When I was about 12 years old, I developed a keen interest in photography—not just taking pictures, but also developing film and making prints, even enlargements. Setting up a darkroom required certain chemicals, which came in powdered form. These powders had to be dissolved in a gallon of water, but they didn’t dissolve easily. In fact, they dissolved very slowly.
At 12, patience wasn’t my strong suit. I knew that sugar and salt dissolved faster in warm or hot water than in cold, so I figured the same would apply to my developing chemicals. I poured the powder into a brown jug of water and set it on the stove, hoping to speed up the process.
What I didn’t realize was that not all containers are safe for direct heat. The jug exploded.
It didn’t just make a mess—it painted the walls and ceiling of our entire kitchen with chemicals. While not particularly unique, these chemicals were definitely not kitchen-friendly and had a nasty habit of staining everything they touched. The damage was so extensive that the kitchen had to be completely remodeled.
Looking back, I’d say that qualifies as a major kitchen disaster.