Terms, Policies & Disclaimers

1. Agreement to these terms

These Terms of Service, Policies and Disclaimers (the "Terms") are a binding agreement between you (the "Client") and The Little Lemonette Laundry Services ("The Little Lemonette," "we," "us," or "our"), a laundry pickup, delivery, wash-dry-fold, dry cleaning concierge and in-home wardrobe care provider based in Oak Park, Illinois.

By booking a reservation, checking the acknowledgement box at booking, handing over garments or items, allowing us into your home, prepaying a confirmed total, or otherwise using our services, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms on behalf of yourself and anyone whose items you tender to us.

You represent that you are at least 18 years old and are the owner of the items you tender, or that you have the owner's full authority to tender them and to accept these Terms on the owner's behalf.

2. Services, scheduling and access

Service windows are estimates, not guarantees. Traffic, weather, equipment availability, illness, staffing and other conditions outside our control may delay pickup, processing or delivery. Time is not of the essence in this agreement.

You are responsible for making items available at the agreed time and place and for providing accurate access information (addresses, unit numbers, gate and door codes, parking instructions, building rules, pets restrained). If we cannot access items or complete a delivery, our missed-pickup fee may apply.

Unattended pickups and deliveries are made at your sole risk. If you instruct us to leave items at a door, porch, lobby, front desk, mailroom, garage or with a third party, our responsibility ends when the items are placed there, and we are not liable for theft, loss, weather damage, pests or tampering thereafter.

For in-home wardrobe care, you are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment. We may decline or stop service at any location that we reasonably believe is unsafe, unsanitary, hostile, pest-infested, or that involves biohazards, mold, smoke damage, or aggressive animals.

3. Reservations and prepayment

Submitting a reservation request is free. A reservation request does not confirm or secure your pickup window.

We review every request — your laundry services, Petite and Full bag quantities, Lemonette Bag ownership and any bags needed, add-ons and laundry preferences, pickup and return address, delivery fees, and your requested pickup date and time.

After review, we'll send your confirmed order summary and a secure payment link. The full confirmed balance must be paid before pickup. Your pickup is not officially scheduled or secured until payment has been received, and unpaid reservation requests may be released or canceled.

Approved refunds are returned to the original payment method. Processing times may vary depending on your bank or card provider.

4. Pricing and bags

Pickup and return delivery are complimentary in Oak Park and River Forest. A flat $15 pickup and return delivery fee applies to orders outside Oak Park and River Forest within our extended service area, and additional distance fees may apply depending on location.

Laundry is priced by bag and is not weighed. Wash, Dry & Fold is $35 per Petite Lemonette Bag and $65 per Full Lemonette Bag. Wash & Fluff is $30 per Petite Lemonette Bag and $60 per Full Lemonette Bag. Additional bags are billed at the same flat rate. Anything that fits comfortably inside the selected bag and allows the bag to close completely is included; clothing may not extend above the bag and the closure may not be strained. Laundry placed outside the bag is counted as an additional bag, and overfilled bags may be upgraded to the larger bag price or charged as an additional bag with customer authorization. Comforters, oversized bedding, rugs, pet bedding and specialty items are priced separately. Next-Day Priority Service is $10 per order, subject to availability, and is complimentary for My Soft Life members.

Lemonette Bag requirement: all laundry must travel in an official Lemonette Bag after your first completed service. First-time customers may use a clean, securely closed 13-gallon household bag for their first pickup only; your Lemonette Attendant brings your Lemonette Bag at that pickup.

Complimentary first bag: every customer receives one complimentary Lemonette Bag with their first completed service, automatically matching the highest-priced bag reserved (a Full Lemonette Bag if any Full Bag is reserved, otherwise a Petite Lemonette Bag).

Bag ownership and additional bags: reusable bags you already own are never charged again, and your reservation total only includes the bags you still need. Additional reusable Lemonette Bags are a one-time purchase of $10 per Petite Bag and $15 per Full Bag. Bags remain your property and may be reused for future orders; replacements for lost or damaged bags are charged at the same rates.

