Crime Scene Cleanup
Crime scene cleaning after police release the property, from blood to odor.
See crime scene cleanupGet blood, bodily fluids, contaminated materials and odor removed after investigators release a home, rental, business or vehicle in Denver County. The cleanup scope is based on where contamination traveled.
Homicide cleanup is a specialized form of crime scene cleanup that removes blood, bodily fluids and other contaminated materials after investigators finish their work and release the property.
The investigation is the responsibility of law enforcement and the medical examiner or coroner, not property cleaning. A relative, landlord, owner or other person with authorization can arrange homicide cleaning once officials have released the scene.
Ordinary cleaning services do not cover the full process. Cleanup technicians protect rooms outside the scene while locating affected material in the immediate space and nearby areas. They treat surfaces that are cleanable and remove those materials where disinfection is not possible. Odor treatment, the packaging and disposal of hazardous waste, and requested records for an insurance company are also included.

You can ask what will be cleaned, what must be removed, how waste will leave the property and what remains for restoration.
You are consulted about recoverable personal property after it is isolated and before a removal decision occurs.
You may protect privacy by requesting unmarked vehicles and allowing only authorized people into the property during this difficult event.
When discussing the loss with property owners and insurance companies, you can use photos, inventories, scope notes and disposal paperwork.
Homicide cleanup services are needed when a violent death leaves blood or other biological material in a home, rental, business or vehicle. Common situations include:
Blood and tissue can reach walls, ceilings, furniture, carpet and hidden joints, so the full path must be traced.
A landlord or authorized property manager may arrange scene cleanup after police release the unit and the family removes essential belongings.
Seats, carpet, trim and insulation are checked to decide what can be cleaned and what must be removed.
While stores, offices, shared spaces or warehouses are checked for contamination, the affected area can remain isolated.
Respect for the investigation comes first. You should also avoid exposure and retain details that may be useful for a claim. Before cleanup technicians enter, take these steps:
Call (888) 440-9227Published guides list a typical violent crime scene cleanup at $2,500 to $9,000 per job. A smaller homicide scene is listed at $2,000 to $6,000 and a larger one at $3,000 to $10,000 per project. These are planning ranges, not a quote. The final scope depends on the assessment.
The figures shown are national ranges from published cost guides and are not based on an on-site visit. The price for your property is set after the on-site assessment, and you hear it before work starts.
Ask about cost: (888) 440-9227Homicide cleanup may be paid through a renters, homeowners or commercial policy. Whether it applies depends on the specific loss, policy terms and deductible.
Who organizes and pays for the work may depend on ownership, the lease, applicable local law and insurance terms. Tenants and landlords should each contact the appropriate insurer.
Once police release the property, explain the event to your insurer. Ask whether biohazard cleanup, damaged building materials and restoration are included.
Victims of violent crime can ask their judicial district's Crime Victim Compensation program whether cleanup costs can be included in a compensation claim, since several district programs list crime scene cleanup. Insurance is usually checked first.
Find out which waste documents, photographs, item inventories, invoices and scope records the insurance company requires. Retain everything you send to the insurance company.
Remediation proceeds in a controlled sequence once the scene is released. The path of contamination, the materials that are still safe to save and applicable waste rules guide each step.
After the authorized person points out known affected areas, technicians examine floor edges, belongings, adjacent surfaces and potential travel routes.
Clean rooms are kept apart from the work area. Cleanup technicians use suitable personal protective equipment and controls that reduce tracking beyond the scene.
Visible blood and bodily fluids are collected with methods suited to each surface before detailed cleaning and disinfection begin.
Carpet, pad, drywall, upholstery or subfloor that cannot be fully disinfected is removed in the smallest practical area.
After thorough scene cleaning, an EPA-registered disinfectant remains wet on each cleanable surface for the contact time stated on its label.
Once the source is gone, air filtration and targeted treatment can address odor in room air, remaining materials and connected spaces.
After contaminated waste is sealed and labeled, it is moved in accordance with applicable requirements and available disposal records are retained.
The completed scope is reviewed, saved personal property is returned as agreed and removed finishes are listed for restoration services.
Call at any time. Your homicide cleanup specialist answers the phone, describes what happens next and works with you on a start time.
Serious health risks may remain in bodily fluids, blood and contaminated material out of sight. Those risks can still be present if the visible spot appears dry or limited.
The scene can be deeply distressing for loved ones. Direct contact with the affected room and personal property can be avoided by family members through professional cleanup.
Blood can carry hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Dried blood must still be controlled carefully because the CDC says hepatitis B survives on surfaces for at least seven days.
Soaked porous material and used protective equipment may require regulated packaging, transport and disposal under applicable medical waste rules.
