What Is an Unattended Death?

An unattended death is a situation where a person dies alone, and their body is discovered after a prolonged period without anyone knowing of their passing. Unattended deaths can happen in many different circumstances, such as when someone dies in their home or apartment and has no family or friends to check on them regularly or when someone dies in a public place without anyone noticing.

Unattended deaths can happen due to natural causes such as heart attacks, strokes, accidents, or other factors. They can also be a result of suicide or homicide. Because the person has died alone and may not have been found for some time, unattended deaths can present a significant challenge to law enforcement, medical professionals, and funeral directors, who must determine the cause of death and handle the body.

Are Unattended Deaths Common?

The frequency of unattended deaths can vary depending on various factors such as age, living situation, and health status. However, unattended deaths are not uncommon. They can happen more frequently among elderly people who live alone or have no regular contact with family or friends. Unattended deaths can also occur in younger individuals due to drug overdoses, accidents, or suicide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, there were approximately 3.3 million deaths in 2019. Of these, a significant proportion were likely unattended deaths. The exact number of unattended deaths is difficult to determine since they often go undiscovered for some time.

However, medical examiners and coroners are responsible for investigating deaths, and they have procedures in place to identify and handle unattended deaths.

Detective Collecting Evidence in a Crime Scene. Forensic Specialists Making Expertise at Home of a Dead Person. The Concept of Homicide Investigation by Professional Police Officer.

 

How Fast Can Bodies Decompose?

Not all bodies decompose on the same timeline. Decomposition of a body  varies depending on a number of factors— such as temperature, moisture, presence of insects and other scavengers, and whether the body is buried, submerged, or left in the open air.

Under normal conditions, without any embalming or other preservation, a body will typically start to decompose within a few hours to a few days after death. This can make finding an unattended death and cleaning up after one a very messy situation. 

Who Cleans Up an Unattended Death?

In most cases, the responsibility of cleaning up after an unattended death falls on the property owner or their authorized representative, such as the executor of the deceased’s estate or a family member.

However, depending on the circumstances, there may be specialized professionals, such as biohazard cleanup companies, who are trained and equipped to handle the cleanup process. That is where organizations like ours comes in. We are usually the people property owners and family members call to clean up what is left behind after the body has been removed. 

It’s important to note that unattended deaths can present biohazard risks, such as the presence of bodily fluids and decomposition odors, which require proper handling and disposal to ensure the safety of those involved in the cleanup process. This is why it is imperative to call a company like the BioClean team.

We are trained professionals with deep expertise in removing biohazardous waste. Plus, unless used to it, cleaning up an unattended death is a nasty job to say the least. Just skip the mess and call us instead so that we can properly clean up and disinfect the affected area.

What To Do if You Find a Deceased Person 

If a person finds a dead body, they should follow these steps:

Call 911 or the local emergency services immediately. The police or emergency medical personnel will need to be notified to respond to the scene.

Do not touch or move the body. It’s important to preserve the scene as much as possible to help authorities investigate the cause of death.

If it’s safe to do so, the person who found the body should remain at the scene until the police and medical personnel arrive. They may be asked to provide a statement or answer questions about what they saw.

Cooperate with the authorities. Once the authorities arrive, they will take over the investigation. It’s important to cooperate with them and provide any information that may be helpful.

Seek support. Finding a dead body can be traumatic and may cause emotional distress. It’s important to seek support from friends, family, or a professional if needed.

Call Us 

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to clean up after an unattended death, give us a call. Our team is discrete, compassionate, and professional. We will efficiently disinfect and clean the space so that it may be inhabited once again without posing a health threat. 

 

How Much Do Crime Scene Cleaners Make?

Have you ever wondered what crime scene cleaners make and if the job is right for you? If cleaning up crime scenes seems appealing to you, there are many variables to consider first. Crime scene cleaning is a job that requires a certain kind of person, skill, and demeanor. 

Whether crime scene cleaning is a good job or not is subjective and can depend on individual preferences, skills, and experiences.

What is a Crime Scene Cleaner?

