When it comes to crime scene cleaning, a lot of people are very surprised to find out that the entire process falls to them. Crime scene cleaning is something that no one wants to think about, but it’s something that many people have to deal with every year. If there’s any good news out of this, it’s that you don’t have to go about it alone. You can work with a crime scene cleaning company that has the expertise and know-how to get you through the process so that you can focus on the job of healing.

What exactly is crime scene cleaning?

Technically, crime scene cleaning is the process of removing biohazardous waste from a crime scene or trauma scene before cleaning the scene so that it’s safe for use. When a violent crime is committed, one of the main things left behind is biohazardous waste. Biohazardous waste is waste that contains pathogens. Pathogens are the microorganisms that cause diseases in humans. When you come down with pneumonia, that’s a bacterial pathogen. When you get the flu, that’s a viral pathogen. Pathogens are found in biohazardous and other types of infectious waste. At a crime scene, biohazardous waste includes things like blood, bodily fluids, body tissue, brain matter, and other types of organic matter. It also includes objects that are soaked with this matter. This type of waste is highly infectious, and simply touching it can cause someone to become contaminated. 

When does crime scene cleaning begin?

When a crime or accident happens, law enforcement usually has to go on-site and do an investigation. They’ll collect fingerprints, and they’ll look for every bit of evidence. Once they finish their investigation, they will release the crime scene. Only at that point can crime scene cleaning begin. 

Why can’t private individuals clean the crime scene themselves?

Some people believe that they will be able to clean the crime scene themselves. They may think that they simply need to get household cleaners and some bleach, and they’ll be ready to go.

Crime scene cleaners bring top-of-the-line, OSHA-approved and EPA-approved cleaners, disinfectants, and deodorizers to the site. These cleaners have been proven to remove all pathogens from the site so that it is safe for human habitation. All pathogens must be removed so that anyone entering the site after cleanup is done are not contaminated with any lingering pathogens.

Another reason that it makes sense to allow professional crime scene cleaners to handle the cleaning is for the emotional and mental part of the whole process. Dealing with a crime is a lot. Dealing with the crime scene is even more. You don’t even need to be personally connected to a victim of a crime to be affected by what happened. Many people underestimate the emotional toll that entering a just-released crime scene will have on them. The good thing about crime scene cleaners is that they are emotionally removed from the site. Their goal is to make the site clean and safe for the spaces occupants. When you allow crime scene cleaners to handle cleanup of a crime scene or trauma scene, you’re allowing yourself to be confident in the fact that the cleaning will be done properly. You’ll also be giving yourself the emotional distance that you need from the site so that you can focus on other aspects of healing.

Who is responsible for crime scene cleaning?

The people who are responsible for cleaning a crime scene are the people who own the space where the incident happened. This means that if you own a business or a crime or accident took place, you are responsible for making sure that the crime scene cleanup is taken care of. It will be your responsibility to pay for it. If you own a home in which a crime or accident took place, you will be responsible for the cleanup. Many people believe that crime scene cleanup falls to law enforcement or to the crime scene technicians, so they’re usually surprised when they realize this aspect of dealing with a crime scene.

What happens during crime scene cleaning?

When crime scene cleaning begins, the crime scene cleaners will come to the site and make an assessment. They’ll be able to determine how big the site is, how many cleaners will need to be involved in cleanup, and what tools they’ll need to bring in order to handle the specific type of issues related to that specific crime scene.

Once an assessment has been done, the team will next get rid of all of the debris and makeshift structures that exist at the site. Usually this includes getting rid of the temporary shelters that were built up, including boxes, blankets, and tents. These items will be placed into bins and bags depending on type. If the items have biohazardous waste on them, they’ll be placed into special bins that are separate from the regular garbage. This is to make sure that there’s no cross-contamination between the different types of waste. You aren’t allowed to throw biohazard waste into regular garbage cans since it could contaminate garbage collectors and any member of the public who happens to come into contact with it.

The next step is to remove all of the biohazardous waste at the site. This includes all liquid material and all solid material waste on it. The waste will be packed up in the special bins where it will be transported once cleaning is complete.

The next step will be to wash down, disinfect, and deodorize the space. Cleaning teams will use OSHA approved and EPA approved cleaners, deodorizers, and disinfectants. 

After wash-down and disinfection is done, the biohazardous waste will be transported to a waste facility to be destroyed. 

There’s a lot that goes into cleaning a crime scene. We have the expertise, knowledge and know-how to handle every bit of it for you.