‘Museum of Clean’ to help revitalize Warehouse

Pocatello native Bill Ryan is a retired United Press International editor and was formerly with Idaho State University as alumni director and journalism professor. He lives in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas, and can be reached at wryan1807@aol.com.

Pocatello-based cleaning capitalist Don Aslett is a man of action, a visionary whose dreams are seldom scrubbed, and more often polished to a high shine.

The arch-enemy of dirt and clutter already operates a “Museum of Clean” at his headquarters at Fifth and Bonneville. But his plans call for a vastly expanded museum within the six-story former Salt Lake Hardware building on South First , in Pocatello’s old Warehouse District.

“I’ve been in the business of clean for 53 years, have written 40 books, and am convinced that cleaning is important to the planet,” Aslett said from his world headquarters office.

“I once saw a museum in Detroit that displayed cars and I liked it. So I decided that there should be a museum about cleaning, and I should build it.”

Aslett is not shy when describing his achievements and his plans for the future.

“I just paid $300,000 for a private collection of non-electric vacuum cleaners. They will have a definite place in my new Museum of Clean,” he said.

Aslett also bought a smaller structure next to the six-story Salt Lake Hardware building and tore it down in an ecologically correct way, saving the bricks and recycling the steel girders and the lumber and glass.

Taking the razed building’s place is an attractive new facility, complete with an imposing clock tower.

“Our new building will have a roof garden which can be rented for parties, wedding receptions and all kinds of events,” he said. “About the clock, it will not chime at the top of the hour, but will produce the sound of a giant toilet flushing.” He was NOT kidding.

He said the flush-tolling of the hours will be turned off while there’s a party in the roof garden below.

The new Museum of Clean will occupy the first three floors of the old warehouse, which Aslett said comes to 40,000 square feet. “One of the interesting exhibits will be old washing machines and a display of washing powders of the past, like Oxydol, Duz, Rinso, White King, Fels Naptha and others,” he said.

Aslett estimates he’s spent $3 million so far in his effort to make his Museum of Clean and Pocatello a major destination for tourists.

“Once they’ve seen it, the word will spread, the museum will become a major attraction, and Pocatello will benefit,” he said.