Your First Order

Getting Started

We know starting something new can feel like a lot. This guide walks you through every step — from creating your account to choosing exactly how you like your laundry done. Five minutes to read. A whole lot of time saved every week.
About the Space

Here’s What Happens When You Order With Purple Hamper

Once you schedule your first pickup, our team comes to your door, picks up your laundry, and brings it back clean, folded, and ready to put away. No trips. No waiting. No hauling bags. But before we show up at your door, there are a few choices to make — and we want to make sure you feel confident making them. This guide covers everything: the ordering steps, what each option means, and a few add-ons worth knowing about before you place your first order.

100% dryer balls
folding types
How it works

Four Simple Steps to Your First Order

01 — Schedule in Seconds

Head to our app or this link and enter your phone number to get started. You will receive a quick verification code by text — enter it and you are in. No passwords to remember, no lengthy forms. Just your phone number and you are ready to go.

02 — Build Your Order

Select Wash, Dry & Fold as your service. Then enter the number of bags you plan to send. Not sure exactly how many? That is completely fine — just give us your best estimate and we will adjust it at pickup. You can also add any Order Notes here if there is something specific you want us to know about your clothes — a delicate item, a particular concern, anything at all.

03 — Choose Your Preferences & Add-ons

This is where you personalize your order. You will set your Care Preferences — how you like your laundry washed, dried, and folded — and choose any Add-On Services that apply to your order. These preferences are saved to your account and applied automatically to every future order, so you only have to set them once.

04 — Schedule, Pay & You're Done

Choose your preferred pickup date and delivery date from our available route schedule. Enter your payment details — your card is stored securely and charged only after your order is complete. If you have a promo code, scroll down to the Promo section and enter it before confirming.

CARE PREFERENCES SECTION

Your care preferences are saved to your account and applied to every order automatically. Set them once — we remember them every time.

A. General Preference — Choose Your Detergent

Option What It Means
🧴
1 — Normal Wash, Scented
Our standard wash using quality scented detergent. Fresh, clean, and great for everyday clothes.
Best for: Most everyday laundry
🌿
2 — Sensitive Skin, No Fragrance
Fragrance-free detergent — ideal for sensitive skin, babies, or anyone who prefers unscented laundry.
Best for: Sensitive skin, babies, allergy-prone
🌱
3 — Organic, Eco-Friendly, Lavender Scented
Plant-based, eco-friendly products with a gentle lavender scent. Great for those who prefer natural options.
Best for: Eco-conscious customers, natural fabric lovers
4 — Luxury Option
Upgrade your wash with premium detergent. Choose from two options:
DIVA® Glamorous Wash — $3.00/load A boutique detergent with a luxurious, long-lasting scent and an exceptionally soft feel.
Laundry Sauce — $2.00/item A concentrated, high-performance pod for a powerful clean with a fresh scent.
Best for: Clothes you want to feel and smell exceptional
📝
5 — I Have a Specific Direction
Have something particular in mind? Would like to send your own detergent? Use the Preferences Notes field to tell us exactly what you need — we read every note.
Best for: Custom requests, special fabrics, specific brands

B. Fabric Softener

Add fabric softener to your wash for extra softness and a fresh feel. Simply select Yes or No — we handle the rest.

C. Drying Options

                                                                                                                                                              

Option What It Means
🧶
Dryer Balls
Wool dryer balls reduce static, soften fabrics naturally, and cut drying time. A great eco-friendly alternative to dryer sheets — no chemicals, just soft, fluffy results. We add 100% essential oils if you're good with scents.
Best for: Eco-conscious customers, sensitive skin
🌬️
Dryer Sheets
Classic dryer sheets for a fresh scent and reduced static. Simple, familiar, and effective for everyday laundry. Depending on what option you choose on option A, we choose different dryer sheets.
Best for: Everyday clothes, fresh-scent preference
🚫
None
No drying product added — just the dryer. A clean, neutral result with no added scent or softener. We use low drying temperature to avoid any wrinkles.
Best for: Minimalists, fragrance-free preference

D. Folding Option

                                                                                                                                                                

Option What It Means
👕
All Fold
Everything is neatly folded and returned in your bag, ready to put away. Our standard folding is clean, consistent, and stack-friendly.
Best for: Most customers, everyday laundry
👔
Hang Dress Clothes
Dress shirts, blouses, and dress pants are returned on hangers instead of folded — so they stay wrinkle-free and ready to wear straight from the bag.
Best for: Work clothes, button-downs, blouses, dress pants

Hang Dry Toggle

Turn this on if you have items that should not go in the dryer — delicate fabrics, wool, athletic wear, or anything with a “lay flat to dry” label. We will air-dry those items separately.

