I’m not particularly well known for being a neat and tidy person. Ask my parents, my college roommates, my co-workers, or anybody else who has had to spend a significant amount of time in the same space as me.

But my car has usually escaped the scrutiny of most of these people, because my car is pretty much my domain. Nobody else is ever forced to ride in it, and the people who do ride in it are getting a favor from me, so they don’t usually dare to complain.

But after a particularly scathing scolding from a favor recipient who DID dare to complain, I decided to put some of my smoldering anger from that encounter into washing my car earlier this month.

Taking advantage of what I knew would be one of the last days that would be warm enough to accomplish such a task comfortably for six months or so, I took my car to my parents’ house, washed the exterior, cleaned out the trash, vacuumed the interior and cleaned all the windows.

I felt pretty good about my accomplishment. That is, I felt good about it until I went to the Better Man Coalition’s car wash here in Suffolk to do a story on their program.

The organization takes in men who were recently released from prison or living on the streets. It gives them a place to live, along with food, clothing and other services, in exchange for their service at one of the organization’s “businesses” — a car wash, barbershop, handyman service and lawn service.

The men get job skills and references they can then use to find a job outside the program and get on their way to becoming better men.

As I talked with organizers Bob Battaglia and Darrin Holmes, I watched one particular man wash the floormats of a van. He took them out one at a time, scrubbed them with soap and water and carefully vacuumed all the dirty water out of the mats. He then set them out to dry, looking brand-new, in a sunny spot near the van.

I watched as other men detailed the interior of another car, making sure to clean every square inch that could possibly need cleaning.

When Battaglia and Holmes told me they suggest donations of only $10 to $15 for all this work, I knew I would never need to wash my own car again. The next time it gets dirty, I’ll simply take it to the Better Man car wash.

I’m sure it will come out looking brand-new, and I’ll be helping some men in need of help get back on their feet. The car wash is located at 244 Carolina Road. For more information, call 809-4500.

And for the record, I don’t intend to let it get as bad as it was before, if only because I want to avoid the barbs of a certain co-worker.