HOW DO I SCHEDULE A PICKUP
If you're already a pickup and delivery customer, the easiest way to schedule a pickup is to text us. Just text the word PICKUP to (916) 999-1321.
Another easy way to schedule a pickup is to login online. Click Here
If you're not already a pickup and delivery customer, you can learn more or sign up by going to our Pickup & Delivery page.
Another easy way to schedule a pickup is to login online. Click Here
If you're not already a pickup and delivery customer, you can learn more or sign up by going to our Pickup & Delivery page.
DO I NEED TO BE HOME WHEN YOU PICK UP OR DELIVER?
There’s no need to be home. On your first pickup, you can leave your clothes in any type of bag you like. We’ll drop off your own Swansons BlueBag with your name on it for the next time we pickup. Some cleaners re-use bags from different customers, but we will always give you your own bag - each and every time. We’ll also drop off a Swansons door hook that slides over the top of most doors. When we return your clean clothes, we’ll hang them on the Swansons door hook. If for some reason you have something else in mind, like a closet hook, nail, or porch light, let us know. More than likely we can handle it. We prefer not to hang clothes on a door knob and will in extreme circumstances, lay your clothes flat on a table, chair, or bench.
Where should I leave my clothes / Where should I put the door hook?
Under Special Instructions when you log in or sign up, you can indicate a place you feel is safe and protected from the elements. Most customers choose the front door, but some like to use a back door, side door, or even a garage or pool house. It’s really up to you. Just be sure to hang the door hook facing outward so we can use it. And please don't forget to include your PIN if there is one.
Here’s how the door hook looks after you slide it over the top of your door.
Here’s how the door hook looks after you slide it over the top of your door.
Here's an example of a door hook placed over the top of a door. There's no installation, just slide it over the top edge. It's surprisingly strong so it can hold a very large order.
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DO YOU CHARGE MORE FOR PICKUP AND DELIVERY?
There is no extra charge for pickup and delivery and our pickup and delivery prices are the same as our in store prices. Why? Well, we hope you like the service and convenience so much that you tell your friends and neighbors about us. Our business is built on word of mouth, so please spread the word. Our dedicated staff would really appreciate it.
DO YOU PICKUP AND DELIVER IN GATED COMMUNITIES?
We deliver to gated communities every day. Just make sure to update the gate code in the Special Instructions in your profile so our driver can still get in when the code changes.
WHAT IF MY HOUSE HAS A LOCKED GATE?
You can provide us with your gate code by calling us or logging into our website. When you log in to our website, update the Special Instructions with the PIN/combination to your gate.
MY GARAGE HAS A PINPAD. IF I PROVIDE THE GARAGE PIN WILL YOU DELIVER INSIDE MY GARAGE?
We'd be happy to pickup and deliver using your garage's PIN. Just provide the garage PIN and any additional information in your profile's Special Instructions.
DO YOU PICK UP AND DELIVER TO APARTMENTS?
Not at this time.
CAN I GET MY ORDER PICKED UP AND DELIVERED BACK THE SAME DAY?
For urgent needs, please stop by or call one of our stores. Pickup requests made by 8am M-F can be scheduled for the same day, but deliveries aren’t made until a few days later. It takes time to do things right.
For a small additional charge, our stores can provide same day cleaning and pressing, but orders must be dropped off early in the morning in order to be ready for you that afternoon. Please contact your local store to for their particular service schedule.
For a small additional charge, our stores can provide same day cleaning and pressing, but orders must be dropped off early in the morning in order to be ready for you that afternoon. Please contact your local store to for their particular service schedule.
HOW DO I UPDATE MY CREDIT CARD?
You can update your credit card information online by logging into your account, over the phone (see store list for your store's phone number), or in person at one of our stores.
Salvin Swanson inspecting a pair of pants on a state of the art conveyor in 1960.
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State of the art conveyor 2020
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WHY IS SWANSONS BETTER THAN OTHER CLEANERS?