A Little Extra Goes a Long Way

ADD-ONS SECTION

Add-ons are optional upgrades you can select with any order. Here are the ones worth knowing about before your first pickup.

Laundry Sauce Pod - $2/item

A concentrated, high-performance detergent pod that delivers a powerful clean with a fresh scent. All natural ingredients from nature that delivers extraordinary, unforgettable experience. A great everyday upgrade from standard detergent.

Diva® Detergent - $3/load

A premium boutique detergent that leaves clothes with a luxurious, long-lasting scent and an exceptionally soft feel. DIVA® is gentle on fabrics and delivers a noticeably elevated result compared to standard detergent. If you want your laundry to feel like it just came back from a high-end hotel, this is your add-on.

KonMari Folding - $10/load

The KonMari method, made famous by Marie Kondo, folds clothes into neat, upright rectangles that stand on their own in your drawer. Instead of stacking clothes on top of each other, everything is filed side by side — so you can see every item at a glance and nothing gets buried. If you have ever wanted a perfectly organized drawer, this is it.

Stain Treatment-$5

We treat individual stained items with professional stain-removal products before washing. For best results, point out the stained item in your Order Notes so we can give it extra attention. We cannot guarantee complete removal of every stain — but we will do everything we can.

Remove Odors-$3

An extra odor-elimination treatment for items that need more than a standard wash —gym clothes, work uniforms, pet bedding, or anything with persistent odors. Combined with our Ozone sanitization system, this is a powerful one-two punch against stubborn smells.

Revive Whites-$5

Restore brightness to whites that have gone gray or yellowed over time. We use a professional whitening treatment to bring them back to their original brightness without damaging the fabric. Some item requires overnight soaking, so we can't complete in 24-hour timeframe.

Hang Dry Service -$3

For items that should not go in the dryer, we air-dry them separately and return them on hangers. Perfect for delicate fabrics, wool, athletic wear, or anything with special drying instructions.

Extra Hangers-$.50

Need more items returned on hangers? Add this to your order and we will hang additional pieces beyond your standard folding preference.

Excessive Pet Hair and Soiled Items -$2/item

Items with heavy pet hair or soiling require extra processing time and care. This addon ensures those items get the attention they need without affecting the rest of your order.

Linen Pressing - $5/item

Your flat sheets, pillowcases, and tablecloths are pressed to a crisp, hotel-quality finish. If you love the feeling of freshly pressed linens, this add-on is for you.

DRIVER SELECTION SECTION

When you choose your pickup date, you may see two delivery options: Our Drivers and Flex Drivers. Here is what each one means and when to use them.

🚐 Our Drivers Purple Hamper's own team Flex Drivers On-demand, any day
Who Are They? Purple Hamper's own team — the same familiar faces running a fixed weekly route in your area. Independent drivers dispatched on demand, similar to how Uber works. New driver each time.
When Available? ✓ Scheduled days
Available on your zone's regular pickup days each week.
✓ Any day
Available any day — including days our drivers are not in your area.
Best For Regular weekly orders — consistent, reliable, and on a set schedule you can count on. Urgent pickups when you can't wait for your next route day. Great for last-minute needs.
Delivery Delivered on your scheduled delivery date — part of the same route cycle. Choose "Schedule When It's Ready" — our drivers deliver your clean laundry on the very next route day in your area.
Experience ✓ Familiar team
Same drivers who know your preferences and your address.
⚡ On-demand
Different driver each time, but fully briefed on your order.
💡 Pro Insider Tip
Need a Pickup Today or Tomorrow?
Your regular route day isn't until later in the week but you need your laundry done now? Here's the move most customers don't know about:
1
Select Flex Drivers for your pickup — they can come the same day or next day
2
For your delivery option, choose "Schedule When It's Ready"
3
Our drivers will deliver your clean laundry on the very next route day in your area — even if it's not your normally scheduled day
🎉 Result: Same-day or next-day pickup + next-route-day delivery. The fastest way to use Purple Hamper outside your regular schedule.
→ Not sure which days we're in your area? Check the Service Area page
Common Questions

How to Prepare Your First Order

What Bag or Container Should I Use?