A crime scene cleaner, a biohazard remediation technician, is a trained professional who specializes in cleaning and sanitizing crime scenes, accident scenes, and other locations where hazardous materials may be present. Their job involves removing and disposing of hazardous materials, such as blood, bodily fluids, and other biological materials that may contain harmful pathogens.

Crime scene cleaners must follow strict protocols and safety procedures to ensure that they protect themselves and others from exposure to hazardous materials. They use specialized equipment and cleaning agents to thoroughly clean and disinfect the affected areas, and they may also need to remove and dispose of contaminated materials, such as carpeting or furniture.

In addition to crime scenes, biohazard remediation technicians may also be called upon to clean up after suicides, homicides, unattended deaths, hoarding situations, and other traumatic events. They play an important role in restoring the affected areas to a safe and habitable condition, and helping families and communities recover from these difficult situations.

The skillset of a crime scene cleaner requires both soft and technical skills. Crime scene cleaners are often faced with offering condolences to grief stricken family members while also managing biohazardous waste scenes. The utmost consideration for families on traumatic scenes is important, and if a biohazard remediation technician can’t handle the pressure, it can be a bad situation. We are all human, and these things affect us. The question is if an employee can handle that kind of pressure and not let it bother them on a psychological level. 

Factors to Consider

The following are bullet points to consider when thinking about becoming a crime scene cleaner. It’s important to think hard about these specifics and really consider if this job is right for you. Because the work can be emotionally draining and just plain hard, it can also take a toll on your well-being— or maybe not. Again, it depends on the person.

Pros:

Rewarding Work
Crime scene cleaning involves helping people during difficult times and making spaces safe and habitable again. It is possible to give the people you serve a second chance at living in their spaces again.

Everyday is Different
Crime scene cleaners may work on a wide range of sites, from residential homes to commercial properties, and each job can be different. If you are a person who gets bored easily, this could be a great career fit for you.

Security
Unfortunately, crime happens everywhere, so there is always a need for crime scene cleaning services. Biohazard remediation offers job security and constant cash flow. If consistent pay is of the utmost importance to you, you surely won’t run out of work in this field.

Median Salary
As mentioned earlier, the median annual wage for hazardous materials removal workers, which includes crime scene cleaners, is $43,900. This number has changed with inflation over the years, and of course varies based on where you live and who you work for.

Professional Opportunities
Crime scene cleaners can work their way up to supervisory roles or start their own cleaning business. It is common for business savvy folks to begin their own company after spending some time getting experience working for someone else’s. Crime scene cleaning companies not only gain popularity and repertoire for how well they clean, but also how compassionate and kind they can be to their clients. This kind of compassion and fortitude can only be learned through experience on the job.

Cons

Emotionally Exhausting
As previously mentioned, crime scene cleaners often work in environments where traumatic events have occurred, which can be emotionally challenging. Seeing folks in their hardest times of their entire life can be very hard to witness.

Physically Demanding
Cleaning up crime scenes can be physically demanding, with long hours spent on one’s feet and lifting heavy objects. This job requires a lot of physical activity and a ‘can do’ attitude, as sometimes it takes longer to clean things up than expected.

Dangerous
Crime scenes can be contaminated with biological and chemical materials, which can pose health risks if not handled properly. Although biohazardous remediation techs are trained at length to protect themselves, the consequences can be severe if a mistake is made. There is very little room for error when it comes to protecting yourself against contaminants that can become life-threatening.

Wacky Hours
Crime scene cleaners may need to work irregular hours, including overnight and on weekends, to accommodate the needs of their clients. Since accidents don’t happen on a schedule, a crime scene cleaner has to be available on off hours. Chances are, though, that the company you work for will have specific shifts you can count on.

Salary

The salary of a crime scene cleaner can vary depending on factors such as location, level of experience, and the company they work for. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2020, the median annual wage for hazardous materials removal workers, which includes crime scene cleaners, was $43,900.

The lowest 10 percent of workers in this occupation earned less than $28,350, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $76,080 per year. It’s worth noting that crime scene cleaners may also be paid on an hourly basis, and their hourly rate can range from $15 to $50, depending on the factors mentioned above.

