Who Cleans Up After A Violent Crime

Unfortunately, after a murder or other serious violent crime, the police and investigators do not have a special unit that comes in to clean up the scene.  While some departments may work closely with crime scene cleaning services and may be able to offer referrals, the responsibility of cleaning the crime scene falls to the property owner.

Many crimes that later require cleaning happen in the home, which leaves the task of cleaning all too often to the victim’s next of kin.  However, if the crime happens in a rental home, place of business, or the like, responsibility falls to the property owner.  Likewise, if the crime has taken place on public property, the state or local entity who maintains the property is responsible.

The Right Tools To Clean Up A Crime Scene

It is not generally suggested that the task of cleaning up the scene of a violent crime be attempted by an amateur.  Bodily fluid is considered a hazardous material, and thus requires special equipment, methods, and disposal in order to protect both the person doing the cleaning and the general public.

Equipment that is usually used by professionals to clean up a crime scene includes:

• PPE – Personal protective equipment, or PPE, used by crime scene cleaners include disposable, non-porous gloves, chemical spill boots, filtered respirators, and a protective suit.  Most of this equipment is deemed one-time-use and is immediately discarded after the job in special hazardous waste containers.
• Biohazard Disposal Containers – There are both solid plastic containers and heavy-duty hazmat bags that can be sealed safely to contain health hazards.
• Cleaning Supplies – Traditional mops, buckets, sponges, cleaning cloths, etc.  Cleaning supplies must also be disposed of after use.
• Disinfectant Solutions – Such as bleach and peroxide.
• Industrial Strength Deodorizers – Come in many different types and may be used in a fogger machine.  Ozone machines are often used to assist in deodorization of the area.
• Solvents – Enzyme solvents help to disinfect and re-liquefy dried blood.
• Shovels – To shovel coagulated bodily fluids into bags.
• Putty Knives – Putty knives are often necessary to remove organic matter from hard surfaces.
• Razor Blades or Box Cutters – Saturated carpeting or upholstery must be cut away and removed, it cannot be effectively cleaned.
• Ladders & Long Reach Cleaning Brushes – To reach high walls and ceilings.

Professional crime scene cleaners also often use a camera for before-and-after shots for insurance purposes.  And though it isn’t necessarily on-the-job equipment, professional cleaners are normally required to maintain up-to-date vaccination against harmful infections like hepatitis-B.

Step-By-Step Crime Scene Cleaning Guide

If you wish to face the psychological and general health risks associated with crime-scene cleanup, you should first speak to the insurance agency that covers the property to find out if there are any special considerations they wish you to take.

Furthermore, you should also speak to your doctor to receive any necessary vaccines and advice on further methods of protecting yourself.  And, of course, you should check with your local police department to ensure that their investigations are complete and you are free to clean the site.

• Protect Yourself – You will need several pairs of heavy cleaning gloves, shoe coverings, masks, and a pair of goggles.  If you cannot get full respiration equipment, a good dust mask is better than nothing at all.
• Dispose Of Everything Necessary – Some items, such as metal and other non-porous materials can be disinfected, but wood or upholstered furniture, carpeting, and effective electronics will likely need to be broken or cut down and thrown away.
• Disinfect Everything Else – Remove any other objects from the scene AFTER they have been properly cleaned and disinfected to avoid spreading possible infectious diseases.
• Check The Scene Carefully – Look carefully to identify all areas affected by bodily fluid or organic matter.
• Work From The Top Down – Start with the ceiling (if necessary), then work your way down the walls to the floor.  This way there is less chance of re-contaminating already cleaned areas.
• Scrape Dried Material – Use putty knives or shovels to scrape the majority of material to be removed (if necessary).  Dispose of items afterward.
• Scrub – Use traditional cleaning instruments (mops, brushes, rags, scratch-pads, etc.) and heavy-duty or industrial strength cleaning chemicals to clean the affected areas.  Be thorough, the area should appear to be clean before you move on from this step.  Dispose of cleaning instruments in approved biohazard containers.
• Disinfect – Use bleach and hydrogen peroxide to re-clean areas and kill any bacteria and viruses that may still be present.  Use fresh cleaning instruments, and remember to read all of your cleaning chemical labels to insure there will be no dangerous interactions.
• Deodorize – Ventilate the area and apply industrial strength deodorizers as necessary.
• Dispose – Take all of your waste bags and containers to the proper biohazard disposal site in your area.

After the area is properly cleaned, you can move items back in and make any structural repairs necessary.

Call In The Professionals

I will say again that it is not recommended to clean up a violent crime scene on your own.  There are many professional services that can get the job done quickly, inexpensively, and most importantly, safely.

In Arizona, contact BioTeamAZ, Phoenix’s leader in crime scene and hazardous waste cleanup.  Don’t risk your health and safety going at it alone.  Contact BioTeamAZ today.

The Secret To Cleaning Up Blood

The most important thing to keep in mind when cleaning up blood is to act quickly.  Once blood begins to congeal and dry it becomes difficult to clean, and it’s almost impossible to remove set-in blood stains.  Everyone has heard of the do-it-yourself methods of cleaning blood, such as using saltwater, toothpaste, and even saliva, but cool, soapy water is still best.

Keep in mind that washing and drying a garment or other piece of fabric before removing blood will likely lead to a permanent stain.  Getting the blood out first is the key to cleaning fabric.

Also keep in mind that blood should always be treated as a hazardous material, even if you believe it has come from a healthy person.  Always wear gloves when cleaning up blood, and take extra precautions when cleaning up exposed blades, syringes, or broken glass.

