IICRC

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification was the correct answer from our latest poll when queried as to what the acronym IICRC stood for. Wikipedia defines the IICRC as follows.  

"The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, more commonly known as the IICRC, is a certification and standard-setting non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning,^[1] and restoration industries.^[2] It is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV, United States, and has offices in the United Kingdom and Australia. The organization formulates health and safety related industry standards for built environment. As an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited standard-development organization (SDO), the IICRC works with international trade associations such as the International Sanitary Supply Association(ISSA) and the Restoration Industry Association(RIA)^[3] to develop consensus-based standards." 

Diatomaceous Earth

Our recent poll asked what diatomaceous earth (DE) was.  100% answered correctly in stating it was "fossilized diatoms blended with natural clays and minerals".  DE comes in different grades. Some grades are more dangerous than others, but DE can be used in cleaning.  Before using DE, all safety warnings and instructions should be followed closely.

~ 2300

Our last poll asked about how many students grace the hallways and classrooms of the new high school.  The answer is about 2300. 
When classes are in session, you wouldn't know there was anyone there. But when the lunch bell rings are its passing time, the hallways are packed.  And that doesn't include the 200+ staff as well.

Custodial Responsibilities

100% of the votes for our last poll were correct.  Custodians do perform more tasks than just cleaning.  As the question highlighted, custodians deal with HVAC, lighting, fire, security and many more systems and building-related demands than meets the eye.  A custodian has to know more than just how to clean.  They have to know their building and how to run it.

Custodian vs Janitor

The poll that just ended asked if there was a difference between a custodian and a janitor.  100% of the answers said yes.

Back on April 16, 2008, I posted about the difference between the two titles. I've re-posted those comments again here.

What Is A Custodian?

What is a custodian? Do they differ from a janitor? What is their job like?
Basically, the two words are similar. A janitor often times refers more specifically to the work they do, that of cleaning. A custodian is portrayed as more than just a cleaner. He also maintains and takes care of a building as well as performing cleaning tasks. In a school setting, custodian is the preferred term.
The duties of a custodian differ from person to person depending on their job description, the time of day they work and their skills. They may be required to unlock the building in the morning, put up flags, bring in newspapers, de-ice walkways in cold weather, check HVAC systems and so on. Then there is the exciting world of cleaning! Toilets, sinks, floors, vacuuming, dumping garbage, windows and more. Add to these duties such things as setting up and tearing down tables, chairs, risers and other furniture for special events. And don't forget the sporting events. Cleaning these events requires cleaning the stadium at times, the gyms, locker rooms, concession stand area, bathrooms and more. At times, it can be quite overwhelming and tiring.
Custodial work can also be enjoyable. Having the opportunity to meet teachers, the public, administration, public officials and others adds to our ability to interact with others and to absorb more knowledge. Dealing with outside vendors who specialize in various trades is an exciting way to add to our repertoire of information too. And don't forget the students. What an ideal way to be a mentor and example for our young people!
Custodial work involves much, but much can be given back. Although at times stressful, the benefits outweigh the negatives in the long run!

White LED's

Our last poll asked if white LED's were possible.  Yes.  White LED's are possible by mixing several colored LED's or a thin spectrum of light from red, green or blue LED's placed close to one another. The link to this article explains in more detail how this is done.

One Pound!

Our poll question asked "how much dirt can be hidden in one square foot of carpeting."  The answer, surprisingly, is one pound!  That's right.  One full pound.

Carpets are designed to hide soil.  Thus, the admonition from carpet manufacturers to vacuum your carpet regularly is no joke.  Carpets should be vacuumed daily, if not more to keep the soil from building up and damaging the fibers and backing.

Although most of us don't vacuum that regularly, it is impressive that carpets are designed to hide that amount of soil and keep our homes and businesses still looking relatively clean.

Note:  Here's a link to a You Tube video showing that a pound of soil can indeed be hidden in a square foot of carpet and the reasons for regular vacuuming.

Hidden Soil

Regular Vacuuming

Thirty Inches

Our last poll asked how far away from circuit breaker panels items needed to be kept.  The answer is 30".  All voters got the answer correct.  Per the Fire Marshal and fire codes, this is the minimum distance anything must be kept away from these panels so there is clear access to them in case of a fire or an emergency.  Likewise, nothing can be stored within 18" of the ceiling.  That means items on bookshelves or other high areas must be 18" or lower than the ceiling so the sprinkler system will work correctly if there were ever a fire. We can be fined for both of these offenses if the Fire Marshal so deems.

Several Things Can Affect How Well A School Stays Clean

Our last poll mentioned that weather, testing, vacations and so on might affect how well a school stays clean.  All votes affirmed that this is true.  When vacations are close or testing has been taking place, the students tend to be more wound up and antsy.  That affects how well they try to keep things clean.  Weather can blow in leaves, create moisture that is tracked in and more.  All of these factors can make keeping the building clean a real challenge.

