Crown Cleaners & Formal Wear turns 30

For 30 years, Kanak Raj, owner of Crown Cleaners, has been making sure that brides’ dresses are sparkling and that the groom looks dashing in his formal wear. He has seen every high school class since 1977 through their first prom, helping boys transform into young men as they don starched white shirts, cummerbunds and tuxedos, while mothers and fathers look on with pride and perhaps a tear as well.
Raj, an outgoing and personable man with an elegant demeanor, knows most of his customers by name. Usually, those dropping off the cleaning or laundry take time for a friendly conversation about work, families, vacations and, yes, the laundry. “I enjoy meeting people,” said Raj, “and in this business, I have the privilege of interaction with my customers.”
Originally headed for a career in electronics, Raj obtained an MBA and went to work for Hewlett-Packard. After a couple of years, he realized that the corporate world was not for him. With some research, he decided upon the cleaning and laundry business, taking over a shop in Santa Rosa and eventually expanding to five operations, including Sonoma. Over the years, he has downsized until he retains only the Sonoma shop.
A believer in education, Raj went to school for training and received Certification from the International Fabricators and the California Fabricators. “Customers may not know that these certifications are important,” said Raj, “but it means a lot in terms of how their clothes are treated and how long they will last.”
Raj pays careful attention to the chemistry of the cleaning products and has an in-depth understanding of textiles and how they react to various substances. He makes it a point to explain to his customers what is possible, and never to compromise on products or quality. All the work is done on the premises, so control and quality can be monitored at every step of the process. “From laundry procedures to restoring antique clothing, we are equipped to do all of it right in the plant whereas other facilities cannot.” Jobs run the gamut from hotel and winery linens and tablecloths, to household duvets and comforters, to men’s shirts, women’s fine gowns, and wine country casual linen and natural fabric clothing.
Dispelling some myths—like using soda on a stain and others, Raj offers some tips for customers:
Leave stains to professionals and resist the urge to do something to them immediately. “If you get a spot, your immediate thought is to rub it. That’s the worst thing to do, because you are rubbing the spot in and making it harder to get out.”
If you get a stain, do not use water on it. “Water affects the sizing that is on the fabric, and creates another spot that is difficult to conceal. It may mean having to completely wash the garment.”
Do not put on cologne or perfume after you are dressed, the alcohol pulls the color out of the garment.
Don’t attempt to wash clothing with a lining, it can shrink up, and the same is true for any padding.
Be very careful of garments with special buttons. Washing can damage them, as can poor cleaning processes. Many designers make limited supplies of buttons, so replacements are hard to find.
When your clothes are soiled, do not ball them up, fold them gently and they will have a better result at the cleaners and a longer life.
The facility on Broadway is about to undergo a remodel to meet new requirements and give it a current look. But Raj will retain the traditional methods that have been proven over the years, and there is something very comforting about entering a shop that smells like fresh, clean laundry and whirring conveyor belts deliver your outfits to you ready to make you look your best.
Crown Cleaners & Formal Wear is open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 568 Broadway, 707.996.2626