kimberlysteele | Open Post and Toilet Challenge

In Japan and other Asian cultures, keeping the toilet clean is thought to bring good luck, specifically in the form of earned wealth and prosperity. There is even a toilet deity known as Ususama-myoo who presides over toilet safety. Ususama-myoo is far from alone in presiding over the privy: Ancient Romans had coins and a shrine to Venus Cloacina, who also blessed sexual unions.

For whatever reason, I always appointed myself as official toilet-cleaner of our house when I was a girl and though I wasn't forced, I cleaned all the bathrooms once a week or more despite not liking the job. Nowadays, I understand the value of that sort of etheric labor, and I have learned to tolerate the work a great deal more and detach myself from the gross-out factor. Having become an amateur gardener has helped because gardening steels you against freakouts over gross things -- plunging one's hand into mud and compost has that effect.

A surprising list of fabulously successful Japanese entrepreneurs and entertainers have kept their toilets clean despite being able to afford maidservice. Soichiro Honda, founder of Honda, believed in cleaning his own toilet until the bitter end. He started his company out of a wooden shack. When his shack days were long in the past, Honda commented that he could tell a good company by the state of their toilets, and that dirty toilets were a likely indicator of bad management. Director Takeshi Kitano is rumored to have sworn by cleaning his own toilet, and J-pop singer Kana Uemura had a hit song about appeasing the toilet goddess to honor her grandmother.

Ususama-myoo... yeah, he's not what I expected either!

The Clean Toilet Challenge

I am hosting an informal experiment: the Clean Toilet Challenge. I am looking for people to join me in keeping at least one toilet in their house sparkling clean from the Summer Solstice of June 2023 until the Winter Solstice of 2023. This means that said toilet will require daily cleanings, preferably with mild, all natural cleansers: I suggest 2 parts water to 1 part white vinegar in a spray bottle. in my case, I add a dash of Florida water and a few spritzes of my favorite Eau de Toilette (see what I did there?) but use what you see fit. Please make a note of the state of your bank account, debts, and general state of neediness on June 21st. There is no need to get specific or divulge the information -- all I am looking for is the general vibe of your personal finances. When December 21 arrives, make a comparative mental snapshot of your fiscal state. Is it any better? The same? Worse? I figure the only thing we've all got to lose is a sketchy and neglected toilet, so it's a win-win no matter what happens.

Lately I have been keeping my toilet very clean, both out of the desire to live the principles of the book I am writing, Sacred Homemaking, and out of sheer curiosity. Does keeping one's toilet clean actually result in business luck and earned wealth success? I haven't hit the big time since a couple of weeks ago, but I have seen a decent uptick in music lesson clients and donations for my creative works.