Swansons has more experience, more knowledge, better equipment, and we use the most effective detergents and additives. We spend more time inspecting your garments before, during, and after cleaning than other cleaners. Our dry cleaning machines are state of the art and use environmentally friendly chemicals (Kruessler System K4) that are more effective than the traditional chemicals used by nearly all other cleaners. In fact, many cleaners if not most don’t even use detergents in their drycleaning because 1) they mistakenly think that it’s not needed and 2) they are trying to cut corners to save a buck. Well, they are flat out wrong about the necessity of detergents. Detergents help lift stains, and carry them off without re-depositing them. If you go to another cleaner and you’re wondering why your clothes are not as bright as they used to be or why the inside of the waistband is kind of gray, it’s most likely because your cleaner is not using dry clean detergents. The gray is really dirt and fatty acids from other people’s clothes and we think that’s just completely gross.
Have you ever wondered how we can clean your clothes and get your clothes back to you and not someone else? Well, several years ago we invested in a massive undertaking in which we applied unique bar codes to every garment we touch. These bar codes help us track each item through our process. One of the last things a dry cleaner does is “assemble” orders - a process where the dry cleaner marries each garment with the original invoice. Traditionally, dry cleaners would attach a paper tag with a number on it to each garment and a matching paper tag to the invoice. When I started, we were using safety pins to fasten this paper tag to each garment, then we moved to the plastic fasteners you see in department stores. Then, as each item would be finished, the cleaner would hang the item under the invoice on an “assembly hook”. With this manual system mistakes would happen and pieces would get handed out to the wrong customers. With our system, we scan the bar code on each garment and our extremely sophisticated conveyor automatically assembles each order. It is awesome! This same machine automatically bags each order and adds the customer’s invoice to the bag. Human error is virtually eliminated and the clothes are touched fewer times after cleaning. All this means is that accuracy is dramatically improved and your clothes look even better.
Have you ever wondered how we can clean your clothes and get your clothes back to you and not someone else? Well, several years ago we invested in a massive undertaking in which we applied unique bar codes to every garment we touch. These bar codes help us track each item through our process. One of the last things a dry cleaner does is “assemble” orders - a process where the dry cleaner marries each garment with the original invoice. Traditionally, dry cleaners would attach a paper tag with a number on it to each garment and a matching paper tag to the invoice. When I started, we were using safety pins to fasten this paper tag to each garment, then we moved to the plastic fasteners you see in department stores. Then, as each item would be finished, the cleaner would hang the item under the invoice on an “assembly hook”. With this manual system mistakes would happen and pieces would get handed out to the wrong customers. With our system, we scan the bar code on each garment and our extremely sophisticated conveyor automatically assembles each order. It is awesome! This same machine automatically bags each order and adds the customer’s invoice to the bag. Human error is virtually eliminated and the clothes are touched fewer times after cleaning. All this means is that accuracy is dramatically improved and your clothes look even better.
WHEN DID SWANSONS START?
My grandfather, Salvin Swanson worked at his uncle's dry cleaners when he first started out on his own. He then bought another cleaner and ran that until he worked as a pipe fitter building boats during WWII. Salvin's brother was managing the Sacramento JC Penny's and suggested that Salvin might like to move to Sacramento when he was done building ships. In 1944, Salvin loaded up his family and moved to Sacramento. After borrowing a a little money from his siblings, Salvin started Swansons Cleaners and the rest is history.
1/4"x3/4" bar code label in a waistband.
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PERMANENT BAR CODES
Our state of the art cleaning system uses very small (approximately 1/4” x 3/4”), but permanent barcodes to track every item from start to finish. We do our very best to place them as inconspicuously as possible while maintaining consistent locations based on item type. Typical locations include, but are not limited to: garment label at the neckline, waistband, and shirt tail. Barcode labels are necessary in our operation to ensure that your clothes are returned to you - on time and ready to wear.
