[Steve Chapman]

Hi all,

have been asked to do an entire clean of a property where a dead body was found and was there for a few weeks 

They've asked for the carpet to be cleaned where the body was and i've obviously told them it needs to be ripped out and destroyed, but what about other furnishings and carpets nearby, can we get away of doing a thorough clean of the place? & are there any extra precautions we need to take, apart from the obvious ones like gloves and masks etc.

have to get back to her tommorow with some info so would  appreciate your comments if you have done this sort of thing

cheers
steve

[MICHAEL_GAYTON]

you could have posted this after tea time,put me off my diner

[paul_smith]

Unless there was any infectious desease involved,just get on and clean it in a normal manner,wear gloves and mask as a precaution.

I can't see why the carpet should be ripped up?why can't it just be cleaned and sanitized?

good luck

Paul

[John Kelly]

Steve, if the body was there for a few weeks than quite a bit of liquor will have leached out. This will have permeated all the surfaces which were in contact with the body and possibly the surrounding areas. All porous contaminated materials need to be disposed of including carpet, underlay and even flooring if it is chipboard. If its wood boards then you may be able to clean them, however check for ingress below the boards as this will cause an ongoing odour problem. Best way to deal with carpet is to pre-spray with anti microbial then using a sharp stanley knife cut it into 1 foot squares and bag up. Anything not directly contaminated can be cleaned using a suitable detergent and anti microabial. You may find the window frames and surrounds peppered with fly droppings.

[spencer davies]

Did a similar job last week, I can still taste the air, really difficult job but certainly an experience.


Regards




S

[Karl Wildey]

Bleach is still the best thing to clean/sanitise any flooring/chipboard.
After several weeks that carpet will be beyond. Don't even bother cleaning it, or you' ll be returning.

Any flies about

[Steve Chapman]

apparently the body fluids had gone through underlay and into floor boards, so

cant see any possibility of cleaning the carpet 

the place was full of flies as well, so that will need adressing as well,

think it was an elderly person who had passed away and nobody knew!

will see the full extent tommorrow

cheers
steve

[mark_roberts]

Unless there was any infectious desease involved,just get on and clean it in a normal manner,wear gloves and mask as a precaution.

I can't see why the carpet should be ripped up?why can't it just be cleaned and sanitized

Are you MAD

Mark

[murky]

He HAS to take it away and dispose of it responsibly.

As was said the body was there for a while, if you go on a restoration course they will tell you that any porous surface that has had body fluids on it for more than 24 hours has to go.

The reason being that you cant guarantee that the next person in that room wont pick an infection etc from the carpet can you.

Its quite simple really the carpet has been in contact with dead body fluids.

Similarly, remember all the flooded items that had to be disposed of because they had been contaminated, even if they were solid.

And also bleach will not kill all germs etc, it is only a strong cleaner. Remember the advert, it only kills 99% of house hold germs.

Not the 100% that a bioCIDE or fungiCIDE will. (Homicide, suicide etc geddit)

I respectfully suggest that people should go on a suitable  cleaning and restoration course such as the Flood School or the BDMA and then find out what you can and cant do in these situations.

Murky

[Ian Gourlay]

I would phone Richard at Chemspec. he talked me through it once.

[The Great One]

Unless there was any infectious desease involved,just get on and clean it in a normal manner,wear gloves and mask as a precaution.

I can't see why the carpet should be ripped up?why can't it just be cleaned and sanitized

Are you MAD

Mark

Blood is a pathogen.

For 12 hours after death the body goes into Rigormortis, after this the body will purge for every orofice, these fluids will have penertrated the carpet, underlay, floorboards and maybe even the joists.

If the body was on a sofa or bed then this also has to go, if any blood is on plasterboards, these may also have to go, and best to be on the safe side.

This all has to go and be classed as hazardous waste. The property will have to be fogged to kill off any flies & larve.

You of course have to be 'suited & booted and I would spray a anti bactericide beforehand to be on the safe side (Sta Kill)

He would be MAD to do otherwise.

Although gruesome, he will be well paid.

Regards


Martin

[Karl Wildey]

The bleach will kill any odour. Thats why its good to use.

IICRC odour control course, yes I have done it.

Anyone that thinks that cleaning this carpet is ok, should seriously think about what has leaked out of a body and then consider would they want that carpet in their lounge.

the carpet is beyond cleaning/sanitising or anything else

[mark_roberts]

Just to clarify my post, I was responding to a previous post and cut and pasted the quote.

Still mad IMO.

Mark

[Steve Chapman]

Dont worry theres no way im cleaning that carpet !

just really wanted to know how far that should extend to, i.e other carpets soft furnishings etc,

will see the place tommorow now so will get a better idea then, just wanted to make sure i give them the right info and not diddle myself out of work at the same time!

It's pretty much an open cheque on this one so not worried at the extent of the work, just want to do the right thing.

Dont think i'd be happy with just a cleaned carpet if someone had died on it

regards
steve

[paul_smith]

Steve,

my initial reply was a bit tongue in cheek however i think we can get a bit over sensitive when it comes to dead bodies.

Would you refuse to clean a carpet that had urine,poo,dog poo,vomit,blood etc on it?.....if so what about all of us out there with kids and pets that have done all the above on many occasions whilst young and in nappies?

i would be tearing my carpet up every other week

John Kelly and others advise well on this subject though and you are right to ask and be cautious,

regards

Paul (the mad one  )

[john rees]

Hi Steve,
             I've done a few of those jobs over the years! I remember doing one in a kitchen on cushion floor, it would have been easy if the floor didn't have holes all over it! so the liquid had penetrated the floor under it,seeping in to cupboards and into the hallway. What a job that was, The poor chap had been there for about 3 weeks at the height of summer, he was only found when the woman next door complained of the smell. I hope you have a strong stomach because your going to need it because that's a smell you will never forget. I would use an ozone machine too before doing the job if you have one? or a fogger?

           all the best
                   and good luck
                                   John
                         

[John Kelly]

It is a strange smell, not like you'd expect. I thought they would smell like rotten chicken which has gone off but its more of a sweet burnt odour.

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

What gets me is why would anyone want to keep a carpet someone has died and mumified on? I mean come on!!!

[The Great One]

It HAS to be be disposed of, it is hazardous waste.

[Steve Chapman]

Went to see the place today, and blimey it was gruesome 

a very strong ammonia type smell, and absolutely buzzing with bluebottle flies,

but tried to look unfazed by it all 

As for the carpet, well where the body was there wasn't much carpet left, so def

a ditching job. In fact it was so bad the mess had gone through to the chipboard

floor and really stained it badly. Is this cleanable do you think?, i said it may be

advisable to replace the floor, but they want me to just clean it!

We have to get onto the job pretty soon, and dont posses a fogger, whats the

best way to get rid of the flies, theres hundreds of them,( and they look

hungry  )

Apart from that, its a case of gloves and masks and getting on with it......


regards
steve