Our Story
Beacons Cleaners and Laundry has proudly served the Spokane area since 1945, when we opened our first drive-thru facility on Northwest Blvd. When Hi Bum Kim purchased the company he grew concerned about the petroleum-based chemicals used in dry cleaning. “Perc” as it is called in the industry, is a liquid solvent used standard in most dry-cleaning companies and is highly regulated due to its environmentally pollutant properties.
He [Mr. Hi Bum Kim] did a lot of research to go with a safer, more eco-friendly solution to his dry-cleaning needs. DF-2000 replaced Perc. This solvent is a synthetically produced hydrocarbon with lower vapor pressure and a higher flash point than petroleum solvent making it is less flammable. Not only did the company shift to different cleaning products but we also upgraded our dry-cleaning machines that are nearly odorless. We eliminated the steam broiler to save energy which then reduced the amount of solvents needed to effectively clean garments. These major changes also improved the indoor air quality, something Mr. Bum Kim was very proud of both for himself and his employees.
Beacon Cleaners earned a Clean Air Award in 2012 for our efforts in becoming the first and only dry cleaner in Spokane to be a Certified EnviroStars recipient. We strive to be environmentally friendly; all Beacon Cleaner locations offer reusable laundry bags and our Cleaning Facility is equipped with the most up-to-date, eco friendly machines. Mr. Hi Bum Kim paved the way for the outstanding services Beacon Cleaners offers today. Come see us at any one of our 6 locations!