salvageable after unattended death

Unattended deaths bring additional complications that can quickly overwhelm anyone managing affairs for the deceased. Official paperwork, unexpected bills, and planning memorial services—all while dealing with the grief or stress of losing a loved one. There is a lot of misinformation out there, so BioteamAZ is here to clear the air and answer questions about salvageable items during an unattended death (UAD) cleanup.

Salvageable vs. Unsalvageable Items

Clients frequently ask, “Do I need to throw everything in the house away?”

The answer is No. You do not have to discard everything after an unattended death.

Only porous and some semi-porous materials directly impacted by blood, bodily fluids, or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) must be discarded.

Non-porous items that are directly impacted by blood or bodily fluids (such as jewelry, metal furniture, glassware, glazed ceramics, and most hard plastics) can typically be disinfected and salvaged, even if directly impacted by biohazards.

Porous items like clothing, quilts, and plush toys that are NOT directly contaminated can usually be treated for odors, laundered, and kept. To repeat- if there is no blood or bodily fluids directly on a porous item, it is usually salvageable. However, odors can linger on certain materials which may require repeat or specialized treatments. Fortunately, Arizona provides a secret weapon: the sun. Leaving porous items outdoors in direct sunlight significantly reduces odor. Every situation is different, so confirm specifics with your BioteamAZ technician.

Is Flooring Salvageable?

Always be cautious about flooring. Even materials with non-porous surfaces like tile or laminate can trap biohazards beneath, requiring removal to disinfect the subfloor thoroughly. Porous items like carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, and mattresses that are saturated by blood or bodily fluids are considered unsalvageable and must be disposed of properly.

We Are Here to Help!

Transparency and ethics are core to our business model. If you have questions, BioteamAZ has honest answers. We are a trusted IICRC Certified Firm and offer free consultations to help guide you through biohazard cleanup after an unattended death. Call us anytime at 602-246-8326.

Click here to learn more about the IICRC.