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Dry CleanerLost My Clothes

Free, plain-English help

Your dry cleaner lost or ruined your clothes. Now what?

You probably have more leverage than the “we're not responsible” sign suggests. Learn your rights, find out what your clothes are really worth, and get a fair payout — step by step.

Three things the dry cleaner won't tell you

Your rights are stronger than they say

Leaving clothes with a cleaner creates a “bailment.” In most states the cleaner has to prove they weren't careless — not the other way around.

How liability works →

The valuation math is hidden from you

Cleaners price your loss with an industry “Fair Claims Guide” you can't even see. We decode it so you know what fair really looks like.

See the hidden math →

Your state's rules, in one place

Small-claims limits and deadlines vary by state. We pull together the rules and link the official sources.

Find your state →

Built on primary sources, not opinions

We cite official government and court sources, explain how the law actually works, and tell you when to talk to a lawyer. We are not a law firm and this isn't legal advice.

How we research