HANDLING SENDBACKS
Sendbacks are articles in individual bundles and bulk lots that must be sent back for reprocessing. Place an article sent back for reprocessing in a net so that it can be reworked immediately. Because sendbacks hold up delivery of laundry, they should receive special attention so that you can make delivery on schedule. Recheck on them occasionally to make certain the desired work is being done.

CLAIMS FOR DAMAGED LOST CLOTHING OR
Claims by crew members arising from loss of or damage to personal clothing in the ship's laundry should be handled as shown in the NAVSUP P-487. The goal for laundry claims during any given accounting period is zero; however, very seldom is this goal obtained. Mistakes are made and claims are submitted usually because of the following:

Errors made during marking or assembly
Delivery to the wrong division or officer/ CPO

Weak security controls in the laundry
Clothing damaged during processing
Loss or damage to clothing can only be corrected through the use of proper laundering procedures. The primary factor attributed to loss of clothing in the laundry is poor lot control. If the laundry has good lot control it will avoid delays, confusion, and loss of clothing articles.

To minimize laundry claims due to lost or damaged clothing, laundry processing as discussed in this chapter should be followed.

SECURING FITTINGS AND EQUIPMENT
Yoke is one of the damage control material conditions that is set each day aboard ship just after working hours. Once the laundry is secured for the day, the Ship's Serviceman working as damage control petty officer should make sure the material condition of yoke is set properly in the laundry. Normally these yoke fittings are logged closed in damage control central at this time. If the laundry is going to operate past normal working hours, any yoke fittings that are required to be opened should be logged opened in damage control central. Every day electricity to equipment is secured by turning off the switch on each piece of equipment that controls the power. The electricity to any equipment should be secured when that piece of equipment is not in use. Steam to laundry presses should be secured daily by closing the valve to the steam line connected to the press. Care should be taken to prevent burning yourself. The steam valve to the laundry presses should be reopened the next workday. Never leave loads of laundry in the equipment or hang clothes near steam lines or presses. All laundry cleaned for that day should be picked up by the responsible division/ department before securing for the day.

CHAPTER 6
THE DRY-CLEANING OPERATION
The dry-cleaning operation is another service activity of the supply department. The supply officer is responsible for providing dry-cleaning service on ships where dry-cleaning equipment is installed. The responsibility for providing this service is normally assigned to a junior Supply Corps officer. Since water damages certain fabrics, some clothing must be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is the process by which you immerse soiled and stained garments in dry-cleaning solvent in a dry-cleaning machine. Normally, dry-cleaning equipment is installed on ships with over 500 personnel; however, provisions for dry-cleaning equipment on ships with 100 to 500 personnel are considered on a case-by-case basis.

DRY-CLEANING PERSONNEL
The number of Ship's Servicemen and strikers assigned to the dry-cleaning operation depends on the workload and the equipment. On carriers and tenders where the plant is much larger than on other ships, there may be a supervisor, an assistant supervisor, and 6 to 10 additional personnel. The petty officer assigned as supervisor is responsible for preparing the dry-cleaning schedule, procuring supplies, training personnel, operating the plant, and cooperating with engineering personnel in maintaining the equipment. The supervisor assigns personnel to do the work as efficiently as possible and rotates them so they can get experience in all the tasks performed in the plant.

DRY-CLEANING SECURITY
All dry-cleaning personnel are responsible for maintaining security in the dry-cleaning plant. Security prevents loss of dry-cleaning articles, damage to equipment, injury to untrained personnel, and unauthorized use of equipment and facilities. The dry-cleaning plant is considered a Group IV space. Keys should be handled as outlined in chapter 1 of this manual under Group IV spaces. Any work done in the dry-cleaning plant after normal work hours should have the final approval of the ship's store officer.

DRY-CLEANING SCHEDULE
As in the laundry, a schedule is necessary for controlling the delivery, processing, and issuing of dry cleaning. To prepare such a schedule, start with a flow chart of all operations through which articles must pass from the time they are received until they are ready for issue (fig. 6-1). Then review each stage to determine time, space, equipment, and operating personnel required, and any other factors that will affect your schedule.

Figure 6-1.- Dry-cleaning flow chart.

DRY-CLEANING STANDARDS
Dry-cleaning standards are based on a 96-hour workweek and apply only to those ships that have a dry-cleaning capability. These standards are included in the Shipboard Habitability Program, OPNAVINST 9640.1. Your dry-cleaning plant should have dry-cleaning equipment and press capability sufficient to clean and finish press one dress uniform per person per month. This works out to about 1 pound of dry cleaning per person per week. Any troops that are embarked aboard your ship should not be included in dry-cleaning considerations. If your ship has between 100 to 500 personnel, you should have a minimum of a spotting board and press capability to finish press one dress uniform per person per month. Ships with 100 to 500 personnel desiring dry-cleaning equipment instead of a spotting board will be considered on a case basis. If the capabilities of your dry-cleaning plant permit, you may also provide service to ships near your ship. That is, in the case of tenders or repair ships, your ship should provide dry-cleaning service to ships tended in addition to your own.