Some people may find crime scene cleaning rewarding and fulfilling, while others may find it emotionally and physically demanding. It is important to carefully consider all factors before deciding if it is the right career path for you.

Who Is Responsible for Sewage Cleanup?

Sewage cleanup is a critical task that must be completed when a home experiences an overflow or backed-up sewage system. Besides being quite disgusting, sewage poses a health risk to living quarters and people because it contains bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause serious health issues. Because of these health concerns, it’s important to understand who is responsible for this sort of cleanup so that the appropriate steps can be taken to ensure the safety of all involved.

Who Cleans Up Sewage? 

The responsibility of sewage cleanup falls on the homeowner, landlord, or property manager. Depending on the terms of the lease agreement and/or the insurance policy for the property, there may be some wiggle room in who pays for the costs associated with sewage cleanup. Still, ultimately it’s up to whoever owns or occupies the property to take action. If a tenant rents a home from a landlord and there is an issue with any kind of plumbing backup, then it’s best to reach out to them first before taking any additional steps. 

Paying for the cleanup and actually conducting the sewage cleanup is different. Unless a licensed professional, a person should never clean up a sewage spill. As previously mentioned, sewage is full of harmful bacteria and microorganisms that could cause serious health threats. Plus, it’s just a terrible job to do alone if you don’t know what you’re doing. Sewage also needs to be disposed of properly, and without the knowledge of where to dump, how to dispose of sewage, and supplies needed, you may be setting yourself up for further disaster.

Don’t clean up sewage alone. Call us. 

Sewage Exposure is Harmful

Sewage is no joke, and a professional sewage cleanup team will use serious chemicals to ensure that your living space doesn’t make residents sick. We have noted a couple times in this blog that sewage has bacteria in it — but it’s important to realize how and what we mean by “harmful”. 

Exposure to sewage can cause:

  • E. coli 
  • Typhoid fever
  • Intestinal viruses
  • Lung infections
  • Salmonella
  • Diaherra
  • Cramps
  • Weakness
  • Vomiting
  • And more

Conducting Sewage Cleanup By Yourself

In short: very small spills can be manageable on your own. Large sewage spills should always be handled by a professional. When dealing with sewage cleanup, it’s important that proper safety precautions are taken. If this is a small spill, cleaning up alone requires wearing protective clothing such as masks and gloves. Keep children and pets away from any contaminated areas. It’s also important that any standing water in the affected area is removed within 24-48 hours of initial contamination due to potential mold growth otherwise. 

If you do come into contact with sewage, make sure to:

  • Was hands thoroughly before touching your face or eating — even if you used gloves 
  • Keep your fingernails short and scrub under your fingernails
  • Bathe immediately and scrub your skin with body-safe disinfectant soap
  • Report any illness relating to the sewage spill immediately

Although disgusting, small spills might not seem like that big of a deal. We want to make sure you understand that they are. Sewage has the potential to cause life-threatening illness if not taken care of properly. If you have any doubts at all in cleaning up sewage, do not risk it. Call for help and save yourself the trouble of disease. 

When to Hire Help for a Sewage Cleanup

If you are dealing with contaminants like raw sewage or chemicals, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional company that specializes in hazardous material removal and disposal. Not only will they have access to special equipment that can help contain these materials safely, but they will have the knowledge and license to dispose of the sewage itself.

A professional company specializing in sewage removal can give your space a second chance at life. Affected items will be discarded and/or removed from your property (including furniture and flooring), and all spaces will be thoroughly sanitized with bleach or another sanitizing solution.

As a homeowner, renter, or landlord it’s important to understand who is responsible for sewage cleanup so appropriate steps can be taken quickly when needed. Do not let sewage linger, even if it is outside of your immediate space. Taking all of these factors into consideration will help ensure everyone’s safety during such an unfortunate event.

Cleaning up sewage is a nasty job, but someone has to do it — and that someone is us. Give us a call today so that we can sort out your sewage spill and help you get your life back on track.

The Dangers of a Meth Lab CleanUp

Meth lab cleanups are no small task. It’s a job that requires specialized knowledge of danger and expertise in decontamination. Suppose you have discovered a meth lab on your property. In that case, it’s important to contact the appropriate professional services immediately to ensure that the area is properly disinfected and safe for re-entry. 

