How To Clean Up After A Suicide

If you’re having to deal with the tragedy of losing a loved one to suicide, you may also have to deal with the clean up. Unfortunately this is a reality too many people have to face at a horribly difficult time, and it’s important grieving families know how to properly clean the area, or call a professional bioremediation company such as Aftermath to return the area to a livable state.

Suicide Cleanup Process

It is not recommended that families or property owners try to do the clean up after a suicide themselves because there are health risks, and unless someone is properly trained, they may not fully disinfect the area.

Aftermath is a professional bioremediation company, and is trained to clean up after a suicide. Here’s how our friendly, discreet professionals handle the process. Upon entering the scene, the cleanup crew follows a strict set of procedures designed to eliminate harmful contaminants, odors, and structural damage. Three zones are established, each with its own function:

• The Control Zone contains the areas where the suicide occurred and is where the remediation and disinfection takes place.
• The Buffer Zone serves as an area to put on personal protective equipment and contain disposal items.
• The Clean Zone is where tools and equipment are stored to prevent cross contamination.

After three zones are established, the work can begin in three stages:

• Cleaning: Technicians remove traces of blood and biological materials, dirt, and chemicals from the control zone. If personal property can’t be remediated, it becomes medical waste and is disposed of properly.
• Disinfecting: Next, technicians spray surfaces with disinfectant at precise intervals. Following treatment, the crew wipes all surfaces manually a second time before using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) fluorescence testing, a process similar to that used by hospitals and food safety personnel to verify sanitation levels.
• Deodorizing: A deodorizer is used to eliminate the possibility of lingering odors.

While these zones and stages are difficult to think about during such a difficult time, grieving families and property owners should know you aren’t alone, and you shouldn’t put yourselves at risk. Instead, call the professionals who can take this burden off your shoulders and return your property to a safe, livable condition.

Contacting Aftermath After a Suicide

Aftermath has assisted families and others with crime scene, suicide, and trauma cleanup since 1996. Aftermath’s technicians value safety, discretion, and compassion when safely remediating your home, vehicle, or business. Contact us online or by phone at (877) 872-4339 24 hours a day, seven days a week.