10 Minutes

Our recent poll asked what people thought the average time it took to vacuum a classroom might be. The answers were all correct in stating 10 minutes.  That's about average.  Sometimes it can take less if the weather and classroom attendees cooperate.  Other times it takes longer, especially in inclement weather.

7+ Acres

Our recent poll asked if you thought the new Tahoma High School would be the biggest in the state. The answer is yes.  It will be around 325,000 square feet or just over seven acres.  Now that's big!  As we transition into the new building next year, the sheer size and immensity of this building will sink in.  We will be starting from the ground up building schedules for cleaning, maintenance and everything else that goes on in a building of that size.  It should be quite a building.

Red It Is!

Our latest poll asked what color the sun faded on a carpet that was brown and turned green.  The answer is red.

Since carpets are made up of the three primary colors yellow, blue and red, and since brown is a mix of all three primaries in uneven amounts (black is all three primary colors in even amounts), the missing color would be red. Since the remaining color was green and green is a combination of yellow and blue, the only color missing is red.  When a situation like this requires color dyeing, one would need to add red dye back into the green area to return it to brown. Interestingly, red dye is the weakest dye and the first color that the sun will fade.

Dust Mop Frame

Our recent poll asked what a dust mop frame was for.  The answer?  It is the metal frame that connects to the end of the handle upon which the dust mop head is placed.  The frame keeps the dust mop rigid so that it can be used to sweep the floor.  Another name for the dust mop frame is a dust mop bale.

Pi Day?

Pi day was March 14.  So what is pi?  Our poll asked that question. The votes were all 100% correct. Pi is a number unique to circles. The first few digits of pi are 3.14159...Thus pi day on March 14. (3/14)  The history of pi goes back millenniums.  Pi is used to figure out the circumference of circles, areas and more.  Pi has been calculated out to millions of digits without ever repeating.  Get in on the fun next year and get a slice of pi!

JOTY 2016

So, per our poll question, what contest by Cintas Corporation started February 1?  The yearly Janitor of the Year contest.  You can go to their website and nominate your favorite janitor.  If they are chosen (top ten), then you can vote daily for them and try to push them to the top of the list to be the number one janitor of the year.

300,000+

The last poll asked what the new Tahoma High School's square footage will approximately be.  The answer, 325,000 or so.  It will be the largest high school in the state.  The new high school slated to open in September, 2017 will house the current grade levels and will add ninth graders to its roster making it a 9 - 12 grade level school.  Other schools throughout the district will be reconfigured into middle schools and grade schools.  The current high school will become Maple View Middle School. The summer of 2017 is going to be a huge endeavor as all these changes take place.

MSDS = SDS

Our poll which closed yesterday in 2015 asked what the new name for MSDS's was. The correct answer is SDS.  MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet and is used to describe chemical products, their composition, health concerns, and more.  They are used by firemen and those using the products, especially in case of an emergency.  Now, these sheets have been changed to SDS which means Safety Data Sheet. It is part of a worldwide move toward streamlining and universalizing chemicals around the globe.  New symbols and more detailed sheets have been produced so that these sheets can be understood in all countries that partake. More information can be found online at numerous websites.

Mathematics and Cleaning

Who would ever think that math had much to do with cleaning?  Yet, basic math skills, and occasionally more complex math is sometimes needed when cleaning.  One area is when it comes to mixing chemicals.  Although many chemicals today are ready-to-use and pre-mixed or metered when connected to a water source, there are still other products where knowing how to figure ratios is necessary.

Our last poll asked, "A ratio mix of 1:8 equals how many ounces per gallon"?  The answer is 16. Since a gallon of water is 128 ounces, a ratio of 1:8 means divide 128 by 8 to get the correct amount of product per gallon.  128/8=16. A ratio of 1:4 would mean divide 128 by 4.  The amount per gallon would be 32.

Knowing how to figure ratios is important so as not to dilute too much or too little the product and its effectiveness in cleaning.

Like Dust Mopping in Molasses

The poll that just closed asked why it might be difficult to dust mop a floor.  The choices included humidity, water or something sticky on the floor.  The answer is obviously all of them.

Many times while dust mopping, higher humidity with create a floor that feels sticky like molasses and is very difficult to dust mop.  Likewise, water or some sticky substance, can also wreak havoc on your dust mopping efforts.  Turning up the air flow, wiping up the water, changing the dust mop head regularly or just dealing with the situation until it dissipates is about all you can do.  Happy dust mopping.

Razor Blades and Glass - A Great Combination

Our recent poll asked whether or not it was a good idea to use a razor blade scraper on windows or glass. Absolutely!  In fact, this is one of the best ways to remove stickers, dried paint, difficult to remove spots and so on.  Of course, you have to be careful, but the removal will be so much easier.

To use a razor blade scraper on windows, wet the window or spot first!  Then, use the razor blade scraper (best used in a scraper not just a single blade in hand) to remove the debris.  Tip the blade at about a 45 degree angle and scrape the material off.  It it dries or is too thick or sticky, re-wet it and scrape some more.  Once finished clean the window.  You'll be amazed and pleased at having nice clean glass once again.