Rikers Island is plagued by violence and controversy, and now attorneys and the city's jails oversight board are raising concerns about its most basic of services: laundry.

"They don't have soap,” said Brooklyn Defender Services attorney Michael Klinger. “They don't have washing machines. They don't even have plastic basins most of the time. So many of our clients report wearing their dirty clothes into the shower and using their shower soap, if they have any, to wash their clothes."

At the city’s sprawling jail complex, detainees are entitled to clean sheets, clothes, socks and fresh blankets. They are supposed to get clean clothes at least twice a week and have their sheets cleaned once a week.

For some, though, it’s not happening.

“Some people said they have gone over 30 days without linen exchange,” said Board of Correction member Dr. Rachael Bedard.

Other board staff reported some detainees did not have mattresses for an extended period of time.

The complaints were the subject of a Board of Correction hearing in Lower Manhattan Wednesday — the first such appearance for the department’s new commissioner.

“There are things that we clearly need to work on on our end,” said Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. “And we’re working with the board to ensure we are meeting the minimum standards and ensuring people are getting those standards in terms of the laundry services in our custody.”

Maginley-Liddie has her hands full. Her predecessor had a contentious relationship with the oversight board, so she is trying to reset the relationship.

“We have to work together in order to achieve these reforms and that is the commitment here,” Maginley-Liddie told NY1 after the meeting.

As for the laundry, the department plans to audit its performance, and is pledging to clean up its act.

“We are working on a process, and we will collaborate with the board as to how that looks but that will be out in the coming weeks,” Maginley-Liddie said.