Can you clean it yourself? Disposable gloves may be used to clean a minor amount of fresh blood from hard non-porous material, along with an EPA-registered disinfectant left for the entire label contact time. Seek professional cleanup and keep away whenever blood reaches fabric, carpet, drywall, wood or a location with unknown edges.
The time required for homicide cleaning depends on how large the scene is, how deep contamination went, how many rooms are involved, available access and how much material needs removal. A useful schedule can be discussed following the initial assessment.
| Scene | Typical time on site |
|---|---|
| Limited affected area with accessible surfaces | Timeline determined once the scene is released and inspected |
| One room with porous material removal | Cleaning may be completed before a separate restoration step |
| Several rooms or structural contamination | Typically requires work in stages followed by a longer restoration |
Odor removal begins by finding and removing the source. Fragrance alone cannot correct fluids absorbed into carpet, subfloor, drywall, furniture or hidden cavities.
Once contaminated materials are gone, airborne particles can be filtered with HEPA air scrubbers. Hydroxyl treatment is an option for occupied spaces when permitted by equipment instructions. Ozone treatment needs an empty area and strict controls. Before you proceed, the cleaning process may also involve inspecting neighboring rooms and vents.
Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, workers are subject to requirements covering training, exposure controls and protective equipment.
A disinfectant should be EPA-registered for the intended use and remain on the surface for the full contact time shown on its label.
Colorado treats waste that can cause infectious disease, including human blood and body fluids, as infectious waste. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's medical waste rules apply to its handling, so it should not go in household trash.
Colorado has no statewide medical examiner. Death investigation is county-based, led mostly by elected county coroners, with a few counties using a medical examiner or coroner. Cleanup starts after police or the coroner release the scene.
The full homicide cleanup guide covers what is cleaned or removed, odor and air quality work, and the rules that apply in Colorado and Denver County.
Read the full homicide cleanup guide
Local population patterns, housing and site access may affect how containment and cleanup are planned.
The approximately 3.2 mile trip to Denver Health & Hospital Authority matters when an injury must be assessed before anyone returns to the affected space.
With Harvey Park, Westwood, and Little Saigon close by, a complete address and entrance details keep the visit private and easy to find.
As a Denver neighborhood, Mar Lee may include several building styles, so cleanup planning should start with the exact property type.
Your phone conversation can include questions about service in nearby ZIP codes and communities.
Crime scene cleaning after police release the property, from blood to odor.
See crime scene cleanup
Walls, carpets, furnishings and hard floors receive blood cleanup, with safe disposal afterward.
See blood cleanup
Trauma scene cleanup after accidents, injuries and violent events.
See trauma scene cleanup
Cleaning a home after someone dies, including fluids, odor and affected belongings.
See death cleanup
Suicide cleanup is completed privately and with care, protecting families from seeing the scene.
See suicide cleanup
Decomposition cleanup and odor control are needed after a death goes unnoticed for several days.
See unattended death cleanup
Investigation residue, tissue and fingerprint powder are addressed along with forensic cleaning of blood.
See forensic cleaning
Air scrubbers, hydroxyl and ozone treatment support death odor removal at its source.
See death odor removalProperty outside the contaminated space can either be covered in place or transferred into a clean room. Each belonging inside the scene receives its own assessment. Non-porous belongings made from hard materials may be cleanable. Before deciding, the team should speak with you about papers, photos and keepsakes, while absorbent property may have to be removed.
Coverage under a homeowners policy may extend to homicide scene cleanup, and death cleanup may also qualify, depending on the event, deductible, exclusions and exact policy terms. Speak with the insurer before cleanup starts. Ask the insurer about required documentation, biohazard cleanup, damaged materials, personal property and restoration before work starts.
Yes, separate hazards may exist at the same property. Heavy accumulations may be addressed through hoarding cleanup services once evidence restrictions have ended. Sewage cleanup can be required following a sewage backup, and drying may be needed where water damage occurred. Each hazard needs its own containment, cleaning process and disposal plan.
Insurance may pay some or all covered costs after the deductible, but no answer applies to every policy or every situation. When reporting claim details, ask the insurance company about biohazard cleanup, emergency response work, structural materials and restoration. Retain all photos, work notes, bills and waste records.
Right. Different property conditions can be present in each, although both qualify as death cleanup and trauma scene cleanup. Until law enforcement releases a homicide scene, it stays under official control and may contain residue from evidence processing. Decomposition and broader odor problems are often present after an unattended death because some time elapsed before discovery.
If blood affected wood, furnishings, fabric, drywall, carpet or somewhere hidden, the cleanup is not suitable for DIY work. Contamination that is not visible, along with bloodborne pathogens, can present serious health risks. Until official release, keep pets and people outside, then arrange professional cleanup if you cannot identify the affected area's complete limits.
Respectful, discreet homicide cleanup is available 24 hours a day, and crews arrive in unmarked vehicles.