and professional skill developed in the classroom under the guidance of an industry mentor. Rotations cover front counter intake, spotting and stain removal, solvent and wet-cleaning machine operation, pressing and finishing, and plant-floor safety compliance. A structured employer evaluation and a reflective log document growth against DLI and TRSA credential competency areas.
OutcomesStudents complete 108 supervised hours at a licensed dry-cleaning plant, commercial laundry, or textile-care facility, applying every technical and professional skill developed in the classroom under the guidance of an industry mentor. Rotations cover front counter intake, spotting and stain removal, solvent and wet-cleaning machine operation, pressing and finishing, and plant-floor safety compliance. A structured employer evaluation and a reflective log document growth against DLI and TRSA credential competency areas.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Site Orientation and Safety Integration; Counter, Intake, and Production Rotation; Machine Operation, Spotting, and Pressing Rotation; Capstone Reflection and Employer Evaluation.
What competent looks like. Perform full garment intake, classification, and labeling procedures without prompting, meeting the host site's quality-control standard. Operate dry-cleaning and/or wet-cleaning equipment under supervision, following the host site's load, solvent, and cycle specifications with zero uncontrolled chemical releases. Apply spotting and stain-removal techniques on a minimum of 20 real customer garments per rotation, achieving the supervisor's acceptable-release standard on at least 85 percent of attempts. Execute pressing and finishing tasks to production-line pace and quality expectations set by the host employer. Demonstrate OSHA-compliant behavior—correct PPE selection, hazard communication, and emergency response—throughout all worksite hours as rated by the site supervisor. Compile a complete externship log with dated entries, supervisor signatures, and a written reflection that maps each rotation task to a DLI or TRSA credential competency area.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Site Orientation and Safety Integration | 12 | field | Student correctly identifies all site-specific hazards, emergency procedures, PPE stations, and chemical storage areas and demonstrates proper donning of required PPE before touching any equipment. |
| Site-specific SDS binders, facility floor plan, externship log binder, PPE kit (gloves, safety glasses, apron), lockout/tagout tags, OSHA 10 reference card from Course 1 | Site supervisor signs the orientation checklist confirming the student correctly identified all required items and wore correct PPE throughout; any missed hazard requires a re-walkthrough before the student proceeds to hands-on rotation. Pass = supervisor signature with no outstanding corrections. |
| 2 | Counter, Intake, and Production Rotation | 30 | field | Student processes real customer garments from intake through tagging, fiber and fabric ID, care-label interpretation, and routing, meeting the host site's accuracy standard for ticketing and soil-level notation. |
| Route-ticket book, garment tags and tagging gun, care-label reference chart (DLI fabric and label guide), production log, color-coded correction tags, externship log binder | Supervisor audits 10 randomly selected route tickets completed by the student each week; at least 85 percent must be fully accurate (fiber ID, soil notation, correct route) to remain on schedule. Tickets below 85 percent accuracy trigger a targeted review session before the next shift. |
| 3 | Machine Operation, Spotting, and Pressing Rotation | 54 | field | Student independently loads, programs, and unloads dry-cleaning or wet-cleaning machines and a minimum of 20 real garments through the spotting board and finishing equipment, achieving the host site's release and presentation standard on at least 85 percent of pieces. |
| Dry-cleaning or wet-cleaning machine, spotting board and gun, steam iron, utility press or form finisher, site-approved spotting agents and lubricants, PPE kit, equipment log, externship log binder, DLI Spotting Manual (or equivalent site reference) | Supervisor completes a standardized production-quality checklist for each student-processed garment sampled (minimum 10 garments per two-week evaluation period); student must meet the site's acceptable-release and presentation standard on at least 85 percent of sampled pieces. Results are recorded in the externship log and signed by both parties. |
| 4 | Capstone Reflection and Employer Evaluation | 12 | field | Student submits a complete externship log with dated entries and supervisor signatures and delivers an oral reflection that maps at least eight distinct worksite tasks to specific DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, or TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager competency areas. |
