Shelton family archive

Click a photo to tune into the story.

Turn the dial or choose a square from the wall to read a short family laundry story.

A family trade, carried forward.

  1. The Family Reaches San Diego

    Unit Cleaners pressing area in San Diego during the 1950s

    Unit Cleaners marked the family’s first presence in San Diego. The family built the facility and completed the equipment installation and operational setup themselves, bringing generations of practical knowledge into a new market.

A family trade, carried forward.

  1. 01 White Star Laundry Begins

    White Star Laundry Begins

    Shelton family and others beside a White Star Laundry delivery wagon in Oklahoma circa 1898

    In Oklahoma, Grandpa and Grandma Shelton joined Gertie, Elma, Mary, John Shelton, Sr., Mason Shelton, and others to open White Star Laundry. What began as a shared family undertaking established a trade in cleaning, finishing, dependable service, and customer care that the Shelton family would carry forward for four generations.

  2. 02 Unit Laundry Takes Root in Tucson

    Unit Laundry Takes Root in Tucson

    Unit Laundry building and route vehicles in Tucson during the 1930s

    By the 1930s, Unit Laundry had become the family’s next major chapter in Tucson. The building and route vehicles reflect a growing operation, while the daily work remained grounded in careful processing, reliable pickup and return, and goods finished for immediate use.

  3. 03 The Family Reaches San Diego

    The Family Reaches San Diego

    Unit Cleaners pressing area in San Diego during the 1950s

    Unit Cleaners marked the family’s first presence in San Diego. The family built the facility and completed the equipment installation and operational setup themselves, bringing generations of practical knowledge into a new market.

  4. 04 State Street Operations Grow

    State Street Operations Grow

    State Street garment assembly area in San Diego during the 1960s

    The State Street assembly area shows the organization required to return finished garments accurately and efficiently. As the operation grew, new generations carried the trade forward while adapting to changing equipment, greater volume, and rising customer expectations.

  5. 05 Imperial Cleaners Opens

    Imperial Cleaners Opens

    Imperial Cleaners storefront in Long Beach in 1981

    Imperial Cleaners opened in Long Beach as the family’s network continued to grow across Southern California. By this point, the Shelton name had become increasingly established in professional dry cleaning through neighborhood locations built around dependable care, convenience, and service.

  6. 06 Modern Plant Operations

    Modern Plant Operations

    Sterling Cleaners boiler room in Indianapolis in 2003

    The Sterling Cleaners facility illustrates the infrastructure behind a modern cleaning plant. Reliable equipment, heat, pressure, maintenance, and disciplined workflows supported the visible service customers experienced and the quality delivered with every completed order.

  7. 07 Shelton Cleaners Opens

    Shelton Cleaners Opens

    Shelton Cleaners exterior sign in San Diego

    Shelton Cleaners opened in San Diego as the retail home for the family’s next chapter. The operation connected decades of cleaning experience with modern garment care, responsive customer service, and the trust developed through direct relationships with the community.

  8. 08 Wholesale Department Launches

    Wholesale Department Launches

    Finished Shelton Cleaners garments prepared for return

    Shelton expanded into wholesale service to support commercial partners with greater volume and more specialized needs. This new department brought the family’s experience in cleaning and finishing into programs designed around dependable production, clear communication, and consistent service.

  9. 09 Shelton Linen & Uniform Services

    Shelton Linen & Uniform Services

    Shelton commercial ironer and finishing equipment

    Shelton Linen & Uniform Services carries four generations of family experience into a dedicated commercial operation. The company combines modern equipment, organized route service, practical innovation, and attentive customer support to serve businesses throughout the San Diego region.

Looking for Shelton Cleaners?

Our retail dry cleaning operation lives over at Shelton Cleaners, where the family’s San Diego storefront story continues.