Must Make it Clean

Item #: SCP-XXX

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXX is to be kept in a steel container measuring 1m x 1m x 2m, with 2cm walls. This container is to be replaced every other day. To aid in this replacement, the container and each replacement must be built to the specifications outlined in Blueprint-XXX-01. Specifically, the container must have an intake/spigot, capable of forming an airtight seal with both the container it replaces and the container it will be replaced by.

Neighboring the containment room is to be an incinerator, to dispose of used containment vessels. Vessels are to be heated to 500 oC, then removed and buried in the on-site high security hazardous waste disposal site. Both the containment room and the incinerator must be kept independently airtight, with an airlock for entry by maintenance personnel. All machinery must be operated remotely, except when maintenance is necessary.

Before each maintenance session, the room in question (containment or incinerator) should be heated to 500 oC, then cooled to room temperature. Maintenance personnel must wear an airtight protective covering as an additional precaution. Maintenance personnel must be monitored for psychological abnormalities, and self-mutilative behavior in particular. Any personnel found to be exhibiting this behavior must be quarantined and replaced. If characteristic behavior (described below) is found to persist, affected persons are to be quarantined, treated via amputation if possible, and their remains are to be incinerated at 500 oC. Class D personnel are not to be used as maintenance personnel, due to the danger of containment breach through improper maintenance.

Experimentation upon SCP-XXX is to be limited to contained devices that can be placed inside a fresh containment vessel before use is initiated, and disposed with the used vessel upon incineration. Data retrieval must be limited to remote methods, such as radio transmission.

Knowledge of the location of SCP-XXX is considered classified, permission from Level 4 personnel required.

Description: SCP-XXX is a viscous, gray-brown liquid with interspersed solid material. It has a total volume of 1200 L. SCP-XXX's physical characteristics are unremarkable, and it is not unusually reactive or acidic.

Its anomalous effects manifest when a person is exposed to an object it has come into contact with. Upon direct, line-of-sight exposure to a contaminated object (SCP-XXX-1), the affected person will be overcome with an irresistible compulsion to clean SCP-XXX-1. Should SCP-XXX come into contact with a person, the affected portion of the person's body will become SCP-XXX-1, and the person will attempt to clean themselves unceasingly, as will any other persons exposed to SCP-XXX-1. Amputation is the only known treatment, and it is difficult due to the need for remote surgery.

Small quantities of SCP-XXX can be destroyed by heating the material to 500 oC, though this procedure is not reliable when large quantities of SCP-XXX are heated. This temperature also reliably destroys any amount of SCP-XXX-1, rendering it a normal, inert object.

In addition to the line-of-sight effect, a longer term effect has been observed. Individuals who have any knowledge of a specific instance of SCP-XXX-1 will slowly begin to exhibit a similar behavior to persons directly exposed to SCP-XXX-1. Note that SCP-XXX itself dos not produce this effect, nor do former instances of SCP-XXX-1 that have been destroyed. If the object in question is destroyed via incineration within 48 hours, the knowledge is considered safe, and no ill effects have been observed. After 4-6 days, affected persons will begin to find excuses to spend more time near the location of SCP-XXX-1, or remotely viewing SCP-XXX-1. After 8-10 days, affected persons will attempt to breach containment to “clean” SCP-XXX-1.

SCP-XXX was discovered in the basement of █████████████ Chemical Facility, where several of the janitorial staff were observed enthusiastically scrubbing a sealed metal container for a period of over ten hours. At this point, the contents of the container were unknown. One week after initial containment, Head Janitor ████████ pierced the container, stating he was “going to clean out the inside.” This resulted in the exposure and incineration of ██ individuals and the evacuation and temporary shutdown of Site ██.

The current containment procedures were established to avoid such incidents. However, still longer-term effects are possible, and as such continuing psychological monitoring of all persons with knowledge of the location of SCP-XXX or SCP-XXX-1 is essential.