| Completed externship log binder, credential competency reference sheets (DLI and TRSA), employer evaluation form, program rubric for oral reflection, recording device if in-person meeting is not possible | Program instructor confirms the log is complete (all hours documented, all entries signed) and scores the oral reflection using the program rubric; student must earn at least 80 percent on the rubric and receive a passing or satisfactory composite rating from the employer evaluation form to receive credit for the externship. Any incomplete log or failing employer rating triggers additional supervised hours before a re-evaluation. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer Skills Demonstration Evaluation | Skills demonstration | 70% | Composite rating of 'Satisfactory' or higher across all four domains (technical skills, safety compliance, professionalism, and productivity) on the standardized employer evaluation form, with no individual domain rated 'Unsatisfactory' at the close of the placement. | The host-site supervisor observes the student across all three production rotations and completes a standardized rating form evaluating technical skill execution (intake accuracy, machine operation, spotting, and finishing), consistent OSHA-compliant safety behavior, professional conduct, and ability to work at production pace. The completed form is co-signed by the student and supervisor, shared with the program instructor, and filed as the primary skills_demo record for the externship. Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative |
| Externship Field Log | Log | 30% | Log is 100 percent complete (all 108 hours documented with dated entries, task descriptions, and supervisor signatures), and the final written reflection earns at least 80 percent on the program rubric for credential competency mapping and professional self-assessment. | The student maintains a chronological field log throughout all 108 worksite hours, recording each shift's start and end times, tasks performed, equipment operated, chemicals handled, and any safety events or near-misses observed; each entry is reviewed and signed by the site supervisor at the end of the shift. The final submission includes a written reflection section that explicitly maps a minimum of eight logged tasks to named DLI or TRSA credential competency areas and identifies concrete improvement goals, serving as the lab_log assessment for the externship course. Complete · Verified |
This 30-hour capstone review course systematically covers every published exam domain for the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager, and OSHA 10 credentials so that each learner can sit all applicable exams with confidence. Instruction moves from targeted domain review and gap analysis through timed practice sets and a full-length mock exam battery that mirrors real credential formats. Learners receive individual feedback after every practice round and leave with a personal study plan for any remaining weak areas.
OutcomesThis 30-hour capstone review course systematically covers every published exam domain for the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager, and OSHA 10 credentials so that each learner can sit all applicable exams with confidence. Instruction moves from targeted domain review and gap analysis through timed practice sets and a full-length mock exam battery that mirrors real credential formats. Learners receive individual feedback after every practice round and leave with a personal study plan for any remaining weak areas.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Domain Mapping and Diagnostic Assessment; Targeted Domain Review: Drycleaning, Wetcleaning, and Laundry Management; Targeted Domain Review: OSHA 10 General Industry and Regulatory Compliance; Full Mock Examination Battery and Readiness Debrief.
What competent looks like. Correctly answer practice questions drawn from all DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner exam domains—fiber and fabric identification, solvent systems, spotting chemistry, pressing, and garment analysis—at a score consistent with the published passing standard. Correctly answer practice questions drawn from all DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exam domains—wetcleaning chemistry, water chemistry, finishing, and stain removal—at a score consistent with the published passing standard. Correctly answer practice questions drawn from all TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager exam domains—plant operations, quality control, linen management, and workforce supervision—at a score consistent with the published passing standard. Demonstrate command of all ten OSHA 10 General Industry topic areas—hazard recognition, lockout/tagout, PPE, hazard communication, electrical safety, and related areas—at a score consistent with the OSHA Outreach Program completion standard. Analyze personal practice-exam score reports to identify weak domains, select appropriate course reference materials for self-directed review, and document a structured remediation plan. Complete a timed, full-length mock exam battery for each target credential under realistic testing conditions and self-evaluate readiness before the live credentialing exams.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Domain Mapping and Diagnostic Assessment | 6 | theory | Given the published exam blueprints for all four credentials, learners will complete a 100-question diagnostic covering every major domain and produce a written gap-analysis chart that ranks domains from weakest to strongest. |
| DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and Wetcleaner exam content outlines (from DLI member resources), TRSA CPLM exam guide, OSHA 10 General Industry outreach curriculum topic list, 100-question instructor-developed diagnostic exam, answer sheets, scoring rubric, bar-chart template, course textbooks and reference binders from Courses 1–12 | Each learner submits a completed domain bar chart and a gap-analysis narrative; competence is confirmed when the narrative correctly identifies and prioritizes at least three weak domains using accurate domain names from the official outlines — pass requires all three components submitted and bar chart reflecting actual scored results (no minimum score on the diagnostic itself, as it is a baseline tool). |