Dry cleaning concierge fees cover pickup and delivery only; the dry cleaner's own charges are paid separately and are set by that third party.

Declined, charged-back, reversed or unpaid amounts may accrue interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by Illinois law, plus reasonable collection and attorney's fees where permitted by law. We may withhold delivery of items until amounts owed are paid.

Chargebacks filed without first contacting us to resolve a concern are a breach of these Terms.

5. Missed pickups

Your confirmed reservation reserves dedicated time and travel for your order. Please have your laundry ready during your scheduled pickup window or leave it in the approved contact-free location listed in your reservation.

A missed pickup occurs only when the reservation was confirmed and prepaid, your Lemonette Attendant arrived during the confirmed pickup window, the laundry was not available, you could not be reached, and no approved contact-free pickup instructions were followed.

When a missed pickup occurs, the following fee is retained from your prepaid amount: $35 for reservations totaling $70 or less, or 50% of the confirmed reservation total for reservations over $70, up to a maximum missed-pickup fee of $75. Any remaining balance is refunded to your original payment method.

No missed-pickup fee applies when you properly followed the approved contact-free pickup instructions on your reservation.

6. Changes to your bag quantity

Your reservation reserves time and laundry capacity for the number of bags selected. You may reduce your bag quantity without penalty until 12 hours before your confirmed pickup window.

If fewer bags are available at pickup than were included in your prepaid reservation, we update the order to reflect the number and size of bags actually received and refund the unused laundry-service charges to your original payment method. Reusable Lemonette Bags that were not delivered are never charged.

If the reduction was not reported at least 12 hours before pickup, one $15 late order-change fee applies — one fee per reservation, not one fee per removed bag. Your account will clearly show the updated service amount, the late-change fee and the refund total.

7. Order adjustments at pickup

If the laundry available at pickup exceeds your prepaid reservation — additional bags, a larger bag size, additional services, additional reusable Lemonette Bags, priority service, fragrance mist or other upgrades — we update your reservation total and send you the revised amount for approval and payment.

Service on the additional laundry does not begin until the additional balance has been paid. If you decline the revised amount, we accept only the laundry covered by your original prepaid reservation. We never automatically charge a stored card for unapproved additions.

8. Cancellations and rescheduling

You may cancel or reschedule without penalty until 12 hours before your confirmed pickup window.

For cancellations or reschedules requested within 12 hours of pickup but before your Lemonette Attendant begins traveling, one $15 late cancellation or rescheduling fee applies and the remaining prepaid balance is refunded to your original payment method.

Once your Lemonette Attendant is already traveling to your location or has arrived, the missed-pickup policy may apply if the pickup cannot be completed. Genuine emergencies may be reviewed at The Little Lemonette's discretion.

9. Laundry safety & acceptance policy

For the safety of our staff, customers, equipment, and other garments, The Little Lemonette does not accept laundry that is excessively soiled, wet with bodily fluids, contaminated with blood, urine, feces, vomit, mold, hazardous chemicals, smoke damage, strong pet waste, or other biohazards.

We also do not accept items with known or suspected bedbugs, fleas, lice, roaches, moths, or any other pest infestation. Items containing sharp objects, needles, medications, illegal substances, or hazardous materials are prohibited.

Any order found to contain prohibited or unsafe items may be refused or returned unprocessed. Pickup, missed-pickup, or handling fees may still apply, and cleaning charges may be nonrefundable if processing has already begun.

10. In-home wardrobe care policy

In-home wardrobe care is billed at $30 per hour. Appointments are a minimum of two hours ($60) and a maximum of three hours ($90), and the full appointment total must be prepaid before we arrive. Your appointment is secured once payment is received; reservations that remain unpaid will not be confirmed. Time begins when our attendant arrives and ends when the agreed work stops, including tidying our own work area.

