production  of  trouser  tops.  The  automatic  pants topper is quicker and eliminates the several lays required to finish trouser tops on a conventional press by using air and steam. Steam and air are set automatically and then released into the air bag  for  a  desired  period  of  time  in  which  the trouser  tops  are  finished.  The  pants  topper  can be run manually or automatically. Refer to your technical   manual   for   correct   operating procedures. ASSEMBLING  AND  ISSUING When you finish pressing the clothes, you get them ready for issuing. Use the dry-cleaning lists for assembling articles into customer groups. The number on each master tag attached to the dry- cleaning  list  corresponds  to  the  numbers  of various  articles  in  a  customer’s  bundle.  Put  the tags  in  numerical  order  and  collect  all  articles belonging  to  each  master  tag.  Be  sure  that  all articles  written  on  the  customer’s  dry-cleaning  list are present and accounted for. Then check to see that  all  buttons  are  intact  and  that  belts  and buckles  are  present.  Missing  buttons  should  be replaced, and all belts and buckles presented to the laundry should be returned with the cleaned article  or  replaced  when  lost. After  you  collect  and  check  all  items  that belong  in  a  customer’s  bundle,  attach  the  dry- cleaning list, and put the items on the assembly and/or  issue  rack  in  numerical  order. As  stated  previously,  the  time  for  pickup  by authorized persons is indicated on the dry-cleaning schedule. The hours are stated by divisions and activities and staggered to prevent congestion in the  pickup  line.  Delivery  periods  should  be  at stated periods that will not interfere with active dry-cleaning  processes  in  the  department. CARE  AND  MAINTENANCE  OF THE   DRY-CLEANING   MACHINE Keep  the  surfaces  of  machines  in  the  dry- cleaning  unit  free  of  dust.  Wash  them  with  hot water  and  soap  or  a  safe  solvent.  Apply  a  light coat  of  wax  to  the  surfaces  of  new  machines  to help keep dirt from adhering to them. Clean the foam  filter  located  in  the  lint  housing  daily  by brushing the foam material to remove excess lint and washing it with clear water and squeezing it dry. Do not reinstall the filter when it is wet or use  soaps  or  solvents  when  you  clean  it. Check for accumulations of lint on coils when you remove the lint bag in the evening. Clean the pump lint strainer once each week or more often under heavy use. Never remove this strainer for cleaning while the machine is running. Be on the alert for solvent and grease leaks. Occasionally, check the timer with a watch. Make sure main- tenance  and  lubrication  charts  are  followed. Report  requirements  for  maintenance  to  your supervisor. MAINTENANCE   OF   DRY-CLEANING PRESSES The  maintenance  of  dry-cleaning  presses  is basically  the  same  as  laundry  presses.  Thoroughly clean them daily and change the pads and covers as required. Padding is so important in the dry- cleaning  plant  in  order  to  produce  a  beautifully finished product. The presses are padded in the same manner as conventional presses, one steel wool pad (change once a year), two flannel pads (change the oldest one once a week or as required), and  one  cover  that  can  either  be  changed  when it  shows  signs  of  wear  or  taken  off  and  washed once a week. All other press maintenance should be  done  by  qualified  maintenance  personnel.  Dry- cleaning   personnel   should   not   attempt   main- tenance  on  the  presses  that  they  are  not  qualified to   perform. SPOTS  AND  STAINS Many spots and stains are removed through the  regular  washing  or  dry-cleaning  process.  Spots on  clothing  are  caused  by  foods,  blood,  grease, and so forth. When these spots become set in the material they are considered a stain. The setting of a spot usually is caused by heat or from certain chemical  reactions.  Once  set  it  cannot  be  removed without some injury to the fabric. In many cases the  injury  is  so  minor  that  removal  is  still worthwhile.  In  other  instances,  the  risk  of  damage to the fabric is so serious that it’s better to leave the stain in the fabric. Therefore, as you will learn, it is very important that spots are identified and treated  before  they  become  a  stain. SPOTTING Any stain that resists the normal washing or dry-cleaning  process  can  usually  be  removed  using a special treatment called spotting. Spotting is a 6-20