How to Take Care of Your Bill's Khakis

Actually, Bill’s Khakis don’t require special care. You can throw them into the washing machine or have them professionally laundered or dry cleaned – whatever’s most convenient for you, and whatever gives you the look and feel you want. But it helps to know what to expect. 

Bill’s Khakis are made of pure cotton, which is one reason they’re so comfortable. Cotton is a natural fabric that breathes and responds to moisture and to changes in temperature. That’s why Bill’s Khakis will shrink. How much depends on how you take care of them, but never buy a pair with a snug fit. 

If you plan to wash Bill’s Khakis in the washing machine and dry them in the dryer, you need to allow, in your original fitting, for shrinkage of about three percent in length – one to one and one-half inches – and about half an inch at the waist. 

At the other extreme, dry cleaning will have minimal effect. If you plan to send your khakis to the cleaners, just make sure they’re comfortably loose and a little long when you buy them – not too loose or long to wear right out of the store, but large enough to give you a small margin for shrinkage over time. 

If you wash them in your machine at home and hang-dry them, shrinkage will be a lot less than in the dryer. If the laundry washes them and presses them wet, the fabric will expand. If that’s your preferred method, you don’t have to worry about shrinkage. They will grow. In fact, if you have a pair that has gotten a bit too snug or too short, you might try having them laundered and wet pressed.  

So you can treat your Bill’s Khakis most any way, from wash and wear to dry cleaning. But whatever method you prefer, stick to it. Switching from one to the other can produce unpredictable results and khakis that no longer have that great fit.