Services may include folding, ironing, steaming, putting clothing away, and organizing dressers and closets. We do not provide general house cleaning, deep cleaning, moving of heavy furniture, climbing above a two-step stool, pest remediation, hoarding cleanup, or childcare or pet care of any kind.

An adult 18 or older must be present in the home for the entire appointment. You are responsible for providing a safe, sanitary and non-hostile environment, working utilities, adequate lighting, and restrained pets. We may pause or end an appointment at any time for safety, harassment, intoxication, biohazards, mold, smoke damage or pest activity, and the two-hour minimum will still be charged.

Please secure cash, jewelry, medication, firearms, documents and other valuables before we arrive. We are not responsible for items we did not handle, for pre-existing damage, or for damage to fragile closet fixtures, shelving, rods, hangers, drawers or garments that fail during ordinary handling, ironing or steaming. Ironing and steaming are performed according to care labels; items without labels are handled at the owner's risk.

We do not move, discard, donate or dispose of any belongings unless you give us written instruction to do so, and any such instruction is carried out at your sole risk.

Cancellations or reschedules require at least 12 hours' notice. Later cancellations, lockouts, or appointments cut short by the client forfeit the prepaid two-hour minimum; any prepaid third hour is refunded. Parking or tolls outside our standard service area may be added to your total.

11. Dry cleaning concierge policy

The dry cleaning concierge is a transportation and coordination service only. Our $40 fee covers pickup from you, delivery to our trusted third-party cleaner, and return delivery to your door, and it must be prepaid in full before we arrive to collect your garments — we do not dispatch a pickup until the $40 is paid. The cleaner's own charges are set by that cleaner and are billed to you separately and in addition to our fee.

We do not clean, press, spot-treat or alter dry-clean items ourselves. The cleaning is performed by an independent business that is not our employee, agent or partner. Cleaning results, turnaround time, garment damage, color change, shrinkage, lost items, and any claim arising from the cleaning itself are the responsibility of that cleaner, and you agree to pursue such claims directly with them. We will help you present a claim, but we are not liable for the cleaner's work.

Turnaround depends entirely on the cleaner and is never guaranteed. Specialty items — wedding gowns, leather, suede, fur, household items, rugs, restoration and heirloom pieces — may take significantly longer and may be declined by the cleaner.

Please point out stains, damage, missing buttons and special-care needs at pickup. Items are counted by piece at drop-off with the cleaner; the cleaner's ticket is the controlling record of what was received. Our liability while items are in our vehicle is limited exactly as described in the garment care and limitation-of-liability sections below.

Cleaner charges must be paid before or at return delivery. We may hold garments until the cleaner's balance and our concierge fee are paid. Unclaimed garments follow the cleaner's abandonment policy and our 30-day policy, whichever comes first.

Additional travel fees may apply outside our standard service area.

12. Garment care disclaimer — assumption of risk

ALL ITEMS ARE ACCEPTED, CLEANED, DRIED, FOLDED, TRANSPORTED AND HANDLED AT THE OWNER'S SOLE RISK.

We cannot inspect every item, and we launder on standard commercial and residential equipment using standard commercial detergents and cycles. We are not responsible for damage that results from the ordinary laundering process or from characteristics of the items themselves, including but not limited to: shrinkage; stretching; color loss, bleeding, transfer or fading; pilling; puckering; texture change; loss of sizing, coating, waterproofing or finish; damage to sequins, beads, embellishments, embroidery, appliqué, glue, leather, suede, fur, silk, wool, cashmere, rayon, linen, vintage or delicate fabrics; broken buttons, zippers, hooks, clasps, underwires, straps or hardware; latent or pre-existing damage, wear, weakened fibers, prior stains or prior repairs; damage caused by items left in pockets; and damage to non-colorfast or mislabeled items.

