Museum of Clear – Pocatello, Idaho
Hundreds of museums around the World are dedicated to people, places, things or epochs of history. This museum is dedicated to one value: the value of cleanliness. According to the Museum of Clean website, the concept of cleanliness dominates every aspect of human life, from our surroundings and environment to our mind and body.
The museum was founded by Don Aslett, who in 2006 discovered that his collection of cleaning supplies, including 250 pre-electric vacuums, had outgrown their mini-museum space next to his cleaning center, home of his cleaning company Varsity Contractors. Aslett, who has been in the cleaning industry since she was 18, has written books and lectured on various facets of cleanliness. For Aslett, the concept of cleanliness is about more than just dirt and clutter; it is a way of life and a state of mind. The museum’s Facebook page states:
“Clean will solve most of our personal problems, most of the world’s problems. Clean creates harmony, peace, security and security. Clean speaks with a clear voice that everything is in order and under control. “
Several exhibits are object-centered; Collections of tubs, brooms, washing machines, and military helmets – which, according to the museum’s website, are used by soldiers for various sanitary purposes – reveal the tools we have relied on over the centuries to keep us clean. Other exhibits are a little more conceptual; The Garage exhibit examines the harmful effects of clutter, while the Texas-sized trash can provides a visual representation of the waste problem. A replica of Noah’s Ark located at the entrance to the museum “highlights the importance of water in the cleaning profession,” according to the CleanLink website for the professional cleaning industry.
Many museum activities aim to combat what is arguably one of the greatest threats to cleanliness: children. Kids Clean World, a three-story cleanliness playground, encourages kids to get excited about everything from sweeping to recycling. In the old town exhibition, children can experience the art of cleaning through the eyes of a chimney sweep.
Since the museum opened in 2011, the cornerstone of the collection, Aslett’s vacuum collection, has grown to nearly 1,000 pieces spanning a century of cleanliness.
