How it works
You send me pants. I wash them.
Then I send them back. That’s the summary. Below is every step, in the detail you’d want before putting your favorite jeans in the mail.
The whole process
Ordering isn't open yet. When it is, it works exactly like this.
Place an order
Online, when ordering opens. Tell me what’s coming and anything I should know.
YouMail me your pants
In any sturdy box or mailer. You pay to ship them here.
YouReceive and inspect
Pockets emptied, care labels read, stains and existing wear noted.
MeClean them properly
Washed, or professionally cleaned, according to what the label and fabric require.
MeTreat stains, within reason
A reasonable, fabric-appropriate effort. Not a miracle.
MeFold or press
Folded neatly, or pressed and hung where the garment calls for it.
MeShip them back
Packed clean and dry. You pay the return shipping.
MeWear clean pants
Or put them in a drawer. What happens next is between you and the pants.
You
Before you ship
Packing your pants
No special box required. Pants are forgiving travelers. A few things make the trip go better:
- Empty every pocket. I check anyway, but a pen in a pocket is how a whole load goes wrong.
- Include your order number on a slip of paper in the box, so your pants are matched to you the moment they arrive.
- Use a sturdy box or a padded poly mailer. Fold the pants, don't stuff them. A smaller package usually ships for less.
- Bag them if the weather's bad. A plain plastic bag inside the box keeps them dry in transit.
- Write down special requests in your order: air dry only, no crease, fragrance-free, raw denim soak.
- Don't send hazardous pants. Anything carrying chemicals, fuel, biological material or sharp objects will be refused. Details.
When they arrive
Inspection
Every pair is unpacked, counted and checked against your order. Pockets get emptied. Anything I find comes back to you with the pants.
Then I read the care label, identify the fabric, and note anything that affects cleaning: existing stains, worn spots, loose buttons, a zipper that's thinking about retiring. If something about a pair makes cleaning risky, or if it needs Special Pants treatment you didn't order, I contact you before doing anything to it.
Cleaning
The right method for the fabric
Pants are not all the same, which is apparently the most important thing I've learned so far. Here's how different fabrics get handled.
| Pants | Water | Drying | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark & raw denim | Cold, inside out, gentle | Hang, or low heat briefly | Dye bleeds early on. Washed alone or with matching darks. |
| Stretch denim, leggings | Cold | Low or no heat | High heat breaks down elastane for good. |
| Cotton chinos & khakis | Cold or warm, per label | Low to medium | Pulled slightly damp to prevent shrinking. |
| Sweatpants & joggers | Cold or warm, inside out | Low | Inside out reduces pilling. |
| Canvas & work pants | Warm where the label allows | Medium | Heavy soil pre-treated. Grease handled separately. |
| Polyester & nylon | Cold or warm | Low | Low iron only. Synthetics melt. |
| Wool trousers | None | Professional | Professional dry cleaning. Wool felts in warm water. |
| Silk, rayon, acetate, lined | Per label | Professional | Special Pants. Dry or wet cleaned by a professional. |
The care label always wins. This table is the default when a label allows a choice.
Afterward
Stains, drying, pressing, packing
Stains get a reasonable, fabric-appropriate effort: the right approach for the stain type, tested where it matters, repeated before drying if it helps. Some stains are permanent. Stain removal is not guaranteed. I will try to remove your stain. I cannot undo the events that caused your stain.
Drying follows the label and the fabric. Most jeans are finished on a rack. Nothing gets cooked.
Pressing happens where the garment calls for it. Dress pants and trousers are pressed along their crease. Jeans and joggers are folded and left uncreased, unless you ask otherwise.
Packing means clean, completely dry pants, folded or hung flat, wrapped to stay that way, and shipped back to you.
Shipping
You pay both ways
You pay to send your pants to me, and you pay for them to come home. The pants contribute nothing financially.
The plan is to offer a prepaid return label at checkout, with tracking. The Shipping Policy has the draft details.
How long it takes
I haven't committed to a turnaround time yet, and I won't invent one. The target is a few business days for Everyday Pants once they arrive, longer for Special Pants. A real commitment will be published before the first order is accepted.
Tell me about your pants.
It takes about two minutes. It commits you to nothing. It helps me decide whether this business should exist.