Revisit my app idea for the IICRC

Mikey P

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Both the President and Chairman of the Board love the idea and I'm waiting on a estimate to build the app from @Hoody

I'll go to the 19 person Shareholder committee to ask for help in compiling the "Cheat Sheets" and I would love to have anyone from here help as well via Zoom meetings.

------------------------------------------


We all have experience with cleaning techs that can do a great job at cleaning yet suffer from poor communication skills. Whether it’s shyness, lack of confidence or the gift of gab, poor training, ESL or are just new and lack a total understanding of how the technical side of how carpet cleaning works, all of the above can lead to a frustrating experience for everyone involved, the customer, the business owner, phone staff and the cleaner themselves.

So rather than your tech saying “sorry Mrs Piftleton, that’s permanent” or “I tried real hard but could not get it out”, this app will explain in official (and certified) “IICRC Standards language” what is (most likely) really going on.

This app would be made available at no charge to all Certified Firms as well as individuals to help give more value to being a registrant. It’s no secret that many registrants feel that after they get certified that it’s hard to find value to justify the annual dues. I think this app is a very positive and valuable move in doing just that.

These shareable “Cheat Sheets” can be shared with husbands or wives that are not home at the time of cleaning and can help prevent those negative moments of truth when they come home and find that the offending stain is still there or the carpet “looks worse after cleaning”. They can also be shared with real estate agents, new home buyers, tenants etc


Each “hand out” or subject could also include suggestions on how to prevent the same issue from happening again as well as some simple spot cleaning guidance.


For example, Yellow stains that appear after a dark spot has been rinsed, would read something like this:

“It is a common occurrence that when spot removers that contain “Oxy” or Hydrogen Peroxide are used by the home owner and are not fully rinsed and neutralized, that an ongoing oxidization (or bleaching) takes place. This can be a slow process and can happen during the same rate of time that the cleaning agent residue as well as the original spill residue attracts dirt over time. The bleaching effect was actually happening UNDER the layer of soil that accumulated and only became apparent when your cleaning technician removed the soil with the normal process”

or



Reappearing spots/stains after cleaning: It is impossible for the technician to know just how deep every spot/spill is on most carpets. Some spills, especially those that were previously worked on by other carpet cleaners or ambitious homeowners, may have been pushed into the carpet’s backing or pad below (and in some occurrences, even the subfloor). Exceptionally large spills can do this naturally just with gravity alone to blame. When the carpet cleaning technician performs the normal process only soil in the face fibers are removed. If the technician was not made aware of the fact that spill was cleaned up without extraction or to the extent of the size of the liquid spill, the remaining soil and associated residues can “wick” to the surface as the carpet dries. Some oily type spills can also not be completely rinsed out in the normal process if a specified solvent is not used to break the bond. Over time the oily residue will start attracting soil again. If the spot is in a heavy traffic this can happen quickly. Additional cleaning attempts will need to be made with specialty equipment and cleaning solutions to attempt to remove all the residues without harming the glue in the backing or the subfloor below.

( these are not the final version, something I just through together quickly, but you get the point)




Subjects to include:
DYS Oxy product discoloration

Carpet ripples

Brown out

Shrinkage

Remaining doggy dander or urine odors

Urine stains still showing under UV inspection

Urine in general, sub-floor damage

Off gassing discoloration

Carbon filtration lines

Delamination

Ticking discoloration

Stained grout

Topical failure

MDF baseboards

Sealers or protectors not beading

Acid etching on stone

Travertine dulling

Cracked/damaged grout

shading/pooling

Premature wear

Tufted rug off-gassing

Upholstery Texture Distortion

Wicking

Resoiling

Latent Intruders

Color Bleeding Upholstery

Color Bleeding Area Rug

Browning Area Rug

Browning Upholstery

Skunk Odor

Curry Odor

Vomit Stains

Acrylic Floor Finish on Tile & Grout, Hardwood, Stone

Smoke Odor (Fire)

Smoke Odor (Tobacco)

Tear Gas

The last professional dufus stripped half the floor wax off, still looks like hell

Car Interior Odor, especially milk and dead body

Ink on Upholstery

Wine on any Textile

Coffee on any Textile

etc etc..

and of course sections for Upholstery, Tile, Stone, Grout, Wood, LVP etc
 
Last edited:

Mikey P

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Finally?


