What Does Crime Scene and Biohazard Cleanup Involve?
Crime scene and biohazard cleanup involves the safe removal and decontamination of hazardous materials—including blood, bodily fluids, and some chemicals—using scientifically verified protocols to eliminate harmful pathogens and restore a safe environment. Aftermath Services, a biohazard cleaning company, describes its work as handling remediation "with professionalism and a deep understanding of the sensitive circumstances surrounding trauma scenes and hazardous environments." This kind of cleanup is typically needed for crime scenes, unattended deaths, suicides, hoarding situations, narcotics exposure, and law enforcement facilities such as jail cells and police cars.
What Gets Cleaned Up
The core materials that make a scene a biohazard job rather than a normal cleaning job are:
- Blood and bodily fluids — the primary biohazard category, and the reason specialized protocols are required.
- Some chemicals — certain hazardous substances fall within biohazard remediation scope.
- Contaminated surfaces and materials — anything the above has touched and that must be decontaminated or removed.
The stated goal is not just visible cleanliness but the removal of dangerous contaminants so the site is safe to re-enter and use.
How the Process Works
Aftermath describes its approach in three parts:
- 24/7 rapid response — local teams are available every day of the year, so work can begin quickly after a report.
- Compassionate, professional service — teams are trained to operate in sensitive circumstances, with privacy maintained and property treated with care.
- Scientific verification — cleanup follows "rigorous, scientifically verified protocols" designed to eliminate harmful pathogens and restore safe conditions.
In practice, that means the job combines two things at once: the technical removal and disinfection of hazards, and the protection of the people involved—families, property owners, and communities.
Which Situations Call for This Service
Aftermath lists the following as its cleanup categories, which also serve as a useful checklist for when professional remediation applies:
| Situation | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Biohazard remediation | Safe removal and decontamination of blood, bodily fluids, and some chemicals |
| Crime scene cleanup | Removing biohazards and decontaminating areas to protect safety and peace of mind |
| Unattended death cleanup | Removing biohazards and restoring the site to a safe state |
| Suicide cleanup | Discreet cleanup of affected areas and elimination of biohazards |
| Hoarding cleanup | Respectful and efficient cleanup of hoarding situations |
| Narcotics remediation | Decontamination of properties exposed to drug use |
| Jail cell and police car cleaning | Remediation of biohazards in law enforcement facilities |
| Commercial and industrial | Cleaning services for businesses and industrial settings |
Why It Isn't a DIY Job
The recurring emphasis on "scientifically verified protocols" and "eliminating harmful pathogens" points to the key distinction: the risk isn't only what you can see. Contaminants that aren't visible can remain after ordinary cleaning, which is why the work is framed around verification and restored safety rather than appearance. If a scene involves any of the categories above, the relevant question isn't whether it looks clean—it's whether the hazardous material has actually been removed and the area decontaminated.
Getting Started
Aftermath's site offers two entry points: requesting cleanup assistance online, or calling 877-872-4339. Both are presented as ways to begin the process when you're not sure where to start.