California Death Cleanup

I clean death scenes from homicides, suicides, and unattended deaths. I work alone.

Because I work alone my prices are hundreds if not thousands of dollars less than my competitors. See my education and training, as well as my experience. How long does it take? (See my price page.)
 
   
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 I have cleaned hundreds of death scenes resulting from homicides, suicides, and unattended deaths. I cleaned these alone.
 
Death Cleanup

Death Odors - Miasma

 
Violent deaths usually involve a great loss of blood and tissue, OPIM (Other Potentially Infectious Materials). The loss of blood and tissue, the environmental conditions, and other circumstances will aid in the production of offensive death scene odors, miasma.
 
Sometimes miasma lingers because of poor ventilation, Sometimes miasma will linger because it has permeated porous materials: fabrics, paper, wood, and more.
 
We do our best to remove the odors associated with crime scenes and other death scenes. However, removing the source material will not always return the scene to its pre-incident condition for some time. Time and heavy ventilation, and removal of miasma permeated materials will help return the scene to a more "normal" condition.
 

We can apply chemicals to help increase miasma's departure from the scene, but even chemicals have their limits. Ask about our odor control policies and methods if this is a concern.

My training and education includes the following:

  • Crime Scene Cleanup (IICRC)
  • Carpet Cleaning (IICRC)
  • Decontamination - Nuclear, Biological, Checmical (US Army)
  • Floor Inspection (IICRC)
  • Home Inspection - (AHIT)
  • Mold Inspection and Remediation (NAMP)
  • Upholstery Cleaning (IICRC)
  • Water Damage and Restoration (IICRC)
  • AA, BA, MS,

How long does it take to clean a crime scene? Usually one to two days will be enough, depending upon unforeseens, fogging, and ozone gas application.

  1. The only way to tell how long it will take to clean a crime scene is to take it apart and clean it.
  2. Ninety-nine percent of single-victim crime scenes can be taken apart and cleaned in one day to two days at the most.
  3. Therefore, I can make a fair and reasonable profit when charging less than $3,000.

This is what I know:

  • All callers are distressed.
  • Most callers see only the proverbial "tip-of-the-iceberg."
  • All death scenes are different.
  • Ninety-nine percent of death scenes share similarities.
Answers to who, what, when, where, and how help to understand the crime scene's potential demolition and cleaning issues. The below death scenes have known damage and potential damage.
  1. A shotgun blast to the head at close range. I know beforehand that the damage is 360 degrees, top-to-bottom (floor and ceiling), and possibly extends beyond the crime scene room. Migration is less of an issue then #2 below. I will seal the entire room.
  2. Unaccompanied death with three week decomposition on a ceramic bathroom floor. I will seal the walls and ceiling.
  3. A running, flailing, violent bleed-out (homicide) that occurred on two floors, in five rooms, on carpet, on ceramic, on a bed, and on furniture. Migration and wicking are possibilities because of the ceramic floor. Furniture and mattress demolition are certainties. (see walking bleed-out)
  4. A recent large male's bleedout beginning on the toilet and ending on a king-size mattress, Hepititis C.
  5. Total decompositon on a toilet within a poorly maintenanced building, wood floor, third floor apartment. Call for a quote. I will offer a fair and reasonable price. I will seal the walls and ceiling.

(Clutter adds work to the above.)

Number 1 above will take two long days. Number 2 will create the least biowaste, unless there is poor grouting. Number 3 will create the most biowaste. Number 4 creates the greatest hazard and may take one long day. Numbers 2 and 4 may require chasing fluids below the toilet. Number 5 is a horrific wild card. Call for a quote.

There may be unforeseen issues possible for the above examples, like migrating fluids, and floors and walls to remove. (see migration). Unforeseens become apparent only when the scene is taken apart.

My prices anticipate unforeseens.

Email me with the offered quote, and I will email my acceptance. This is a contract for legal purposes in any civil court.

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Blood and Biohazard Cleanup

For our purposes, biohazards may be infected blood or tissue from crime scenes, suicides, and unattended deaths. Such infectious envirments must be isolated until all cleaning, disinfecting, and removal is carried out. Extreme hygienic exaggeration should be used by the novice as well as the professional.  Always clean biohazardous env000ents as if cleaning for a toddler's use.

Never remove biohazardous material without wearing gloves. "For cleaning blood or bloody fluids from floors, bed, etc., you can use household rubber gloves." Wear protection over eyes, nose, and mouth. Have a safe means of exit and a place to decontaminate yourself and clothing.

Blood as a biohazard will consist of wet or moist blood, or dried flakey (sabbing) blood. Adding chemicals to blood, something like bleach, will either destroy the blood or destroy its source of food or both. Bleach will begin to break down once in contact with blood, or any other organic matter.

Dried blood that flakes may easily become aerosolized if mishandled. Contact with airborne blood places the cleaner at risk of infectious disease. 

Before removing, moisten flaking (scabbing) blood. Cause it not to become airborne. Cover flaked blood with paper towels and lightly mosten with a disinfectant (bleach) from afar. Use a spray bottle while making wide, misting applications to the paper towels' surface. Before removing blood, ensure that it is moist enough not to flake, but not dripping.

Dry paper towels may be used to contain wet blood. Allow towels to dwell until dry. Flush in small quantities, or gently place inside two thick plastic bags. Seal tightly with duct tape. Directly dispose of in a landfill.TOP

Dripping wet blood is considered biohazardous and universally considered infectious until proven otherwise. Contain blood from afar; disinfect it. Pour blood down the sanitary sewer if you are not going to seal it for transfer.

Thoroughly wash hands.

See Blood Cleanup 1, blood cleanup 2, and blood cleanup 3.

OSHA 1910.1030(d)(1)

General. Universal precautions shall be observed to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Under circumstances in which differentiation between body fluid types is difficult or impossible, all body fluids shall be considered potentially infectious materials. (return)

Useful disinfectants may be found here:

Blood Spills: see index at http://www.bccdc.org/downloads/pdf/epid/reports/CDManual_

Vinegar: http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/vinegar-as-a-disinfectant.html

The Center for Disease Control recommends using chemicals or autoclave to decontaminate. This recommendation is made in the context of laboratory work. In the home, on the crime scene, my philosophy is not to tolerate biowaste that may be biohazardous. I destroy and/or encapsulate any offending materials. I see no point in exposing anyone to needlessly exposing anyone to pathogens.

Household bleach is a wonderful, but very corrosive disinfectant. It is a "midrange disinfectant." Bleach has a wide bacterial killing spectrum. It is inexpensive and found on most market shelves. However, bleach is extremely dangerous in the presence of acids, including urine. Open bleach bottles lose their strength; it loses strength when applied to organic material, like blood and decomposing matter. Bleach must be used cautiously, wisely. (return)TOP