Let the Professionals Handle Crime Scene Clean-Up

On television, in movies, and perhaps, unfortunately, in real life, you have seen what goes on a crime scene: the police, the detectives, the forensic investigators. But did you ever wonder what happens after they all part ways to start working on the case? What happens to the crime scene itself? Someone has to clean that up. Somehow, the street corner, store, or home has to return to normal. Until the movie Sunshine Cleaning debuted, that part was never even given a thought. Crime scene cleaners were basically invisible until actresses Amy Adams and Emily Blunt gave us a comedic view into what these people go through to restore the places we need to keep using post trauma.

What is a Crime Scene Clean-Up Service?

Just like the name says, this service comes in after the crime scene investigators are done gathering evidence and, well, clean up – although there is a technical name, CTS Decon, or Crime and Trauma Scene Decontamination. The cops are surely not going to clean up, and no one’s saying they should. They’ve got a case to solve.

So, who’s going to – let’s be blunt – get rid of the blood and mess? It’s not for just any cleaning service. Crime scene cleaners, first of all, have to have a tough stomach. They also have to be specially trained and certified. They have to be able to totally restore the area to as-good-as-new, but they may have to remove certain things in a careful way to preserve them as evidence. They also have to be certified in biohazard removal. They are dealing with bodily chemicals and fluids. They have to have the know-how and the equipment to clean in the safest way possible, and to leave the area itself as safe as possible.

There’s a science to this type of cleaning, as it involves completely decontaminating the scene. Often, dangerous materials have to be removed, and only the experts can be trusted to handle this safely and efficiently. Not only do hazardous materials need to be removed, but this also a level of cleaning that your typical cleaning service won’t reach. Say there’s a thumbnail-sized blood stain on the carpet. Well, you can’t just get rid of that stain, because chances are there’s a spot 10 times the size on the floorboards under the carpet, according to the site How Stuff Works.

Who should use a Crime Scene Clean-Up Service?

Here’s something else you may not realize: shooting happen in your convenience store? Yeah, not the police department’s responsibility to arrange for cleanup. It’s yours. Death in your home? Sadly, it’s your job to get it cleaned up. The incredibly traumatizing and depressing task is on your shoulders. You should never take on this task yourself. You don’t know how to handle all of the dangerous materials. You don’t know how to remove them safely, and where to dispose of them. You don’t know how to get under carpets and between walls to really clean the source of a mess. You probably don’t have the stomach for the job. And guess what. You shouldn’t have to. You’ve experienced great tragedy. The last thing you need, want, or deserve is to have to clean up. Let the professionals come in. They charge up to $600 an hour, according to How Stuff Works, but it’s worth it. Plus, this isn’t the kind of business in which they’ll linger to get more hours and money out of you. They will work quickly and efficiently because everyone wants to get out of there with a job well done.

What are the benefits of a Crime Scene Clean-Up Service?

You can step back and focus on everything else a tragedy of this magnitude calls for, like handling the next steps (financial information, funeral arrangements) and being with your family. You can rest assured that your home or business will be restored to the day before the crime or tragedy ever happened, and that everything will be safe, clean, and efficiently handled. These cleaners come from industries like the medical profession, so they are more than well-equipped, even possibly sympathetic and understanding to your needs. As stated on Crime Scene Clean-Up, these services are on call 24/7, 365 days a year. They come evaluate the scene and write a proposal, so you are always aware of exactly what will be done and about how much it will cost.

What are the risks of a Crime Scene Clean-Up Service?

Truthfully, the only real risk is that you get a service that employs the poorly trained and not-so-knowledgeable. But this is rare. This is not the type of business one enters to make a quick buck. This is for people who are experts in this work and who are dedicated to restoring your home or business, and taking a step toward restoring your life. This is where the proposal method comes in handy. You will be able to evaluate the proposal from the service, and make sure this is the right service for you.

Bottom line?

When you have a crime or tragedy scene on your hands, never think it’s yours to clean up. Step away and let the professionals handle it quickly, safely, and efficiently, while you focus on what really matters in recovering from the trauma.