Every different job I get teaches me something different about life. That's probably true for all of us. My job as a custodian has taught me a lot- some things that are just plain funny, and other things that can really be helpful to me in the future.
1.) Some People Don't Know How To Flush
I mean, I basically already knew this. And I was actually surprised when I started my job to see that unflushed toilets appeared less times than expected. But it does happen. And I don't understand why. You just push the handle down people! (Sorry, I get salty when I think about it).
2.) Some People Also Don't Read Signs
There have been a few times when I had my large cleaning cart outside the bathroom accompanied by a sign that reads something like "do not enter." Yet, people entered. Not a huge deal, except for the fact that I had cleaning chemicals sprayed all over that you probably sat on and touched. I just have to disinfect your germs again.
3.) Mold And Shower Scum Are My Enemies
We're getting into the nitty gritty here people! Cleaning showers is my least favorite. They get dirty so quickly no matter HOW HARD I TRY AND SCRUB THEM TILL MY ARMS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF they never look as clean as I'd like. And if I do get them clean, they're immediately dirty again the next day.
4.) Ugh...Long Hair
There is hair everywhere. Down the drains. All over the floor. All over my broom. All over my mop. Disgusting, large gobs of it that I have to pull out of every nook and cranny. But I am now less squeamish when I see hair around, so I guess that's a benefit of the job.
5.) Germaphobia Has No Place In My Life
At least while I'm cleaning. I used to be very frightened about germs, but now I can handle a lot of gross sights and smells without batting an eye.
6.) Some Jobs Get Less Credit Than They Deserve
This is my least sarcastic point. In fact, there's no sarcasm in this. I had always respected custodians in my life, but now I understand everything they go through and deal with, so I respect them even more. Cleanliness is very important to me, and I'm so thankful for all the people in our society who choose to keep our places clean, even though people can be very messy sometimes. Now I try even harder to clean up messes that I make, because I know how hard it is to be a custodian without others adding extra work to the mix!
There are so many things I've learned from scrubbing toilets and showers. I've realized that people can be really messy, and some people choose not to clean up after their own messes, but I'm thankful for those who willingly go after that dirt and grime. You da real MVPs.