What Makes a Meth Lab Cleanup So Dangerous? 

Meth labs are incredibly dangerous places for both those who are using them and those who are tasked with cleaning them up. This is because the chemicals used in meth production can be hazardous to human health and the environment. These chemicals can create toxic fumes, making people sick or even cause death if they are inhaled. Additionally, some of these chemicals can corrode surfaces or even cause fires or explosions if they are not handled properly. Because of this, it is important to take extra precautions when tasked with a meth lab clean up. 

Why Are Chemicals Used in Meth Production Dangerous?

Meth is made in various ways, but there are three different groups of chemicals used in each one:

  1. Metals and salts
  2. Solvents
  3. Strong acids/bases. 

Corrosives (strong acids/bases/solvents) like acetic acid and ammonia can cause a health threat due to inhalation. In liquid form, they easily become gasses or chemicals in the air. When corrosives are in powder form, they are also easy to inhale. When solid, corrosives can become explosive when near fire or heat. When you hear of a meth lab exploding, it’s usually because these chemicals caught fire. 

Inhaled corrosive vapors can cause corneal injury, redness/eye irritation, and shedding tears that won’t stop. The mucous membranes in the nose and throat can experience extreme irritation. Lungs can become agitated and can cause bleeding in the lungs, shortness of breath, and a terrible cough. 

Inhaling vaporous solvents, like acetone or isopropanol, can cause severe irritation as well. At high concentrations, solvents can cause a person to lose consciousness and injure the kidneys and liver. 

Metals and salts are usually in solid form and pose little threat unless ingested or inhaled as dust in the air. Metals and salts like potassium metal and sodium hydroxide can become extremely corrosive when exposed to moisture. Lithium aluminum hydride is an extreme fire hazard, known to be reactive and explode. 

What is Involved in a Meth Lab Cleanup? 

Chemicals and other spilled agents will remain in a former lab until they are physically cleaned up. If the space is contaminated with heavy vapors, most will clear out with ventilation. However, chemical residuals will linger until removed with clean up. These residuals pose a great health risk and should never, ever be cleaned up by anyone other than a licensed professional. 

Consider sharps, for instance. If someone was to cut themselves with drug paraphernalia, the risk would be high for life-altering infection. Exposure to these chemicals without proper PPE gear or ventilation could be life threatening. 

Cleaning up a meth lab involves more than just wiping down surfaces and throwing away trash – it requires specialized knowledge and expertise to handle the hazardous materials safely and effectively. Professional services will need to be called in order to assess the situation and determine what needs to be done in order to decontaminate the area.

The process usually involves removing any hazardous materials from the premises, properly disposing of them, thoroughly sanitizing all surfaces, conducting air quality tests, and making sure that all safety protocols have been followed before allowing anyone back into the area. 

Meth lab cleanups should never be attempted without professional assistance. It requires licensed professionals to do so safely and effectively without putting people’s health at risk or causing further damage to the environment or property.

What To Look For

The most obvious sign of a meth lab is the presence of suspicious chemicals and equipment such as glass jars and tubing. Additionally, there may also be strange smells coming from the area or chemical burns on surfaces like carpets or floors. Other signs to look out for include large amounts of trash or hazardous waste in the area as well as people coming and going at odd hours or staying overnight without permission.  

Call Us

If you’ve found an illegal drug lab on your property, you may feel unsafe, confused, or unsure of what to do next. It is important to remember that you are not alone and that there are resources available to help you navigate this difficult situation. Contact the BioCleanTeam right away so that we can assess the situation and properly decontaminate the area. Your safety is paramount and recuperating the space is possible!

How To Remove Cat Urine From Carpet

Cleaning up cat urine is a task anyone would avoid if they could. However, if you have been given the chore of cleaning up cat urine— fear not. Experience in animal urine allows us to confidently guide you in effectively removing cat urine from the carpet.

But first, let it be known: cat urine can be very dangerous for your health. You can read more to learn why cat urine threatens your well-being and when to call a professional for help. However, unless you are in a cat or animal hoarding situation, chances are you’ve got this on your own.

