Cleaning on the inside and the outside.

Act 2/40 No scrubs: getting my clean on

“Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today’s act for 40acts (OK, I admit it, yesterday’s act — already a day behind) was all about the clean. In a Flash I had some ideas, so I Cif’d through them all and then Cilit Bang! I knew what I was gonna do (he puns, while hanging his head in shame).

I’m not ashamed to admit it that when it comes to cleaning I can be a bit of a #domestic warrior. I blame my first part-time jobs in shops and supermarkets for keeping cupboards stacked neatly at home, I’m lethal with a bottle of Mr Muscle and a microfibre cloth on the bathroom mirror each night, and I try and keep my desk pretty ordered when I leave at the end of the day.

But if all the cleaning I’m doing is for myself, is it really generous?

Let me put it another way. Polishing a shine into your Aston Martin each weekend while ignoring the needs of your family, neighbours, community, does not a generous man make.

Cleaning made me more generous today.

Cleaning made me late for work.

After parking at the station my walk to the train took three times as long, as I kept finding litter along the way and doubled back to the nearest bin. The more rubbish I picked up the more, smaller bits of old bottles, papers and tin lids I noticed.

Cleaning kicked my consciousness back into gear and inspired me to pay more attention to litter on the street.

And when the train arrived at Liverpool St Station I stayed on board and cleared up all the old papers and coffee cups. First my carriage (I deliberately got on the first carriage, knowing the clean team work from that end to the other), then the next, and so on (until the train porter almost locked me in).

Cleaning pushed me to action in a way I didn’t think it would.

Today’s act was another eye opener. Its easy for me to get my clean on at home, where its warm and safe and I and my closest circle feel the benefit. But taking the clean outside steps things up a notch.

You know what else? We’re a mucky bunch.

The more I picked up the rubbish, the more I got angry at my fellow commuters. Bins were only feet away but in our disposable culture it seems the floor is the bin for many. If I can change my attitude to other people’s litter and see it as my problem as well as theirs, maybe that’s what really counts.

So, another act done, and another attitude changed.

I’m cleaning up my act, inside and out.