Cleaning Out the Tank

Sometimes moisture can collect at the bottom of the solvent tank on a dry cleaning machine. Sometimes, said moisture will grow, unbeknownst to anyone, into a real living creature.

This is what happened at work. "Have we cleaned this out since you've been hired?" my boss, Allan asked.

"No," I said.

Well guess what came next? As Allan opened up everything, he allowed me to go press. I was supposed to help, but if I press clothes, it makes more money for the store by getting those on payroll outta there. And I get out of doing the nasty. See? It's a win-win situation.

Ha ha! Normally, I press every day, but on this day, I was looking forward to it. That's just scary.

As Allan pumped out the good solvent, the smell of whatever was growing on the bottom of the tank began to emerge. He told me to look inside.

"Looks like wet insulation or mold," I said. Allan simply nodded.

Ew. All that was mold? Then, suddenly, the smell erupted from the opening, formed a fist, and flat out punched me in the nose! I fell to the floor, woozy from the odor and cried out to God Himself to remove my sense of smell and taste forever except for when I visit a Chinese buffet.


"Oh, that's horrible!" I exclaimed. "It smells like a sack of a--holes!" (kudos to our friend Joe for that one-liner, derived from a seriously nasty apartment)

It was BY FAR the worst smelling smell I have EVER smelled. I've smelled some pretty nasty things in my time. BUT THIS WOULD WAKE THE DEAD!!

Then, to clean the tank, Allan places a chemical called Varnicide inside. Its that don't-breathe-it-in-chemical smell that I'm so used to on normal days. Compare to paint thinner times one hundred.

"Woof!" I exclaimed after that smell hit me in the face. "That stuff is gonna make you sterile!"

Only time will tell. At least he's already had 2 kids.


Don't let this deter you from using your local dry cleaners. Stuff happens and this is quite normal. The growth doesn't mix with the solvent, then your clothes. No, no that's ridiculous. You're clothes are still quite clean! Support your dry cleaners...I could use the overtime!