With Thanksgiving right around the corner, not to mention the housecleaning and the inevitable dinnertime spills that come with it, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has extended the deadline for its “Best of” photo contest until Friday, Dec. 5.

“The holidays mark a busy time for our industry,” said Tony Wheelwright, Chairman of the IICRC. “Many families will be hiring firms to clean their homes, which means there will be some great opportunities for before-and-after shots for the photo contest. We’re hoping that by pushing the deadline back a bit, we can allow those who are interested, but have not yet had time, to enter.”

Submitted photos will be credited and used along with articles and blog posts on the IICRC website, with the winners of each category receiving a $25 gift certificate to Amazon. The categories include:
• Mold Remediation
• Fire and/or Smoke Damage Cleanup
• Most Challenging Inspection
• Flood Cleanup
• Carpet Cleaning
• Carpet Repair
• Leather Cleaning
• Upholstery Cleaning
• Rug Cleaning

Photos of exceptional quality will also eligible to appear in the IICRC’s new technical journal, The Journal of Cleaning, Restoration & Inspection. If a photo is selected to appear in The Journal, the submitter will win a $100 Amazon gift card. To be eligible for this selection, photos must be at least 300 dpi at a final output of 5 x 7 inches.

The winning entries will be determined by a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the IICRC marketing committee and other Institute leaders. Photos may not be submitted to more than one category and must be original photography.

To submit your photos, please email your photo with the appropriate category (Mold Remediation, Fire and/or Smoke Damage Cleanup, Most Challenging Inspection, Flood Cleanup, Carpet Cleaning, Carpet Repair, Leather Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning or Rug Cleaning), a brief explanation of what is pictured in the photo and the scope of the project, your name, company and contact details to communications@iicrc.org by Dec. 5 2014. Winners will be announced in the December issue of the IICRCToday eNewsletter, as well as promoted through the IICRC’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.