What's changed other than I removed the reporting feature?


The IICRC will be able to see which sheets are being share the most as will the user but if the boss wants to know they will have to ask the tech to show them..
 
Joined
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Messages
39
Location
Atlanta
Name
Chandler
Both the President and Chairman of the Board love the idea and I'm waiting on a estimate to build the app from @Hoody before they present it to the board to get approval

I'll go to the 19 person Shareholder committee to ask for help in compiling the "Cheat Sheets" and I would love to have anyone from here help as well via Zoom meetings. You would get access of course, even if not an IICRC registrant.

------------------------------------------


I want to propose the building of an app for IICRC registrants that provides technical explanations in layman /ESL terms that can be shared and printed out to help new or verbally challenged technicians explain the common and odd occurrences we cleaners run into.


We all have experienced with cleaning techs that can do a great job at cleaning suffer from poor communication skills. Whether it’s shyness, lack of confidence or the gift of gab, poor training, ESL or are just new and lack a total understanding of how the technical side of how carpet cleaning works, all of the above can lead to a frustrating experience for everyone involved, the customer, the business owner, phone staff and the cleaner themselves.
So rather than your tech saying “sorry Mrs Piftleton, that’s permanent” or “I tried real hard but could not get it out”, this app will explain in official (and certified) “IICRC Standards language” what is (most likely) really going on.

This app would be made available at no charge to all Certified Firms as well as individuals to help give more value to being a registrant. It’s no secret that many registrants feel that after they get certified that it’s hard to find value to justify the annual dues. I think this app is a very positive and valuable move in doing just that.



These shareable “Cheat Sheets” can be shared with husbands or wives that are not home at the time of cleaning and can help prevent those negative moments of truth with they come home and find that the offending stain is still there or the carpet “looks worse after cleaning”. They can also be shared with real estate agents, new home buyers, tenants etc



Each “hand out” or subject could also include suggestions on how to prevent the same issue from happening again as well as some simple spot cleaning guidance.







For example, Yellow stains that appear after a dark spot has been rinsed, would read something like this:

“It is a common occurrence that when spot removers that contain “Oxy” or Hydrogen Peroxide are used by the home owner and are not fully rinsed and neutralized, that an ongoing oxidization (or bleaching) takes place. This can be a slow process and can happen during the same rate of time that the cleaning agent residue as well as the original spill residue attracts dirt over time. The bleaching effect was actually happening UNDER the layer of soil that accumulated and only became apparent when your cleaning technician removed the soil with the normal process”

or



Reappearing spots/stains after cleaning: It is impossible for the technician to know just how deep every spot/spill is on most carpets. Some spills, especially those that were previously worked on by other carpet cleaners or ambitious homeowners, may have been pushed into the carpet’s backing or pad below (and in some occurrences, even the subfloor). Exceptionally large spills can do this naturally just with gravity alone to blame. When the carpet cleaning technician performs the normal process only soil in the face fibers are removed. If the technician was not made aware of the fact that spill was cleaned up without extraction or to the extent of the size of the liquid spill, the remaining soil and associated residues can “wick” to the surface as the carpet dries. Some oily type spills can also not be completely rinsed out in the normal process if a specified solvent is not used to break the bond. Over time the oily residue will start attracting soil again. If the spot is in a heavy traffic this can happen quickly. Additional cleaning attempts will need to be made with specialty equipment and cleaning solutions to attempt to remove all the residues without harming the glue in the backing or the subfloor below.

( these are not the final version, something I just through together quickly, but you get the point)




Subjects to include:
DYS Oxy product discoloration

Carpet ripples

Brown out

Shrinkage

Remaining doggy dander or urine odors

Urine stains still showing under UV inspection

Urine in general, sub-floor damage

Off gassing discoloration

Carbon filtration lines

Delamination

Ticking discoloration

Stained grout

Topical failure

MDF baseboards

Sealers or protectors not beading

Acid etching on stone

Travertine dulling

Cracked/damaged grout

shading/pooling

Premature wear

Tufted rug off-gassing

Upholstery Texture Distortion

Wicking

Resoiling

Latent Intruders

Color Bleeding Upholstery

Color Bleeding Area Rug

Browning Area Rug

Browning Upholstery

Skunk Odor

Curry Odor

Vomit Stains

Acrylic Floor Finish on Tile & Grout, Hardwood, Stone

Smoke Odor (Fire)

