POCATELLO — The Museum of Clean bid farewell to its founder Don Aslett on Friday afternoon during a celebration of life attended by family, friends, former employees and many others whose lives were impacted by the man known as the “Sultan of Shine.”
Many stopped next to the statue of Aslett within the museum to view a collection of old photos depicting the proverbial “Dean of Clean” during the many years of his life. In one corner was an old photo of him and the Boy Scout troop he led that included a young boy who would go on to become his son-in-law.
Other pictures showcased Aslett and his family on vacation in Hawaii, a place he would often visit. There were many family portraits taken through the years.
Among the flowers and other niceties at the event was Aslett’s iconic toilet briefcase, stuffed with flowers as an homage to the man who excelled at everything he did.
Aslett passed away on Aug. 21 in his apartment at the museum. He was 89.
“Don had been valiantly fighting multiple myeloma and Parkinson’s over the past several years and, most recently, a stroke,” his obituary stated.
Among those who came to the museum to pay tribute to Aslett on Friday were many former employees of his various businesses, including Varsity Contractors, a company he and business partner Arlo Luke started in 1957.
Over the next few decades, the company would continue to grow, eventually employing 2,500 people across 14 states by 1990.
Aslett would go on to author over 35 books on the topic of cleanliness, imparting words of wisdom on how to reduce clutter and use the proper tools to get the job done right the first time.
Aslett’s impact in Idaho was certainly felt by local residents through his entrepreneurship and small business guardianship that helped facilitate growth in the community and financial success for those he mentored.
But the Museum of Clean is probably how he’ll be most remembered.
Aslett’s one-of-a-kind museum will enshrine his legacy and offer a visual portal into not only the history of cleaning but into “Big Don” himself.
“Dad has left (the museum) to add value to the community,” said Laura Simons, Aslett’s oldest daughter.
The museum was always a work in progress for Aslett who housed his growing collection of historic cleaning equipment there.
Earlier this year Aslett invited the My World Discovery children’s museum to move into his massive museum building and his family said there’s still some space available.
While many may overlook a museum simply dedicated to the cause of cleaning and its history throughout the ages, the Museum of Clean is quite a wonder to behold and will be a forever reminder of Aslett’s life and pursuit of cleanliness.
Aslett was passionate about the museum and its collections of everything from vintage cleaning supplies to rare vacuums. All around the museum are artistic creations themed around cleaning and its history.
“Dad’s reason for the museum to continue was that it could go into perpetuity. That’s why it’s set up as it is,” said Carla Ray, one of Aslett’s daughters. “He has a long legacy of service and service to the community. I think he has a real love of Pocatello. That’s part of why he did the museum and did that here. He wanted something in Pocatello that would be a meeting place and a place to gather.”
It’s fitting that Aslett’s celebration of life was in the Museum of Clean, a place that would forever remind people of the man, the life he led, the good he did.
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