Maggie Rants [and Raves]

What Died in the Trash Can?

by Maggie Franklin | December 19, 2014 | Bookmark +

So, here in California, the state board requires all the trash cans in the salon to have lids on them. In fact, the regulations specify “tight fitting lids.” This is one of those little things that the state doesn’t have to tell me. Open trash cans are easy to tip over and make a big mess, but mostly, they ooze stench.

As much as I like the smell of the products I work with, I prefer to get my fix from the gentle waft from my dappen dishes rather than marinate in a smell that permeates the entire salon.

So my trash cans all have lids. Good ones. You have to get your nose pretty close to the trash cans to smell what’s in them.

I also don’t tend to eat in the salon. At least generally speaking. So mostly, my trash cans contain table towels used for wiping brushes, cotton pads, and used forms. The big trash can next to the sink is usually filled with used paper towels from people drying their hands and empty Starbucks cups.

That’s the trash I generate.

So it’s not usually imperative to take the trash out before it’s actually full, which is usually about once a week.

YEEGADS!

So here I am, back at the salon after being away for a while. First, there was a long-awaited family trip to Disneyland. Then there was a less-awaited case of strep throat and some panicked rescheduling. So five full days with no one here.

I took the trash out the day before I left. That’s ONE day of trash accumulation. What the #*&!$?

Did people sneak stuff into my trash without me noticing? Maybe gremlins came in during the weekend and threw away their dirty socks. I don’t know. All I know is that I just opened the big trash can, threw away a paper towel, and the salon (which is small — 218 sq. ft.) now reeks like the Bog of Eternal Stench.

I don’t even want to look at see what’s in there. What has been festering for the last five days? Someone, at some point, must have thrown her leftover Chinese food or the last of her burrito in there. How do I miss this stuff?

Note to self: NEVER leave the trash over the weekend, especially over a long weekend. No matter how empty it is.

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