You are responsible for emptying pockets and removing items that should not be laundered. We are not responsible for cash, jewelry, keys, cards, electronics, AirTags, hearing aids, medication, documents, pens, cosmetics, lip balm, crayons, batteries, vapes, lighters or other objects left in or with items, nor for any damage those objects cause to your items, other clients' items, or our equipment. You agree to reimburse us for equipment damage caused by such items.

We do not guarantee stain, odor, ink, grease, dye, blood, mildew or pet-hair removal. Some stains are permanent, and repeat treatment may be declined at our discretion.

We may decline, return unwashed, or dispose of items we reasonably believe present a health, safety, contamination or legal risk, including items contaminated with bodily fluids, feces, vomit, blood, chemicals, mold, bed bugs, lice, fleas, rodents or other pests. If pests or contamination are discovered, you are responsible for any resulting cleaning, fumigation or replacement costs we incur.

Care labels govern. If you require special handling — cold water, air dry, specific detergent, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, separate loads, no fabric softener, no bleach — you must tell us in writing at booking. Absent written instructions, standard processing applies.

13. Counts, missing items and claims

Items are counted by bag, not by piece, unless you provide a written itemized list at pickup and we confirm it in writing.

You must inspect your order upon delivery. Any claim for damage, loss, shortage or dissatisfaction must be reported to us in writing within 48 hours of delivery, with photographs and, where relevant, the original item and proof of value. Claims made after 48 hours are waived.

Where we are found responsible for loss of or damage to an item, our maximum liability is, at our option, repair, replacement at depreciated value, or a refund of the cleaning charges for that order — and in no event more than ten (10) times the cleaning charge for the affected item or $150 per item, whichever is less, with a total cap per order equal to the amount you paid for that order.

Do not tender heirloom, designer, couture, bridal, ceremonial, irreplaceable or high-value items (items with a value over $150) without a separate written agreement signed by us. Absent that agreement, such items are tendered entirely at your own risk and are subject to the limits above.

Items not claimed or not able to be delivered within 30 days may be donated or disposed of without further notice or liability, after reasonable attempts to reach you.

14. Service satisfaction & refund policy

Because each order is completed according to the service, package and preferences you selected at booking, payments for completed services are final and nonrefundable.

If you believe your order was not completed according to your documented selections, contact The Little Lemonette in writing within 24 hours of delivery. After reviewing the concern, we may offer one complimentary rewash or service correction for the affected items, at our discretion.

To qualify, the affected items must remain unworn, unused and unaltered after delivery, and must be made available for pickup within our next available service window. Complimentary corrections do not include refunds, credits, cash value, service upgrades, additional items, replacement clothing or an entirely new order.

A complimentary correction will not be provided where the service was completed as selected and the concern is based solely on personal preference or on the condition of the items themselves, including: scent strength or detergent preference; folding style or presentation; preexisting stains, odors, damage, discoloration, shrinkage, pilling or fabric wear; results caused by care-label instructions or fabric limitations; and results involving customer-provided products, omitted information or incorrect customer instructions.

Claims involving an item that may have been lost or damaged while in our care are handled separately under the counts, missing items and claims section above, and are subject to the limits of liability in these Terms.

Requesting a chargeback or payment reversal for a completed service, rather than following the process in this section, is a breach of these Terms and does not affect your obligation to pay for services performed.

Nothing in this section limits any right you may have under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act or the Chicago Municipal Code that cannot be waived by agreement.

By completing a reservation, you acknowledge and agree to this policy.

15. No warranties

SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY ILLINOIS LAW, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We are not a sanitization, disinfection, allergen-removal or medical-grade laundering service, and we make no representation that laundering eliminates viruses, bacteria, allergens, pathogens or odors.

16. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST TIME, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, SENTIMENTAL VALUE, OR LOSS OF USE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OUR SERVICES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR OUR SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US FOR THE SPECIFIC ORDER GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under Illinois law, including liability for willful and wanton conduct or fraud. If any limitation is held unenforceable, it shall be reduced to the maximum limitation permitted by law rather than voided.