How To Clean Up Small Blood Spills Yourself

As mentioned before, blood on fabrics must be treated before going into the washing machine:

• Use a spray bottle with cool water and a small amount of laundry detergent.
• Spray the spot or spots of blood liberally with the solution.
• For tougher stains, bleach or peroxide may be used.  (These may further stain colored fabrics.)
• Continue to spray until blood has been mostly or completely removed.
• Apply a disinfectant to the fabric, such as rubbing alcohol or disinfectant soap.
• Wash and dry the fabric alone.

Keep in mind that some fabrics are especially prone to blood staining, and it is possible that no matter what you do or how quickly you act the stain may not be averted.

For blood on carpeting or upholstery a slightly different technique is required.

• Soak up as much blood as possible by dabbing with paper towels.
• Use cool, soapy water in a bucket.
• Use a disposable rag to gently apply cleaning solution.
• Remove as much blood as possible by dabbing the wet, soapy rag on the blood-spill.
• After most of the blood has been removed, some scrubbing may be required to lift the rest.
• Apply a disinfectant furniture cleaner, alcohol, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide.

Again, keep in mind that some disinfecting methods could stain certain materials or lighten colors.

For hardwood floors and tile a much simpler method can be employed.

• Wipe up blood with a paper towel.
• Clean with soap and water by scrubbing or mopping.
• Apply a disinfecting floor-care solution.

Any cleaning materials that are directly exposed to blood must either be disinfected after use (with a solution of 1-part bleach to 10-parts water) or disposed of.  Since blood is considered a hazardous material its disposal is highly regulated, and must be placed in an approved, sealed, biohazard container.

Contact Hazardous Material Management to find out more about approved containers and find a proper disposal facility near you.

Cleaning Up Large Amounts Of Blood

It is highly recommended that any persons not trained in proper biohazard management not attempt to clean up excessive amounts of blood or other bodily fluids.  Contact a professional biohazard removal and sanitation service to ensure that cleaning is done safely.

The most highly recommended sanitation and decontamination service in Phoenix, is BioTeamAZ.  Their professional training ensures not only the highest measure of safety, but the highest level of quality cleaning.  Contact BioTeamAZ to learn more about their services.

Phoenix PD Won’t Clean Up A Homicide

Unbeknownst to many people, the cleanup of a crime scene or homicide in Phoenix, Arizona isn’t taken care of by the police or crime scene unit, instead, the responsibility is left to the property owner. Naturally, this can be another headache to add to the already dramatic experience, therefore, many people in this situation want to know who can clean up a homicide in Phoenix.

There are, in fact, companies who specialize in the decontamination and cleanup of a homicide scene. When handling a homicide cleanup, many precautions must be taken to avoid exposure to biohazardous materials, such as blood or other bodily fluids. For this reason, not only proper equipment, like hazmat suits, must be used, but proper training and certifications are required to ensure safe removal, disposal, and decontamination of the area.

Getting Back To Your Life

If you’re a property owner who’s dealing with the aftermath of a homicide on your property, you’re likely just wishing for it all to be over so you can get back to your life, while also hoping your property isn’t destroyed. Thankfully, with proper cleaning and decontamination, a homicide cleanup company can restore your property back to its original state.

It’s never easy to bounce back from such a devastating situation like experiencing a homicide on your property, but what makes it easier is having your property cleaned and restored as quickly as possible. For this reason, having a professional homicide cleanup company in Phoenix help restore your property can help you get past this event much quicker.

Phoenix’s Best Homicide Cleanup Company

For a homicide cleanup that needs to be taken care of quickly and efficiently, the best company to work with is BioTeamAZ in Phoenix, Arizona. Again, this type of situation is best resolved by a quick response team of professionals who are certified and can effectively decontaminate the area to prevent further damage or possible infections, therefore, BioTeamAZ responds quickly and are at most scenes within an hour.

When looking for a company who cleans up a homicide in Phoenix, Arizona, there is no better option than BioTeamAZ. With over 10 years in business, they have the experienced needed to get the job done right the first time.

Who Cleans Up A Blood Spill In Phoenix, AZ

Whether the blood spill is a result of the aftermath of a crime scene, homicide, or merely a minor accident, blood being a biohazardous material should be treated with caution and cleaned up by a certified professional.

Not only can blood, and other bodily fluids, contain harmful pathogens, but in many cases the blood spill is much larger than initially assumed. If you’re dealing with a blood spill on a carpet or wood floor for instance, it may only appear to be a few inches spill but in most cases the blood has seeped through the flooring resulting in several square feet of exposure and damage.

Attempting to clean up a blood spill, large or small, is not worth the risk and should be handled professionally. In addition, ADEQ, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, has many strict regulations on the transportation and disposal of biohazard materials.

Contacting A Blood Spill Cleanup Company

If you’ve been handed the responsibility of dealing with a blood spill cleanup in Phoenix, Arizona but are unsure of who to contact in order to resolve the issue, there are many blood spill cleanup companies who can help. BioTeamAZ, for instance, provides discreet and professional blood spill cleanup services and will fully decontaminate the area to prevent any health concerns or lingering odors.

Blood Spills From A Homicide In Phoenix, AZ

In the extreme case of a blood spill resulting from a homicide, if you are the property owner where the homicide occurred, you may be responsible of cleaning the scene following the police investigation. This can be a traumatic experience as well as resulting in a very large cleanup task and could involve large blood spills.

Most property owners dealing with such an experience are in no condition to be dealing with prying eyes and local gossip. That is why BioTeamAZ provides discreet blood spill cleanup service, while also being quick and thorough. If you need a blood spill cleanup company in Phoenix, Arizona, there is no better choice than BioTeamAZ.
Have questions? Contact us today!