Brush and broom – for many in and around Stuttgart the „Kehrwoche“ (sweeping week) is part of the brazen laws of an orderly life. The law of 1988 may not be valid anymore but cleanliness is necessary – and therefore each week it is the responsibility of the next tenant in an apartment building to keep stairs and courtyard clean. There was once even a ”Sweeping Week for Beginners” adult evening class in Calw. Meant to be an April Fool’s joke, there were in the end more than 100 registrations! Even companies resulted from it. A student in 1995 had an idea to improve his pocket money by asking people if he could do the unpopular sweeping week for them or any other related chores. Half a year later he already had 180 employees and once he had 300 employees, he stopped his studies and remained with it as his main occupation.

Where does this addiction for sweeping week stem from? It all began in 1492 when count Eberhard im Bart ordered the initiation of sweeping week in the city ordinance as follows: "In order for the town to be kept clean, everyone shall take out their own rubbish every week”. But read for yourself…Sweeping Week!