Smoke Odor (Tobacco)

Tear Gas

The last professional dufus stripped half the floor wax off, still looks like hell

Car Interior Odor, especially milk and dead body

Ink on Upholstery

Wine on any Textile

Coffee on any Textile

etc etc..

and of course sections for Upholstery, Tile, Stone, Grout, Wood, LVP etc
Should be a small annual fee to maintain. Apps have constantly be updated.
 

Cleanworks

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Cost is minimal...
Not so much about the cost. They would reach many more carpet cleaners who aren't necessarily certified, would spread their message more widely and generate money for other programs. For example if you are looking up soil filtration, not only do you get the information but an ad for a product designed for that situation or an ad for an edging tool.
 
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Lee Stockwell
Finally?


What's changed other than I removed the reporting feature?


The IICRC will be able to see which sheets are being share the most as will the user but if the boss wants to know they will have to ask the tech to show them..
I didn't examine all the previous iterations of this particular document and project.

My comment is about the direction you are going.

Usually when an irresistible force meets an unmoving object something breaks.
 
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FredC

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Not so much about the cost. They would reach many more carpet cleaners who aren't necessarily certified, would spread their message more widely and generate money for other programs. For example if you are looking up soil filtration, not only do you get the information but an ad for a product designed for that situation or an ad for an edging tool.
"The IICRC does not own schools, employ instructors, produce training materials or promote specific product brands, cleaning methods or systems. "
 
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The Great Oz

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“It is a common occurrence that when spot removers that contain “Oxy” or Hydrogen Peroxide are used by the home owner and are not fully rinsed and neutralized, that an ongoing oxidization (or bleaching) takes place. This can be a slow process and can happen during the same rate of time that the cleaning agent residue as well as the original spill residue attracts dirt over time. The bleaching effect was actually happening UNDER the layer of soil that accumulated and only became apparent when your cleaning technician removed the soil with the normal process”
Or, when the BD carpet cleaner relies on "Oxy" or Hydrogen Peroxide in his cleaning process.

Remember when the restoration "standards" were used to fry restorers in court? Be careful here.

"The IICRC does not own schools, employ instructors, produce training materials or promote specific product brands, cleaning methods or systems. "
They need to advertise themselves. This app should have a free version that's full of IICRC pop-ups related to whatever problem you looked up.
 

PrimaDonna

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Love this idea. I think it will be a great value add for registrants to keep up with their renewals.

So many Times I have heard cleaners say they don’t renew because they are paying all the money every year to the IICRC and getting nothing in return. Joe Homeowner doesn’t know to use the IICRC site to search for a certified tech or firm and that’s about all they felt they got for for their annual fees.....listing on the site.

This is a win for certified techs-firms and to bring awareness to consumers about the IICRC and why they should use a certified tech-firm

Count me in to help out!!!
 
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Jim Pemberton

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This has real value.

Unless you employ guys over 50 years old, the average tech doesn't want to read a bulletin and won't remember the fountains of wisdom the sage on the stage at a class imparted to him.

This sort of thing puts all the needed information at his or her fingertips and allows the tech to focus on remembering important customer pleasing procedures and interactions.

After years of living in the 20th century, the IICRC is showing itself to be wanting to be relevant in the 21st.

My father is the youngest 88 year old most might know, and he's been after them to do things like this directly, and through his earlier reps for years.

For my part....and I never thought I would ever say this.....The IICRC is starting to look like an organization I might once again work with in the future.

Thanks from both of us Mike.
 

Mark Saiger

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I agree with Jim. The new IICRC is smart enough to bring in former outside agitators (Mikey) to give them a look from the real world. As I watched the IICRC awards show last weekend it was fun to see the new blood stepping up. Now pardon me while I get my Geritol smoothie.
Looks good @Mikey P

Got my Geritol smoothy next to me and heading to PT right now... New knee installed... And for the record... It sucks right now...

