Janitorial Service Smells Funny

Not For Everyone

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If you have ever been in the Janitorial Service, I applaud you. For me, it was, by far, the most strenuous, fast-paced, repulsive job I've had. Coming from a career in Law Enforcement, I knew nothing about being a janitor. 

My year-and-a-half foray began after I retired from Law Enforcement. Needing something to occupy my time, I wasn't ready to quit working. Wanting a job close to home, I applied at the local school for a Janitorial position. After a short interview and a walk through the school, I began to work the following week.

What Training?

Training is lacking in this field. A guy showed me the ropes for a couple of hours, then disappeared. Luckily for me, I was introduced to Diane. She worked afternoons with me; she rescued me more than once, becoming one of my closest confidants and dearest friends.

Not having been to the school before starting, nothing was familiar. One of my many jobs throughout the afternoon was sweeping all hallways. 

Since I am a runner, I wear a Fitbit; on my first day of work, I totaled twenty-one miles. Not knowing the school's layout, I'm sure I swept the same hallway two to three times. The push broom I was using must have weighed twenty pounds. It was bigger than any broom I've used; I added oil to the bottom, giving the hallways an instant shine. Eleven o'clock couldn't come soon enough; exhausted, I drove home. 

Day Two

My second day began with no trainer in sight. Since I knew my duties, I started on my own. Keeping in contact with Diane by radio communication.

School Protocol

Teachers also used radio contact if one needed a clean-up in their room. I soon learned a radio call from the teaching staff typically mandated a mask, gloves, and powder thrown on the floor to clean up projectile vomit or feces. Or even nastier, a student suspected of having head lice. Just thinking about it makes my head itch.

Do Not Sit Down

It didn't take me long to discover there was no sitting down on the job. A swift rebuke from a Supervisor had me up on my feet in no time. In my defense, I wasn't sitting and doing nothing. I was cleaning a student chair. Nonetheless, it didn't happen again. 

Kitchen Garbage

Another one of my duties happened to be taking out the kitchen garbage. The bags weighed anywhere from forty to fifty pounds each. There must have been at least five to six bags a night. I pushed the cart, which was left for me by the kitchen door, to the back of the school. I located the dumpsters and immediately wondered how I would get the bags inside. Grabbing my first bag, I swung and missed. The garbage bag caught on something and proceeded to rip. After an hour's cleanup of discarded rotten food, I realized I was now behind schedule. Exhaustion doesn't even describe how I felt at the end of my second day.

Is This Job For me?

Within a month, I knew where to go and what to do. I'd have to say cleaning the High School girls, and boys’ restrooms were the absolute worst. Who knew high school kids were so messy? Within seconds of walking in, I’d know what was in store for me. 

The smell emanating from the boys, bathroom almost knocked me over. Afraid to open all the stall doors, I cleaned all sinks and exterior areas. Without further procrastination, I opened a stall door and saw what I smelled. Instantly I got a hold of Diane, asking her if she had a second, and told her my location. Upon her arrival, I showed her my problem. She immediately retrieved a plunger eliminating the issue. Thanking her profusely, I proceeded with my day. 

Too Many Duties

To say there was a short list of duties nightly is laughable. Gymnasiums, bleachers, hallways, and classrooms were a small part of my afternoon. If there had been a basketball game that night, it was up to Diane and me to clean up afterward. Popcorn, gum, candy wrappers, discarded candy, and an occasional quarter were left behind. 

Summertime Sweat

Summertime meant lifting heavy things like student desks, painting, adding a layer of tar to the blacktop, and laying sod. I'm not afraid of hard work, but if you've ever lifted sod, you know the heaviness of it. Being out in the sun didn't help, and there was some older staff. My first experience with tar and blacktop was, I hoped, my last. The buckets of tar weighed more than I did; lifting them required a Hercules strength. I ruined my shoes; once stuck, the tar does not come off. I had high hopes working inside would require less lifting. Once again, I was wrong. Emptying classrooms and struggling to lift heavy desks is mundane, tedious hard work. Maybe painting was my thing? I found out the wrong way; it wasn't. There is a specific procedure for painting a door. Who knew? Again, I'm a novice painter; to say I had no clue is an understatement. I've painted in my home, but painting at school is entirely different. 

Supervisor?

The Supervisor and I were constantly clashing. I felt she gave me the dirtiest jobs she could find. She thought I didn't do my job to her satisfaction. 

Coming from Law Enforcement, I expected professionalism. After being dressed down in front of a bunch of high school kids, my patience ended. It resulted in a face-to-face confrontation. I was no longer happy, so it was only a matter of time before I found another job. 

Help Me Lord

I remember being at work one night and asking God if this was where I was supposed to be. He answered my question when a teacher slipped and fell because I put too much oil on my broom. Thankfully he wasn't injured. I had no common sense for the job itself. Lasting a year and a half was surprising; I gave my two-week notice.

Even though I didn't excel being a janitor, I have to tell you I was in the best shape I've ever been in, in my life. So for that, I am thankful. Will I miss the job? No, not in a million years. 

I do miss Diane. 

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