| 2 | Targeted Domain Review: Drycleaning, Wetcleaning, and Laundry Management | 12 | practice | Working through instructor-led review sessions organized by exam domain, learners will answer domain-specific practice question sets for DLI drycleaner, DLI wetcleaner, and TRSA CPLM content areas and achieve at least 75 percent on each domain set before advancing. |
| Instructor-developed domain question banks (minimum 25 questions per domain, drawn from DLI training manuals, TRSA study materials, and standard trade references), DLI Drycleaning and Wetcleaning Technical Manuals, TRSA CPLM preparation guide, solvent SDS samples, fiber identification reference cards, pressing and finishing standards charts, linen management calculation worksheets, answer keys with rationales | At the end of each station rotation cycle, learners take the 30-question cumulative mixed set; pass standard is 75 percent or higher on each domain sub-score; learners scoring below 75 percent in any domain receive a targeted remediation reading assignment from the relevant reference manual and repeat a 10-question recheck set the following class day before moving on. |
| 3 | Targeted Domain Review: OSHA 10 General Industry and Regulatory Compliance | 6 | theory | Working through all ten OSHA 10 General Industry topic areas as they apply to drycleaning and laundry plants, learners will correctly explain the regulatory basis for each major hazard control and answer OSHA 10–style scenario questions at a pass rate consistent with OSHA Outreach Program completion requirements. |
| OSHA 10 General Industry outreach curriculum topic outline (OSHA.gov), OSHA Hazard Communication Standard summary (GHS), sample SDS sheets for perchloroethylene and hydrocarbon solvents, lockout/tagout procedure examples, PPE selection guides, plant floor-plan diagram, individual student whiteboards and markers, 40-question OSHA practice set with answer key and rationales | Pass standard for the 40-question OSHA 10 practice set is 70 percent overall with no individual topic area scoring below 60 percent; learners below either threshold receive a short targeted reading from the relevant OSHA publication and must pass a 10-question recheck set on that topic before Lesson 4; instructor also collects and reviews the one-paragraph reflection to confirm the learner can articulate the trade-specific application of the problem area. |
| 4 | Full Mock Examination Battery and Readiness Debrief | 6 | practice | Under timed, exam-like conditions, learners will complete full-length mock exams simulating the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager, and OSHA 10 formats and produce a personal readiness statement with a final study plan. |
| Four full-length instructor-developed mock exams (one per credential, each proportioned to match the published domain weighting for that credential), pencils, scratch paper, a quiet room with individual seating, a timer visible to all learners, domain-level score report template, personal readiness statement template, DLI credential scheduling information, TRSA CPLM scheduling information, OSHA 10 authorized trainer contact information | Pass standard for the mock exam battery: each mock exam must be completed in full (no blank sections) and each learner must score at or above the relevant credential's published passing benchmark on at least two of the four mock exams; the personal readiness statement is evaluated on completeness and specificity — it must name actual resources and a realistic target date; the instructor signs off only when the statement reflects an honest, actionable plan rather than a vague intention to study more. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Mock Examination Battery | Mock certification exam | 100% | Learner completes all four mock exams under timed, closed-book conditions and scores at or above the published passing benchmark for at least two of the four credential mock exams; the personal readiness statement is complete, specific, and signed off by the instructor. | This mock_cert assessment replicates the testing conditions, question formats, and domain weighting of the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner, DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner, TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager, and OSHA 10 exams in a single proctored battery, giving each learner an evidence-based picture of exam readiness. Scores, domain breakdowns, and the instructor sign-off on the personal readiness statement together constitute the final program completion evidence for this course. Score · Time management |
Students sit the DLI Certified Professional Drycleaner and DLI Certified Professional Wetcleaner exams through the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, the TRSA Certified Professional Laundry Manager exam through the Textile Rental Services Association, and the OSHA 10-Hour General Industry course through an OSHA-authorized outreach trainer. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.
Back to Dry Cleaning / Laundry & Textile Care · How the school gets authority to award these credentials
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