Decomposition Cleanup

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Life offers few experiences similar to the discovery of a human decomposition. The sight and odors discovered during human decomposition may remain in one's mind for years to come. In fact, "flash backs" or strong memories of that unfortunate find become a daily occurrence for some people.

In the past decomposition cleanup soon followed discovery of the decedent's body. Little time wasted on this cleaning task meant fewer insect and odor complaints from neighbors. Those tasked with a decomposition cleanup went about their work as they would most other cleaning chores, scrub and rinse.

Until the invention of chemicals like household beach, decomposition cleanup sometimes went from bad to worse. The death scene reeked to "high heavens" until source materials and plenty of fresh air helped to deodorize the scene.

What follows need not direct readers' actions. Put another way, take nothing here dogmatically. There's plenty of room for forethought and imagination. I'm trying to set a tone for safety and cleaners' comfort during this most horrendous death cleanup task.

Official Release of Death Scene

You cannot begin decomposition cleanup and tell you have an official release of the death scene. Most often this release will follow from a corners employee, a medical examiner employee which are practically the same, or some other official local government office. The above agencies come into action to help identify the decedent's body as well as ensure the death occurred naturally. If questions linger, decomposition cleanup may have to wait. In no case, remove a corners of our public administrator seal from a door and enter

First Helpful Cleanup Actions

Most often callers to my toll-free number for help with decomposition cleanup want to know where to begin. Usually I'll let them know offhand that it's important to open windows if possible. It's important to leave an air conditioner on low if possible. However, if the death scene is under investigation for a long period of time, keeping this testing cool may become quite expensive. In any case, open windows when odors will not become a nuisance to neighbors. A fan might help if it moves there any helpful direction. Also helpful, leave a light on. It is thought that light helps to slow the growth of new bacteria.

Masking Odors

Once novices full experience death and blood's decomposition odors they will want to mask these odors as soon as possible. Don't. You need these odors to guide your cleaning efforts. Once blood soiled materials no longer pollute the death scene's room odors begin to dissipate. If strong odors remain without change or significant change, you have not removed all of the source material.

So don't even thing of hiding those putrifying odors. You need them. Later you'll clean then away and you will seal them into the floor, walls, and ceiling if needed. But you must keep them for your olfactory nerves to alert your senses to death's presence. Belive me, you do not want to walk into a death scene a week after laying new carpet to discover that you missed something.

Preplanning Cleanup

Time, patience, and preplanning will save a lot of work. Heartache need not become more of a problem with preplanning.

Into the Job

One important step to take if you can take any steps at all should not cost much money. That is, place a plastic tarp over the blood soiled area, including blood soiled bedding and mattresses. Here's a picture of a lightly blood soiled couch that has blood's decomposing bacteria hard at work. And "no," this couch cannot be cleaned. It's biowaste and will become solid waste if anything else. One of two or both of the following steps may help:

1. Soak blood soiled areas with hydrogen peroxide and expect a fizzle, foaming, if blood is indeed present. Never allow liquids to drain into or from the treated area.
2. Soak blood soiled areas with 90% bleach and 10% water. Never allow liquids to drain into or from the treated area.

Expect bleach to soak into the treated area without apparent chemical reaction, unless color loss begins. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide fizzle, foam, when added together. Let dry.

Once dry you may choose to pour paint or a primer over the once blood soaked areas. Zinnsser B-I-N works very well for this purpose. It costs about $45 dollars at most Home Depots and other hardware stores. A spray can may do the trick too, but keep in mind you may need to do more of this work during cleaning. The death scene floor may need a sealer as well.

Take a Break

For the first time decomposition cleaners, it's important to take a break soon after work begins in ernest. Say, 20 minutes into the task step out and consider your work. Recall, too, that your footwear may have biowaste soiling so be ready to remove your footwear. This should be part of your pre-planning, incidentally.