When looking into crime scene cleanup in San Clemente, people are understandably overwhelmed. Crime scene cleanup is not something that most people go through even once in their lifetimes, so it can be a bit difficult to prepare for it. If you’re dealing with crime scene cleanup because of a crime that’s been committed on a property you own, we’re here to answer your questions. If you’re here because you need crime scene cleanup for an industrial accident or a traumatic event that happened on your business property, we can help you with that as well. 

What is crime scene cleaning?

Crime scene cleaning is technically cleaning that’s done to remove infectious and biohazardous waste located at crime scenes. When the cleaning is done at a non-crime scene, it’s referred to as biohazard remediation or forensic cleanup. The goal of all of this cleaning is the same: remove the dangerous waste from the site. 

Why is biohazardous waste so dangerous?

Biohazardous waste is dangerous because it contains the microorganisms that cause some of the worst diseases in humans. These microorganisms are called pathogens, and they include different types of viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Crime scenes, trauma scenes, and sites needing biohazardous remediation are filled with biohazardous waste, so they require cleaning that will scrub the space spotless and remove all of the pathogens so that the room can be safely used again. 

How do the cleaners clean the site?

Every crime scene is different, and each will require its own specific type of cleaning. There are general rules that are followed. 

• A team will come out and assess the site. This will allow them to figure out how big of a scene they’ll be working with. They’ll also be able to tell exactly what types of tools will be needed for cleanup. They’ll also be able to determine exactly how many people will be needed to clean up the site. Once all of this has been established, cleaning can begin.
• The team will then remove anything removable from the room that’s salvageable. They’ll have it cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized as needed. The items will then be isolated from the site so that they don’t become re-contaminated. 
• Next, all of the biohazardous waste will be removed from the site along with anything else that needs to be trashed. The teams will make sure that the “clean” waste is placed into bins separate from the biohazardous or infectious waste. The dangerous waste needs to be placed in special containers and tightly sealed so that the contents don’t spill out. If they do, they could possibly infect the people handling and transporting the waste or contaminate other surfaces. 
• After waste removal, the site will be washed down. The cleaners will use special solvents, cleaners, disinfectants, and deodorizers that have been proven to rid surfaces of disease-causing pathogens. You need to use these cleaners to ensure that you are thoroughly sanitizing the space. The cleaners use tools like long-reach brushes to access the hard-to-reach area of the space. 
• Sometimes the sites have very bad smells. Sometimes these smells are so strong that even the strongest deodorizers that the cleaners have don’t work. This is when the cleaners will use something called an ozone generator machine. An ozone generator machine is a special machine that shoots Ozone gas into the room. The Ozone gas locates and targets the tiny microorganisms that are causing the smell. Not only does the Ozone gas eliminate those microorganisms, but it kills the smell that they were creating. This type of machine is extremely important at crime scenes where there’s a lot of biohazardous waste like decomp or waste that has been sitting for a long period of time.

Why should you use a professional crime scene cleaning team?

Professional crime scene cleaners know exactly what they need to do to get the job done. They’re already fully trained, and they know exactly how to use each and every tool necessary. They’re experts at bringing back sites to their original condition. 

Additionally, they have some emotional distance from the scene. Crime scenes can be really difficult to handle for just about anyone. Many people assume that they’ll be able to handle crime scene clean-up on their own until they actually get into the room. 

Our cleaners create a buffer for our clients. We can handle the tough part of restoring a crime scene to a space people feel comfortable using again, and they can focus on the other aspects of life that made handling.

Who’s responsible for crime scene cleaning?

It comes as a surprise to many people that they are responsible for crime scene cleaning. It’s something that’s not usually addressed on many crime television shows, so people assume that when a crime happens, there’s some official agency that handles cleanup. Whoever owns the site where the cleaning is taking place is responsible for the cleanup. 

If you’re concerned about costs, speak to your insurance company. Many residential and commercial insurance policies cover a portion of or all of crime scene cleanup costs. It all depends on what your specific policy says. In certain cases, there is financial assistance available for people who are handling homicide crime scene clean up. It’s a lot to think about, so give us a call if you’re unclear where you even need to begin. We can figure it out together. 

Crime scene cleanup is hard no matter what type of cleanup it is. Your mind is probably racing with questions. Give us a call so that we can try and help you figure out what your next steps should be. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can focus on the next phase of your life.