17. Force majeure

We are not liable for any delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, flooding, snow emergencies, fire, power or water outages, equipment or laundromat closure, supply shortages, labor disruption, illness, traffic, road closures, civil unrest, acts of government, public-health orders, pandemics, theft, or acts of third parties.

18. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless The Little Lemonette Laundry Services, its owner Melody, and its employees, contractors and agents from and against any claims, demands, damages, losses, fines, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or related to: your breach of these Terms; items you tender that are contaminated, hazardous, illegal, infested or misrepresented; inaccurate access or handling instructions; injury or damage occurring at your premises that is not caused by our willful and wanton conduct; and any claim brought by a third party whose items you tendered to us.

19. Photos, reviews and user content

Reviews and photos you submit to our Love Notes page must be your own, truthful, and free of other people's private information. By submitting content you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to display, reproduce and share that content in connection with our business, including on social media, and you waive any claim to compensation.

We may remove, edit or delete any submission at any time and for any reason, including content we consider disrespectful, harassing, defamatory, discriminatory, obscene, fraudulent, or that contains personal information of others.

We may photograph completed work for portfolio and marketing use. Photos will not intentionally include identifiable faces, addresses or personal documents; tell us in writing if you prefer no photos of your order.

20. Privacy and communications

We collect only the information needed to schedule, perform and bill for service — name, contact details, address, access notes and order history — and we do not sell your personal information.

Payment card data is processed by third-party payment processors; we do not store full card numbers. We are not responsible for the acts, omissions, security or policies of third-party processors, dry cleaners, laundromats or delivery partners.

By providing your phone number or email you consent to receive service-related calls, texts and emails about your bookings. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out of texts or use the unsubscribe link in emails.

Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA): we do not collect, capture, store, use or disclose biometric identifiers or biometric information of any kind.

21. Website disclaimer

Content on www.TheLittleLemonette.com — including pricing, service areas, imagery, maps and timelines — is provided for general information only, may contain errors, and may change without notice. Illustrated service-area maps are approximate and are not a guarantee of coverage. Nothing on this site is legal, medical or professional advice.

We are not responsible for the content, availability or practices of third-party websites, social platforms or services linked from our site.

22. Governing law, venue and dispute resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. You agree that the exclusive venue for any dispute is the state courts located in Cook County, Illinois, or, where applicable, the small claims division thereof, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.

Before filing any claim, you agree to first contact us in writing and allow 30 days to resolve the matter in good faith.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim must be brought within one (1) year after the event giving rise to it, and must be brought individually — you waive any right to bring or participate in a class, collective or representative action.

These Terms do not waive any rights you have under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act or other rights that cannot be waived by agreement.

23. Independent contractor status and non-solicitation

We provide services as an independent business. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership or joint-venture relationship, and we are not your household employee.

You agree not to solicit or directly hire our team members for laundry or household services outside of The Little Lemonette for 12 months following your last service.

24. Changes, severability and entire agreement

We may update these Terms at any time. The version posted at www.TheLittleLemonette.com/terms at the time of your booking governs that booking. Continued use of our services after an update means you accept the updated Terms.

If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force, and the invalid provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.

These Terms, together with your booking confirmation, are the entire agreement between us and supersede any prior discussions, texts or messages.

25. Lemonette Angel Rewards program terms

Lemonette Angel Points are earned on completed eligible purchases only, at a rate of 100 points for every $10 spent.

Points have no cash value, cannot be transferred and cannot be redeemed for cash.

Rewards are subject to availability. Holiday promotions, birthday gifts and reward offerings may change from time to time.

Points are not earned on taxes, gratuities, deposits, gift cards, canceled orders or refunded transactions.

The Little Lemonette reserves the right to update or modify the Lemonette Angel Rewards program at any time.

26. Contact

The Little Lemonette Laundry Services · Oak Park, Illinois · www.TheLittleLemonette.com · Instagram and TikTok @TheLittleLemonette. Please send all notices, questions and claims through the contact details on our website.