In the late 80’s, I finished Army basic training and was sent to an Air Force Base for my advanced training as an intelligence analyst. Our training was done in a windowless classroom inside a secured facility.

On our last day of class, we finished very early. The Army instructor tells us once we completely clear out the classroom and clean it, we will be done for the day. Tell a bunch of Army privates they will be kicked loose early if they get busy and you have an extremely motivated group of workers.

This training had been about a year long. Between that and basic training, we were experienced enough to expect a white glove inspection. With the incentive of getting off early, we banded together and proceeded to do the most thorough cleaning I have ever been involved.

Our instructor returned with the Air Force sergeant who was in charge of the facilities. After an extremely detailed inspection by the Air Force sergeant, where no discrepancies were found, we heard the two discussing that they had to find something because it was too early to release us. Then the Air Force Sergeant makes the grandiose statement that the class room doesn’t smell clean enough. They both then walk off to leave us to clean again.

Doesn’t smell clean enough? Determined Army privates can fix that. We got the gallon bottle of pine oil (industrial version of Pine Sol that is much stronger). Normally you dilute it in the mop bucket by putting about half a cup in three gallons of water. Even than it’s pretty over powering. Instead we poured the bottle undiluted on the floor, then took turns running in and mopping. You could go in just as long as you could hold your breath. Then run out of the room so someone else could run in and mop.

About 15 minutes into our second cleaning, one of the instructors for the class next to ours, looks out and asks if we spilled cleaner in the hallway. Shortly afterwards our sergeant and the Air Force return. As soon as they get on the stairs, about 50 feet away, we hear them talking about how strongly it smells of pine cleaner. The smell is so strong, they can’t go in the class room.

In typical military fashion, we did not get released early. We were complimented on our extreme cleaning. The entire facility smelled clean now. Two days later, the smell/fumes were still so strong no one could go in the room. Since it was windowless, they couldn’t air it out. Their solution? They wanted those of us that hadn’t left for our next duty station to mop with straight water to remove the pine oil. Unfortunately, since we had completed the course, we no longer had access to the facility. They ended up using it as chemical warfare training for another class. They had to do another clean out wearing their gas masks and MOPP gear (I don’t remember what MOPP stood for, but it’s the suits soldiers wear in a chemical environment).