As a professional cleaning company based in Scotland, Clean Team Scotland is frequently called upon to handle after-death cleaning.
While these projects are never easy, we always approach them in a professional manner, offering support to our clients through this difficult and traumatic time.
"Unattended deaths" require direct, immediate and specific action. Most people are unprepared for this and are unsure of the next steps. That's why Clean Team Scotland is your first choice when you need an unattended death cleaning service.
An unattended death is usually where a deceased person is not discovered for a certain period of time. This may be days, but can also be weeks, months or even years.
The causes of death vary, including natural causes, suicide, accident or illness. In many cases, the deceased lived alone or had no friends, neighbours or relatives to check on them regularly.
For the most part, the cases we deal with involve elderly residents who live alone, although we have been called upon for crime scene cleanup work on several occasions.
Despite the tragic nature of these deaths, cleaning up is a priority and must be undertaken as soon as possible. Proper training is essential, as the site will be contaminated, and this will require specialist equipment and knowledge.
And this is where Clean Team Scotland can help, with our after-death clean-up service. We understand that this will be a traumatic time for all involved, especially in the event of the unexpected loss of a loved one. We provide a discreet and sensitive service to all our clients, regardless of their relationship with the deceased person.
For the uninitiated, the difficult realities of after-death cleaning can be a lot to deal with. This is especially so when a loved one is the focus of the project.
In these cases, we extend our deepest condolences, and we always strive to maintain a respectful, professional manner at all times.
While it is never our intention to upset our clients, it is vital that we operate with efficiency and accuracy throughout the project, and this means using technical terms that may be upsetting during the assessment and planning process. For this, we are sorry, but it is necessary.
With this in mind, let's explain what happens during an unattended death cleanup.
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There are five basic steps to our unattended death cleaning services (also called trauma cleaning), each one of which is undertaken by our trained and qualified cleaners, ensuring that you never have to worry about how to clean up after an unattended death.
We visit the property (this is typically within a home, although we can apply our services to outdoor areas if necessary) and make our assessment quickly and thoroughly.
A plan is drawn up and the necessary equipment is gathered ready for the team to begin work.
By this time, of course, the remains have been removed by the appropriate authority.
The team begins with the removal of any biohazardous materials, including blood and other bodily fluids.
Biohazard cleaning is an essential part of the process, and the team will wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent cross-contamination.
Human body fluids are released during composition, contaminating the surrounding area, particularly where organic materials are present. Biohazard remediation is frequently required, involving the removal of contaminated materials such as fabric, furniture, carpets, rugs, etc. These must be disposed of responsibly and in accordance with biohazard cleanup laws.
Following an unattended death, you can't simply scrub floors to get them clean.
Our team uses medical-grade chemicals and professional cleaning equipment to sanitise the affected area. Although all human remains have been removed, other matter may still be present, including potential pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens, such as hepatitis b and hepatitis c, can cause severe illness if not treated with caution.
Bacteria found in bodily fluids can survive outside of the body for many weeks, presenting a health risk to anyone on the scene.
Our team ensures that all of this matter is thoroughly cleaned away and any contaminated materials disposed of responsibly.
Decomposition leaves foul odours that can be extremely difficult to eradicate.
We use a range of methods to eliminate these odours, leaving the air completely clean and fresh.
One particularly effective method is Biosweep, which uses a mixture of pure oxygen and hydrogen peroxide that is pumped in as a fine mist. The odour particles are broken down by photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), completely removing them from the immediate environment. This method also gets rid of viruses and bacteria, making it a very useful tool in undiscovered death cleaning.
The final step involves any action that returns the space to a liveable and usable state.
For the most part, this includes general cleaning of the premises to ensure it is completely clean.
While many people believe that it's up to the emergency services or other authorities, who cleans up after a death is typically the responsibility of the property owner.
Whether the resident was a family member or tenant, it's up to you to make sure that specialist cleaners have made the affected areas safe for habitation.
Please keep in mind that you cannot, under any circumstances, perform this task yourself due to the hazardous waste involved.
The Clean Team Scotland team are fully trained to handle crime scene cleaning as well as unattended death cleaning. The process is almost identical, although there is an added dimension due to the involvement of the police and crime scene investigations officers.
We work closely with the authorities to ensure that the area is cleaned thoroughly and efficiently, in accordance with health and safety protocols and the instructions provided by the lead investigators.
When the need arises, our crime scene cleaners will provide the best possible service.
Clean Team Scotland cleaners work on an hourly rate. The total cost will reflect the conditions present, the nature of the work involved, and the length of time taken to restore the site to a safe and sanitary state.
Essentially, this depends on the number of contaminated areas and the length of time the body was left unattended (i.e. the level of decomposition).
As a rough idea, unattended death cleanup generally falls somewhere between £300 and £2,000, although it can reach £3,500 or more in extreme cases.
A full site assessment will be necessary to arrive at an accurate figure, although are happy to provide a free quote when you call us.
Whether you know the deceased or not, discovering a body is always traumatic.
However, it's absolutely essential to follow these steps:
Do not try to clean the site yourself, as this presents a serious health and safety risk - aside from being a thoroughly unpleasant and traumatic experience for the unprepared and inexperienced.
Clean Team Scotland proudly serves the Scottish regions with a full range of cleaning services, including unattended death cleaning.
While it doesn't form the main part of our work, it's an extremely important task that must always be undertaken by professionals.
At such a difficult and traumatic time, you deserve a team you can trust to cause minimal disruption and act with integrity, compassion and respect.
And that's why you need Clean Team Scotland.
We're ready for your call today.
After-death cleaning involves the removal of biohazards, blood, bodily fluids, and contaminants from a scene where a death has occurred, ensuring the area is hygienic and safe for future use.
After a death, especially in cases of trauma, blood, and bodily fluids can pose serious health risks. A professional after-death cleaning service ensures thorough sanitisation of the affected area.
The time required for after-death cleaning depends on the severity and size of the area to be cleaned. On average, it can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day.
No, you do not need to be present for the after-death cleaning. Our team will work discreetly and efficiently, following all health and safety regulations.
Some insurance policies may cover the costs of after-death cleaning, depending on the circumstances and type of policy. It’s best to check with your insurance provider for details.
After our cleaning service, the area will be thoroughly disinfected and tested to ensure that it’s free of any biohazards, making it safe for use once more.
