Blog Post

World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

Dec 20, 2023
World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

Pocatello, Idaho, United States--The Museum of Clean in Pocatello, Idaho, United States, founded by Don Aslett, has a vacuum exhibit that houses over 1,000 vacuums that span a century of cleaning and  is the proud home of a giant janitor statue, Big Don; standing at 20 feet tall, Big Don provides a rare photo opportunity as well as big cleaning inspiration, while setting the world record for being the World's Largest Janitor Statue, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

"The Museum of Clean is the proud home of the world’s largest janitor, Big Don. Standing at 20 feet tall, Big Don provides a rare photo opportunity as well as big cleaning inspiration," says the official website.


"A very rare piece from the 1960’s, these giants are often referred to as Muffler Men. Big Don is one of just a few left in America to be standing inside of a building."

World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

"At CleanFreak.com, we’re all about the clean. We live and breathe all things clean, but we may have met our match. We would like to introduce you to Mr. Don Aslett, successful cleaning business owner, accomplished author of over 40 cleaning related books, motivational speaker, and founder of the Museum of Clean," the CleanFreak.com says.


"We are the home to a lot of very unique items, including the world's first vacuum cleaner, of which we have the only one, as we have the patent model and the vacuum itself was never manufactured or sold. It is called the Daniel Hess Carpet Sweeper from 1860. We are also home to the World's Largest Janitor, Big Don, he is 20 feet tall.


"The Museum of Clean is indeed not just a history of cleaning your house, but it embodies a "be clean" philosophy in which we sell the value of clean in every aspect of life, everything from clean arteries, clean teeth, clean environment, including clean air and clean water. Also, clean habits, clean conscience, clean language, etc. Anytime you add clean to anything you increase its value, Don does indeed think that all of the world's problems can be solved by an aspect of cleanliness, such as clean honor between people and clean politics etc."

World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

"Idaho is home to several art and history museums displaying impressive and educational artifacts and exhibits. And Pocatello is home to a very unique gallery – The Museum of Clean. Founded by Don Aslett in 2006, the museum notes on its website that it’s not a cleaning museum but a place highlighting the overall value of cleanliness for health and well-being," the BoiseDev says.

"Exhibits in the museum include a Garden of Clean which showcases plants that naturally help keep the air clean, a toilet collection, and an art gallery with artistic endeavors related to the theme of clean. 


"In addition, there is a vacuum exhibit that houses over 1,000 vacuums that span a century of cleaning – from 1869 to 1969. A few of those include the world’s first vacuum cleaner called the Daniel Hess Carpet Sweeper invented in 1860 and the world’s first motor-powered vacuum – a horse-drawn central vacuum that was invented in Great Britain in 1902."

World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

"I found a bit of background on Big Don in particular from American Giants (usagiants.com), a blog entirely about these roadside attractions, and their female counterparts “uniroyal gals”. Big Don originally started out as a cowboy and stood in front of the Hurricane Car Wash in Nampa, Idaho in the late 1990s," the ourhistory.blog says.


"At some point in the early 2000s, this larger-than-life janitor was transferred to Bridger, Montana, and then to a casino in 2003. In 2016 he was purchased by the Museum of Clean to be used as a janitor statue and has left behind the cowboy outfit for a redesigned look of a custodian.


"While this entire museum could make up a post of its own, and I highly encourage anyone who hasn’t been to check it out, this post will be highlighting one feature in particular: the muffler man that resides inside."

World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

"So the Museum of Clean is…exactly what it sounds like: it’s a museum dedicated to all things clean and cleaning related. Like, for example, the world’s largest privately owned collection of vacuum cleaners. It’s a labor of love from museum founder and, clearly, lover of clean things, Don Aslett," the Boxy Colonial On The Road says.

"Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for kids 3-11, or $20 for a family of 2 adults and 3 kids.

"Your museum admission includes a guided tour, and I highly recommend you take advantage of this rather than just wandering amidst the vacuums on your own, wondering what exactly you’re looking at. Museum director, Brad, gave us our tour, hitting just the highlights since we had so little time. The tour was full of interesting anecdotes, audience participation, and terrible jokes. We even won one of Don Aslett’s books! (I think everyone wins one)."

World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho

"There's a museum tucked away in a corner of the Northwest dedicated solely to the idea of “clean.” In fact, it's called the Museum of Clean, housed in an old brick warehouse in Pocatello, Idaho. It's a monument to one man's lifelong campaign to improve the world – one scrub brush at a time," the Northwest News Network says.


"The Museum of Clean at first appears to be an 8,000-square foot sunlit mausoleum of bygone advances in cleaning. Here lies the pump-action vacuum cleaner. On another wall: “Milestones in the History of Washing Machines and Dryers.”


"If you’ve never heard of Don Aslett, a huge display in the museum tells of his almost mythic path from humble roots to sanitary stardom. After placing an ad in the local paper in 1953, this southern Idaho farm boy rose to become the so-called “King of Clean,” operating a nationwide janitorial empire and authoring more than 30 books."

"The Museum of Clean is located in Pocatello, Idaho. For a small admission fee you can come see a very unique museum. This is a 75,000 square foot museum that has a ton to see and learn. Some hand on exhibits and some please don’t touch," the Road Trip Owl says.


"Worlds largest what? Janitor of course. Standing at a whopping 20 foot tall. Out of the 1960s Big Don is also referred to as a muffler man.


"Come see the world’s first vacuum cleaner. Which happens to be the only one in existence. There is a collection with hundreds of vacuums up for display."

Photos: World's Largest Janitor Statue, world record in Pocatello, Idaho. Pics: Facebook/Don Aslett Museum of Clean

Related world records:

Largest lasagna meal washed in dishwashers: Fairy brand sets world record (VIDEO)

Oldest Working Cleaning Lady: world record set by Sofia Chiţoran aka Grandma Sofia

World’s Largest Roll Of Toilet Paper: world record in Branson, Missouri

World's Largest Toilet: world record in Columbus, Indiana
Share by: