Frequently asked questions

Yes.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, this is a real business. It isn't taking orders yet, because I'm first finding out how many people actually want to mail me their pants. If that number turns out to be more than zero, I start washing.

That is the entire business model.

I've read it back several times. It doesn't get less strange, but it does keep making sense.

You absolutely can.

This website does not represent an intervention. It's an option, for people who would rather not, or who own pants they're nervous about, or who simply enjoy the idea of their jeans taking a trip.

Me. I Wash Pants is currently one person. If this grows, there may eventually be more people washing pants, and I'll say so here. For specialty items that need professional dry cleaning, I work with a professional cleaner rather than pretending I own a dry cleaning plant.

In the United States. I'll publish the shipping address with your order once ordering opens. Until then there's nowhere to send pants, which I realize is the one thing this website was supposed to provide.

The plan is to accept pants from anywhere in the contiguous United States that a normal carrier delivers to. Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories and international pants may come later. Put your ZIP code in the form and it genuinely helps me figure out where the demand is.

A garment worn below the waist that extends below the knee.

This definition has already consumed more legal thought than anticipated. The full ruling, with edge cases, lives on the What Is a Pant? page.

No.

They had their chance to become pants and stopped early.

Absolutely not.

We have boundaries.

Yes. Jeans are the reason this company exists. If you own raw or selvedge denim and have opinions about how it should be washed, write them in your order notes and I'll follow them.

Yes. Machine-washable dress pants are Everyday Pants. Wool, lined or structured trousers are usually Special Pants, because they tend to need dry cleaning and pressing.

Yes, although specialty cleaning costs more. Special Pants start at $25 a pair. If the label says dry clean only, I believe it.

Yes, subject to the service terms and the garment's care requirements. For high-value items I'll likely ask you to declare the value and insure the shipment yourself. The final rules on that are still being written and will be in the Terms of Service before launch.

Leggings, yes. Overalls, yes, straps and all. Scrub pants, yes, as long as they're not carrying anything from a clinical setting that needs specialized handling. Snow and ski pants, probably, depending on the care label and any waterproof coating. Waders, we should talk first.

I'll wash the pants. The jacket is not pants. I know they came as a set. I'm sorry for splitting them up. Suit trousers are usually Special Pants and I'll point out in your order that the jacket should go to a dry cleaner at the same time so the colors age together.

Probably.

Odor is what washing is for. Extreme cases may need extra treatment, and that may become a pricing discussion.

Potentially not, and this is the one answer on this page where I'm not joking.

I reserve the right to refuse, and return unwashed at your expense, any item that presents a biological, chemical or safety hazard. That includes bodily fluids in any real quantity, mold, pests, fuel, solvents, paint that isn't dry, industrial chemicals, broken glass and anything sharp. Pants contaminated in a medical, laboratory or hazardous work setting need a specialist, not me.

Not currently. Skirts, dresses and kilts are respectable garments, and they are not pants. Culottes and very wide trousers are pants. The distinction is legs. The full ruling is here.

Tentatively, Everyday Pants are $10 a pair and Special Pants start at $25 a pair. Shipping is separate. These numbers are still being tested, so they may change before launch. See pricing.

You pay to send the pants.

You also pay for the pants to come home.

The pants contribute nothing financially.

Please do.

3 or more pairs in one order receive 10% off the cleaning cost. It's called Pants Like Company. Shipping several pairs in one box is also cheaper per pair than shipping one pair at a time.

There is a loyalty offer. Wash 10 pairs, and your next 5 pairs are 50% off cleaning.

They're already off. They might as well be half off.

How the pairs are counted will be spelled out before launch.

Because carriers charge by weight and size, and jeans are heavier than people expect. A single pair of jeans usually weighs between one and two pounds. A box of five is not light. I'll publish packing guidance that keeps boxes small, because a small box is the only discount I can offer on shipping.

The plan is to offer a prepaid label option at checkout so you don't need to go to a counter, as well as letting you ship however you like. The details are part of the ordering system that isn't live yet.

No. There is nothing to pay for yet. Joining The Pants List is free and commits you to nothing, least of all mailing pants.

You place an order. You mail me the pants. I receive and inspect them, clean them according to their care requirements, treat stains within reason, fold or hang them, package them and ship them back. You pay return shipping. Every step, in detail.

I haven't set a turnaround standard yet, and I'm not going to invent one to sound impressive. The target is to clean and ship Everyday Pants within a few business days of arrival, with Special Pants taking longer because they go through professional cleaning. Transit time depends on the carrier and the distance. A real turnaround commitment will be posted before the first order is accepted.

The final product list is being settled before launch. The starting point is a mild, dye-free, fragrance-free detergent for everyday washing, a detergent formulated for darks where it matters, and specialty products for wool and delicates. If you have a sensitivity or a preferred product, the order form will have a place to say so, and I'll accommodate it where I reasonably can.

Yes, where reasonably possible. Air dry only, wash inside out, no creasing, crease sharply, fragrance-free, leave the raw denim alone and just soak it. Write it down. I'll read it.

No. Each order is washed separately. Your pants will only ever be in the machine with your other pants, which is how pants prefer it.

Where the garment calls for it. Dress pants and trousers get pressed. Jeans and joggers get folded properly and not ironed unless you ask, because most people don't want a crease in their jeans. If you do, that's your business, and I'll do it.

Not at launch. I'll note loose buttons, failing zippers and holes during inspection so you know about them, but I'm not a tailor. Repairs may become an add-on later.

Everything. I will check anyway, because pockets are where pens and lip balm go to destroy a load. Anything I find will be returned with your pants. Anything valuable you leave in your pockets is your responsibility until it's back in your hands.

I'll make a reasonable effort.

No cleaner can honestly guarantee every stain can be removed. Some stains bond permanently with fibers, especially after they've been through a hot dryer.

I wash pants. I do not reverse time.

Damage policy, liability limits and how claims are handled are being finalized and will be published in the Garment Care Policy and Terms of Service before any orders are accepted. I'm not going to make promises here that the final terms don't back up. Every pair is inspected on arrival and pre-existing wear is noted, so there's a record of what came in.

Same principle. Loss in transit is usually a carrier claim, which is why tracking and optional insurance matter. What I'm responsible for once pants are in my hands will be defined in the final Shipping Policy and Terms of Service. Nothing is live until those are.

I clean according to the care label, which is the whole point of reading it. Some fabrics shrink or lose dye even when cared for correctly, especially cotton that was never pre-shrunk and dark denim in its first few washes. If you're worried about a specific pair, say so in the order and I'll take the most conservative route.

Then I'll treat the pants as delicate and choose the gentlest method that will still get them clean. If I can't identify the fabric well enough to clean it safely, I'll contact you before doing anything.

It's the list of people who told me about their pants before I started washing them. Members get a launch notification, early access when ordering opens, introductory offers and future promotions. The earliest members are candidates for Founding Pants status. Exactly what that includes will be announced before launch, and I'll only describe benefits I actually intend to provide.

Because I'm trying to find out whether this business should exist, and at what price. How many pairs, what kind, how often and what you'd pay are the four things that decide it. Your answers directly shape the launch.

No. Your details are used to run I Wash Pants and to tell you about it. The Privacy Policy covers the specifics.

No. The business hasn't opened, so nobody has used it yet. The testimonials are made up, and the people in them don't exist. Real reviews will replace them once real pants come back clean. This is also stated in the Terms of Service.

Every email has an unsubscribe link. You can also contact me and I'll remove you. No hard feelings. Your pants, your call.