Working conditions were often unsafe, as laundresses used boiling water, strong chemicals, and hot irons. If damage occurred to an article of clothing during the laundering process, the cost of repair or replacement would be taken from the worker's pay.
The text describes the dangerous working conditions faced by laundresses, highlighting the risks associated with using boiling water, strong chemicals, and hot irons.  It also emphasizes that any damage to clothing would result in a deduction of money from the worker's pay.