Homicide Cleanup
After investigators depart, homicide cleanup removes blood, tissue and contaminated materials.
See homicide cleanupGet blood, body fluids, fingerprint powder and odor removed from a home, apartment, rental or business in Lighthouse Point once police release the property. Most crime scene cleanups take one to three days.
Crime scene cleanup, also called forensic cleaning or trauma scene cleanup, is the removal of blood, body fluids, tissue and contaminated materials after a violent crime, then disinfection and odor removal so the property is safe to use again.
Cleanup begins only after the investigation is finished. Evidence is gathered and the deceased is removed by police, detectives and the medical examiner, none of whom clean the property. Once released, the scene becomes the responsibility of its owner, landlord or the family.
Crime scene cleaners, also called forensic cleaners or a forensic clean up crew, treat every drop of blood as infectious. They trace how far it traveled, remove what cannot be disinfected, clean and treat every surface, and haul the hazardous materials away under medical waste rules. It is a form of biohazard remediation, and the cleanup process covers these steps from start to finish.

Phone support is available day and night, while crews use unmarked vehicles to protect your privacy nearby.
Prepared photos, waste paperwork and scope details are available for landlords and insurance companies so you can move forward.
Crews put aside photos, papers and meaningful belongings for you to examine before any disposal.
The cleaning plan and pricing factors are explained in advance, helping you decide what suits your household.
Any violent event that leaves body fluids or blood behind calls for crime scene cleaning services. Common examples include:
Floors, furniture and walls can have blood and tissue in several rooms.
Fingerprint powder can cover the property alongside damaged doors and glass affected by blood.
Tear gas or pepper spray residue on walls, fabrics and HVAC ductwork after a standoff.
A private service means your family does not need to confront the scene.
Your health, final cost and insurance claim can all be affected by what happens in the first hours. While waiting for cleanup technicians:
Call (888) 351-0904Published cost guides put most residential crime scene cleanups between $1,500 and $7,500. Most crime scene cleanup companies price by the job, not the hour. A small area of surface blood can cost less, and scenes where blood reached the subfloor or several rooms can pass $10,000. The final price is set after the on-site assessment.
These national ranges are taken from published cost guides, rather than a property visit. After an on-site assessment, the price for your property is determined and shared with you before cleanup begins.
Ask about cost: (888) 351-0904Coverage depends on your policy. Homeowners and renters insurance may cover crime scene cleanup as a sudden and accidental loss, and a deductible may apply.
Coverage after a violent crime depends on the terms of your homeowners or renters policy. Make the event report quickly, then write down your claim number.
Victims of violent crime can ask the Florida Attorney General's Bureau of Victim Compensation about cleanup, since its rules count crime scene cleanup costs as a compensable loss. Insurance is usually checked first.
For common spaces or rented units, crime scene cleanup is generally arranged and paid for by the owner.
Find out whether your policy covers biohazard cleanup, whether a cleanup company is your choice, and which records or images the adjuster requires.
A safe, consistent order guides the remediation process, even though every crime scene differs. From the opening walk-through until final inspection, the crime scene cleanup process follows that sequence.
Technicians inspect and photograph the scene alongside you or your representative, then get agreement on the scope before beginning.
The crew wears complete personal protective equipment and seals the affected area with negative air and plastic sheeting.
Crews cut away soaked mattresses, furniture, carpet, pad and drywall, then bag and seal them as medical waste.
Technicians clean every surface before using hospital-grade disinfectant registered by the EPA for its required contact time.
Odors are addressed where they begin with air scrubbers, ozone or hydroxyl machines, while HVAC vents receive inspection.
Each sealed container is followed through delivery by paperwork and taken to an authorized medical waste treatment site.
You receive records and photos for the claim, and technicians can use ATP testing to check surfaces.
After the affected materials are removed, your chosen contractor or an insurer-selected vendor can install new flooring and drywall.
Phone any hour. You speak with a crime scene cleanup specialist who outlines the process and schedules a start time with you.
Blood and bodily fluids can carry serious health risks, and the contamination you can see is rarely all of it.
Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV can be present in blood. Despite dry-looking blood, hepatitis B may survive on surfaces for at least seven days, according to the CDC.
Blood can enter grout, flow beneath baseboards and pass through carpet to padding and subfloor. Odor and bacteria may return when hidden material remains after a surface wipe.
Having to clean the area where a family member was hurt creates a serious emotional burden. That emotional burden is why many families use professional crime scene cleaners.
Can you clean it yourself? A few drops of fresh blood on a hard, non-porous surface can be cleaned with gloves and an EPA-registered disinfectant. If blood touches fabric, wood, carpet or drywall, or spreads beyond visible edges, you need professional cleanup.
The rule is simple: if a material can be fully disinfected, it is cleaned. If blood soaked into it, it is removed.

Most crime scene cleanup work requires one to three days at the property. A small scene that happened recently may take one day, but a heavy scene requiring structural removal can last two to five days.
| Scene | Typical time on site |
|---|---|
| Light scene, one area | Often one to two days |
| One to two rooms in a typical scene | Often one to three days |
| Heavy scene, several rooms or subfloor removal | Often two to five days |
The source must be removed before the odor can be addressed. Spraying fragrance on tissue or blood masks the smell for just a few days.
With contaminated material gone, the cleanup team can capture airborne particles using HEPA air scrubbers. Hydroxyl generators may operate safely around people, and stubborn odor can be treated with ozone when rooms are empty. Thermal fogging gets into fabrics and wall cavities. HVAC ductwork is also inspected to prevent smells from spreading between rooms.
The full crime scene cleanup guide covers what is cleaned or removed, odor and air quality work, and the rules that apply in Florida and Broward County.
Read the full crime scene cleanup guide
Containment, entry and cleanup plans can be influenced by local housing, population and access details.
At 22.7% renter occupancy, most housing is owner occupied, which can reduce the number of parties involved in cleanup authorization.
In housing built around 1967, a moisture check can help define how far sewage or cleaning water traveled.
When 38.3% of seniors live alone, clear item documentation can help an absent relative make careful decisions about belongings.
Because 58.7% of housing is single-family, some calls involve one household while others require coordination around shared building areas.
Ask on the call about cleanup options for neighboring communities and ZIP codes.
After investigators depart, homicide cleanup removes blood, tissue and contaminated materials.
See homicide cleanup
Careful, private suicide cleanup keeps family members from having to confront the scene.
See suicide cleanup
Trauma scene cleanup after accidents, injuries and violent events.
See trauma scene cleanup
Blood cleanup on carpet, hard floors, walls and furniture with safe disposal.
See blood cleanup
Cleanup when a death went unnoticed for days, with decomposition and odor control.
See unattended death cleanup
Air scrubbers, hydroxyl and ozone treatment support death odor removal at its source.
See death odor removal
Deep cleaning, respectful sorting and removal are all part of hoarding cleanup.
See hoarding cleanup
Raw sewage cleanup treats Category 3 black water and includes both drying and disinfection.
See raw sewage cleanupMost scenes take one to three days on site. A light scene can be done in a day and a heavy scene with subfloor removal can take up to five days.
For most residential crime scene cleanup, published pricing guides show a range between $1,500 and $7,500. A minor surface job may be cheaper, while extensive or multiple-room cleanup may exceed $10,000.
At the beginning, a person must allow entry and approve the work scope. After access and scope are settled, your family can choose not to remain during cleanup.
Law enforcement and the medical examiner remove evidence and the deceased without cleaning the property. The property owner, the family or the landlord arranges crime scene cleanup, usually with professional crime scene cleaners.
Whether coverage applies depends on your renters or homeowners policy, with a possible deductible. Tell your insurer about the event and find out whether your policy covers biohazard cleanup.
Cleaning crime scenes uses a cleaning process that contains the space, removes saturated material, cleans and disinfects surfaces, treats odor and disposes of medical waste.
Crews carry out respectful, discreet crime scene cleanup, arrive in unmarked vehicles and take calls 24 hours a day.