IMG_20201012_164815_995.jpg
 

The Great Oz

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My father is the youngest 88 year old most might know, and he's been after them to do things like this directly, and through his earlier reps for years.
The first IICRC committee meeting I attended (early/mid 90s?) the guy at the head of the table shared my enthusiasm for what could be done with computing and the internet, and I was a bit concerned with the lack of enthusiasm from the rest. I stayed after to talk with this older guy that had so much on the ball.
They should have listened to your Pops.




PS: Decades later, Joe Kowalski presented some really great ideas for moving forward, Shoulda listened to him too.
 

Matt Cole

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This is a great idea and long over do. I have sheets that I print out explaining common rug issues or problems that I can show or give to a client. Its from a third party so it doesn't look like I'm trying to make a excuse but explain a industry fact. I wish a app like tis was available was i started cleaning 40 years ago. I would love to help with a project like this.
I agree that it would give great value for being a IICRC Certified Technician. I always wonder why I keep paying 160 in dues a year, this could make it worth it.
 

doylebloss

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Way back when, RIA (Then ASCR, and when they actually had some members and interests in carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning) had printed hand-outs that addressed commonly occuring issues related to cleaning that a member could provide to a customer that provided a "third-party" expert answer. Sounds like what you are suggesting is having that in an app. I think throwing out IICRC standard "quotes" likely overwhelms most cleaning consumers. Something that specifically addresses commonly recurring issues and challenges cleaners face in a more simple and accessible format might be a good idea. I will be joining Bill Yeadon for our daily Geritol smoothie now.
 

Mikey P

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Way back when, RIA (Then ASCR, and when they actually had some members and interests in carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning) had printed hand-outs that addressed commonly occuring issues related to cleaning that a member could provide to a customer that provided a "third-party" expert answer. Sounds like what you are suggesting is having that in an app. I think throwing out IICRC standard "quotes" likely overwhelms most cleaning consumers. Something that specifically addresses commonly recurring issues and challenges cleaners face in a more simple and accessible format might be a good idea. I will be joining Bill Yeadon for our daily Geritol smoothie now.

No we would not be using direct quotes from the standards cuz only James B Smith can understand those....

It will definitely be dumb down for fans of Housewives of said city type audiences
 

PrimaDonna

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No we would not be using direct quotes from the standards cuz only James B Smith can understand those....

It will definitely be dumb down for fans of Housewives of said city type audiences
This is where I can help. I’ll compose/edit in laymans/house wife lingo.....I have enough knowledge about many of these topics that I can actually know that I’m talking about in explaining it!
 

Trip Moses

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Both the President and Chairman of the Board love the idea and I'm waiting on a estimate to build the app from @Hoody before they present it to the board to get approval

I'll go to the 19 person Shareholder committee to ask for help in compiling the "Cheat Sheets" and I would love to have anyone from here help as well via Zoom meetings. You would get access of course, even if not an IICRC registrant.

------------------------------------------


I want to propose the building of an app for IICRC registrants that provides technical explanations in layman /ESL terms that can be shared and printed out to help new or verbally challenged technicians explain the common and odd occurrences we cleaners run into.


We all have experienced with cleaning techs that can do a great job at cleaning suffer from poor communication skills. Whether it’s shyness, lack of confidence or the gift of gab, poor training, ESL or are just new and lack a total understanding of how the technical side of how carpet cleaning works, all of the above can lead to a frustrating experience for everyone involved, the customer, the business owner, phone staff and the cleaner themselves.
So rather than your tech saying “sorry Mrs Piftleton, that’s permanent” or “I tried real hard but could not get it out”, this app will explain in official (and certified) “IICRC Standards language” what is (most likely) really going on.

This app would be made available at no charge to all Certified Firms as well as individuals to help give more value to being a registrant. It’s no secret that many registrants feel that after they get certified that it’s hard to find value to justify the annual dues. I think this app is a very positive and valuable move in doing just that.



These shareable “Cheat Sheets” can be shared with husbands or wives that are not home at the time of cleaning and can help prevent those negative moments of truth with they come home and find that the offending stain is still there or the carpet “looks worse after cleaning”. They can also be shared with real estate agents, new home buyers, tenants etc



Each “hand out” or subject could also include suggestions on how to prevent the same issue from happening again as well as some simple spot cleaning guidance.