You can use almost anything — a laundry bag, a plastic bag, or even a laundry basket. We accept whatever you have on hand. If you leave a laundry basket outside, our driver will bring a plastic bag, transfer your clothes into it, and leave your basket right there with you — your basket never leaves home. If you would like a Purple Hamper bag for future orders, just let us know when you schedule your first pickup and we will bring one along.

Do I Need to Sort My Clothes?

Nope — no sorting required. Just toss everything in together. We sort your laundry by color and fabric type before washing, so your darks, lights, and delicates are all handled correctly. If you have a specific sorting preference, just add it to your Order Notes or Preferences Notes and we will follow your instructions.

Check Your Pockets!

This one is important. Please check all pockets before sending your laundry. Tissues, receipts, coins, and especially earbuds, lip balm, crayons or pens can cause damage to your clothes and our machines. We do our best to catch anything left behind, but we cannot be responsible for items found in pockets after washing. A quick pocket check before pickup saves everyone a headache.

Where Should I Leave My Bag?

Place your bag in a spot that is easy for our driver to find — your front door, porch, building lobby, or any designated spot you prefer. Add a note in your Order Notes to let us know exactly where to pick up and where to leave your clean laundry on delivery day. If you live in an apartment building or gated community, include any access instructions so our driver can reach you without any delays.

You Will Receive a Text When Your Driver Is Close

When your driver is on the way, you will receive an automatic text message letting you know they are nearby. No need to wait by the door — just make sure your bag is in the agreed spot and we will take it from there. You will also receive a text confirmation when your laundry has been picked up and again when it is out for delivery.

A Few More Quick Tips:

Delicate items: If you have anything fragile or special, add it to your Order Notes so we can handle it with extra care
Stains: Point out any stained items in your Order Notes — and consider adding the Stain Treatment add-on for the best chance of removal
Hangers: If you want dress clothes returned on hangers, select the “Hang Dress Clothes” folding option or add Extra Hangers to your order
Shoes and non-clothing items: Please keep shoes, bags, and non-clothing items out of your laundry bag unless they are part of a specific service order

I am having trouble adding my card information. What should I do?

When entering your card information, make sure to use your first name and last name exactly as they appear on your card in the Name section. Avoid using initials or multiple names in either the first name or last name fields, as this will cause the card section to reject your card.

HELPFUL TIPS SECTION

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Start

🔄
Tip 01
Set It and Forget It
Once your care preferences are saved, every future order uses them automatically — no need to re-enter anything. Set up a Recurring Order and we pick up on a regular schedule without you having to remember to book each time.
⚖️
Tip 02
Not Sure About Your Bag Count?
Just estimate — it is completely fine. We weigh your laundry at pickup and adjust the count accordingly. You are only charged for what you actually send. No surprises.
Tip 03
Need an Urgent Pickup? Use Flex Drivers
Can't wait for your regular route day? Select Flex Drivers for pickup, then set delivery to "Schedule When It's Ready." Our drivers deliver your clean laundry on the very next route day in your area — same-day pickup, next-route-day delivery.
🏆
Tip 04
Earn Rewards on Every Order
Enroll in our Rewards program to earn points on every order. Points add up fast when laundry is a weekly habit — and they are redeemable toward future orders.
💰
Ways to Save
📋
Best Value
Choose a Membership Plan
Our membership plans offer the lowest per-pound price on every order. The more you wash, the more you save — and your rate is locked in for as long as you stay a member.
View Membership Plans
🎟️
New Customers
Use Your New Customer Promo Code
First time with Purple Hamper? Head to our Promotions page and grab your new customer promo code — $10 off each of your first 3 orders, that is $30 in savings just for getting started.
See All Promotions
🧺
Big Loads
Got a Big Backlog? Use the Catch Up Option
If laundry has piled up, the Catch Up option is the most cost-effective way to handle a large load all at once. Send it all in one order and save compared to splitting it across multiple pickups.
Schedule a Catch Up