How to pack garments so they arrive clean and dry

A customer who opens a parcel and finds a creased, slightly smelly t-shirt rarely blames the courier for long. They blame the brand. Garments are light and cheap to ship, which is exactly why sellers get casual about packing them. A few minutes of routine fixes most of the problems.

Start with a clean, dry packing table

Before you touch a single piece, wipe your table and wash your hands. Oil from fingers and dust from a shared table are the usual source of those faint marks customers complain about. If you stitch or dye in the same room, keep finished pieces covered until packing time.

Check each garment once more for loose threads, stray pins and stains. It is far cheaper to catch a flaw at your table than to take back a return.

Fold the same way every time

Pick one fold and stick to it so every parcel looks consistent and takes the same time.

• Lay the garment flat, face down for tops, and fold the sleeves in first.
• Fold the bottom up to roughly the middle, then once more if the piece is long.
• Keep prints and embroidery on the inside of the fold, not at a crease line where they will crack or rub.
• For heavier items like hoodies or jeans, a tight roll saves space but check that the fabric does not hold a hard crease.

Use a polybag, and seal it properly

The polybag is your first barrier against dust and light splashes. Choose one slightly bigger than the folded garment so you are not forcing it in. Press out extra air before sealing, because trapped air makes the parcel puffy and invites rubbing.

Seal fully with the adhesive strip or a tape piece. A half-open bag is the same as no bag if the outer cover gets wet at the edge.

Add something that absorbs, not just something that covers

A polybag keeps splashes out, but a damp parcel can still form condensation inside if you pack a garment that is not completely dry. Always make sure fabric, especially freshly washed or ironed pieces, has cooled and dried fully before sealing. A small silica gel sachet is a cheap option some sellers add, but never place it in direct contact with light-coloured fabric in a way that could mark it, and keep it clearly out of reach of children.

Choose an outer cover that does its job

A thick opaque mailer works for most garments. If your product is white or pastel, use a mailer that does not show the colour through, and consider a second inner wrap of tissue so a stray stain on the outer layer cannot reach the fabric.

• Leave a small slip with the order number inside, not stuck outside, so the label is the only thing that gets rubbed.
• Put the invoice or care card on top of the garment, not under it, so it is easy to remove without pulling the clothes out.

Be honest about the monsoon

Packaging reduces risk, but it does not remove it. Heavy rain, a parcel left on a wet floor or a long transit can still let damp through. Do not promise customers a guaranteed dry parcel on your product page or in your messages. Instead, say you pack in sealed polybags and invite them to message you with photos if anything arrives damaged.

That last step matters. Keep a quick photo of every packed parcel; our post on the cost of a damaged-in-transit parcel shows how fast a single bad delivery eats into profit.

Know your packing cost

Polybag, mailer and tissue add up, so count them with packaging cost per order, a breakdown. For stretchy fabrics, see also packing yoga wear for courier safely.