For example, Yellow stains that appear after a dark spot has been rinsed, would read something like this:

“It is a common occurrence that when spot removers that contain “Oxy” or Hydrogen Peroxide are used by the home owner and are not fully rinsed and neutralized, that an ongoing oxidization (or bleaching) takes place. This can be a slow process and can happen during the same rate of time that the cleaning agent residue as well as the original spill residue attracts dirt over time. The bleaching effect was actually happening UNDER the layer of soil that accumulated and only became apparent when your cleaning technician removed the soil with the normal process”

or



Reappearing spots/stains after cleaning: It is impossible for the technician to know just how deep every spot/spill is on most carpets. Some spills, especially those that were previously worked on by other carpet cleaners or ambitious homeowners, may have been pushed into the carpet’s backing or pad below (and in some occurrences, even the subfloor). Exceptionally large spills can do this naturally just with gravity alone to blame. When the carpet cleaning technician performs the normal process only soil in the face fibers are removed. If the technician was not made aware of the fact that spill was cleaned up without extraction or to the extent of the size of the liquid spill, the remaining soil and associated residues can “wick” to the surface as the carpet dries. Some oily type spills can also not be completely rinsed out in the normal process if a specified solvent is not used to break the bond. Over time the oily residue will start attracting soil again. If the spot is in a heavy traffic this can happen quickly. Additional cleaning attempts will need to be made with specialty equipment and cleaning solutions to attempt to remove all the residues without harming the glue in the backing or the subfloor below.

( these are not the final version, something I just through together quickly, but you get the point)




Subjects to include:
DYS Oxy product discoloration

Carpet ripples

Brown out

Shrinkage

Remaining doggy dander or urine odors

Urine stains still showing under UV inspection

Urine in general, sub-floor damage

Off gassing discoloration

Carbon filtration lines

Delamination

Ticking discoloration

Stained grout

Topical failure

MDF baseboards

Sealers or protectors not beading

Acid etching on stone

Travertine dulling

Cracked/damaged grout

shading/pooling

Premature wear

Tufted rug off-gassing

Upholstery Texture Distortion

Wicking

Resoiling

Latent Intruders

Color Bleeding Upholstery

Color Bleeding Area Rug

Browning Area Rug

Browning Upholstery

Skunk Odor

Curry Odor

Vomit Stains

Acrylic Floor Finish on Tile & Grout, Hardwood, Stone

Smoke Odor (Fire)

Smoke Odor (Tobacco)

Tear Gas

The last professional dufus stripped half the floor wax off, still looks like hell

Car Interior Odor, especially milk and dead body

Ink on Upholstery

Wine on any Textile

Coffee on any Textile

etc etc..

and of course sections for Upholstery, Tile, Stone, Grout, Wood, LVP etc
Yes
 

Joe Appleby

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What's not to like?
This would be such a useful tool that could be used in so many ways. A handy training tool for my entire staff as well as informative for clients and anyone in the floor covering industry. "With permission", I'd have a page of this our my website. Do this Mike!
 

Mikey P

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so lets list who and what benefits from this app.

1. the customer.
Knowledge of what is really going on with their issue('s), possible ways to prevent it from happening again or getting worse, and a positive moment of truth with their service provider, that will leave a long and lasting impression..

2. the new cleaner.
Who now feels like he is not alone and helpless trying to describe a problem that he can not understand or explain. At some point he memorizes or really learns the "science" behind the issue and grows more confident in his communication and cleaning techniques.

3. the owner.
Techs and phone staff no have an easy and "certified" way to discuss these common occurrences with new and old clients. Also, the ability to work with techs on their weak points will be made easier by monitoring app use. Client loyalty should see strengthening as well.

4. the IICRC.
Registrant and Certified Firms will be more apt to renew with the EXTRA added value. An increase in Certified Firm membership. Brand awareness with consumers. A long needed "hipness" and move to the modern age that will get many cleaners to re think their Dad's IICRC...

5. the industry as a whole.
Knowledge is power and clueless floor and furnishing owners making bad decisions doesn't help us one bit. I'm going to suggest that the IICRC needs a buyers guide of sorts for consumers as well.....

6. 40 year veteran dopes like Marty who still can't explain what emulsification means.
 

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