I DON'T WANT MY LAUNDRY SHIRTS STARCHED
Your starch preference can be set when you login. You can always change your mind. We offer no starch, light starch, medium starch, or heavy starch. The starch we use is a cooked starch and is far superior to the liquid or instant starches that most dry cleaners use. Other cleaners' starch can be permanent and builds up over time. Ours is a blend of corn and other starches and is cooked on site for each wash. It rinses out easily and breathes much better than liquid starch.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU SHOULD CREASE MY PANTS?
Under normal circumstances, we look to see if the pants were creased before and if so, crease them again. Sometimes it's not that obvious after cleaning. Please let us know if you prefer not to have an item creased by giving us a call or, leaving a note in your bag.
DO YOU CHARGE MORE FOR WOMEN'S CLOTHES THAN FOR MEN'S?
We charge the same for men's and women's garments. If a men's pair of pants and a women's pair of pants are made of the same material, we will charge the same price.
But it's not just material that can affect the price. Construction can also affect the price - especially when it comes to laundered shirts. Compared to dry cleaning, we charge much less for a typical laundered shirt because we can produce them more efficiently. However, if that same shirt has a tapered fit and has darts, it takes more time and more hand finishing to clean and press the shirt which means we have to charge a bit more.
But it's not just material that can affect the price. Construction can also affect the price - especially when it comes to laundered shirts. Compared to dry cleaning, we charge much less for a typical laundered shirt because we can produce them more efficiently. However, if that same shirt has a tapered fit and has darts, it takes more time and more hand finishing to clean and press the shirt which means we have to charge a bit more.
Why do you charge so much less for some shirts?
There is a category of shirts called "laundry shirts" or "dress shirts". They are nearly all cotton, button all the way down, have no pleats, and have no special buttons and no ornamentation. They also must be able to withstand hot water and hot iron temperatures.
Like the laundry you may do at home, these shirts are cleaned in hot water with detergent and are often starched to some degree. However, unlike your laundry at home, these shirts are not put through a dry cycle. That's because they need to be slightly damp in order to press them on machines that are made specifically for damp cotton dress shirts. These machines use heat and pressure to basically cook the shirts until they are dry. This process gives the shirts a great looking finish, but would most likely destroy any other type of garment.
It must also be noted that the specialized equipment we use to press these shirts allows us to produce more shirts in less time.
Because there is a significantly lower cost to cleaning and pressing these shirts versus other items we care for, we are able to pass these savings on to you and charge you less for laundry/dress shirts.
Like the laundry you may do at home, these shirts are cleaned in hot water with detergent and are often starched to some degree. However, unlike your laundry at home, these shirts are not put through a dry cycle. That's because they need to be slightly damp in order to press them on machines that are made specifically for damp cotton dress shirts. These machines use heat and pressure to basically cook the shirts until they are dry. This process gives the shirts a great looking finish, but would most likely destroy any other type of garment.
It must also be noted that the specialized equipment we use to press these shirts allows us to produce more shirts in less time.
Because there is a significantly lower cost to cleaning and pressing these shirts versus other items we care for, we are able to pass these savings on to you and charge you less for laundry/dress shirts.
COVID-19 RESPONSE
In mid March 2020, not knowing exactly what COVID-19 was, but worried none the less, we shortened our store hours so that we didn't overlap employees and we asked customers to allow all other customers to exit before entering. By March 19th, 2020 we shut all our stores and only provided pickup and delivery to maintain the greatest possible social distancing while still providing a service. Despite being closed, the public support and understanding has been amazing.
All of our employees are following the COVID-19 guidelines put out by the CDC and our local counties. Mainly, we're wearing face masks, washing our hands often, and limiting the number of people in our stores at one time. We have also installed sneeze guards at our counters.
All of our employees are following the COVID-19 guidelines put out by the CDC and our local counties. Mainly, we're wearing face masks, washing our hands often, and limiting the number of people in our stores at one time. We have also installed sneeze guards at our counters.