Just remember to wear gloves and a mask. And play some music, too, to distract yourself from the nasty task at hand. 

Why Cat Pee Smells

Like most anything made of organic matter, cat urine has a decomposition process. The longer the urine has sat in the carpet, the more foul it may smell. After a while, bacteria in the cat urine begins to decompose. 

That ammonia smell? The smell that feels like acid on your nose? That smell is the bacteria in cat urine. When that smell becomes pungent, that means the cat urine has begun its decomposing process. While the cat pee reaches the second and third stages of its decomposition, it releases mercaptans — the crucial compound in what gives skunks their skunk-y smell. 

Male cats that have not been neutered will emit an extra smelly urine because they have hormones in their pee. The hormones add an extra layer of smell as the urine settles into the carpet and begins to grow stale. 

The longer that cat pee sits, the worse it will smell. So if you think the smell is already terrible, you better get to work before the stench becomes unbearable.

When Cat Pee is Dangerous

Cat urine has a ton of ammonia in it, and ammonia is a toxic gas that can really make things messy in your brain. Ammonia in cat urine is known to be the cause of headaches and bring about asthma attacks.

In some extreme cases of inhalation, feline pee can give people respiratory issues like pneumonia. People with weak immune systems (consider children, elderly people, those with immunity issues) pose a higher risk of infection from ammonia when exposed. 

Unfortunately, it gets worse.

Cat urine is notorious for causing roundworms. Roundworms are nasty little parasites that live inside of cat poop. Why are we mentioning this? Because if you are dealing with cat urine, chances are you might be picking up some cat poop, too. Roundworms like to burrow in cat poop and can move on to burrowing inside of humans, too. Roundworms can lead to diarrhea, weight loss, throwing up, and much more. 

If you are immuno-compromised and are exposed to excess cat urine and animal feces, hire professional help. The risk to your health is not worth it.

Now that we have probably grossed you out further than you already were, let’s get into the removal. 

Step 1

If the cat urine in the carpet is fresh, blot the mess with a towel. Make sure to get as much of the urine out of the carpet as possible by soaking up the urine with said towel. Apply pressure to the towel so that you can soak up urine that has settled on the backing of the carpet. 

Step 2

Rinse the area. Be meticulous with your rinsing. Make sure to use a fresh rag while you are rinsing out the area so that you are not circulating urine from the rag back into the carpet.

Tip: don’t use a steam cleaner, because heat may set the stain.


Step 3

Purchase an enzyme cleaner to douse the area with. If the enzyme cleaner you have selected comes in a spray bottle, open the spray bottle up and pour directly into the urine. You want to make sure you soak the area with enzyme cleaner— not just dust the top of the carpet with spray. 

Don’t be afraid of using too much product. Remember, cat urine is potent and strong. You will need to bring out the big guns for this one!

Step 4

After you have doused the area with enzyme cleaner, let the cleaner sit for a while. Consider about 10-20 minutes. When the cleaner has sat for the appropriate time period, soak the enzyme cleaner up with a fresh cloth. 

If you find that the area still smells after you’ve cleaned up the urine, repeat this process. You may have to repeat this process a few times for older stains that have decomposed for a long time. 

Alternatives

If you would prefer to use an all-natural solution rather than a store bought enzyme cleaner, you can use vinegar and water. Use equal parts vinegar and water in a bucket and use the same steps. 

Who Cleans Up a Suicide?

When someone takes their life, those who knew and loved them are nothing short of crushed. The last thing that anyone is thinking about is suicide cleanup. Most times people are in utter shock and then deep sorrowful sadness. Suicide can be prevented, and when it isn’t, it hurts beyond words.

Unfortunately, tasks like disinfecting the area and cleaning up remains/blood are important after such an event. Pathogens can infect others and cause harm to those left behind at the scene. Restoring a space to a safe condition is imperative.

And what is most unfortunate about this chore is that it is usually left to the family of the deceased or the owner of the home/apartment/business building to do. It’s an unthinkable thing to have to conquer on your own. Those who are put in this position usually call people like us— a professional biohazard remediation company.

Hiring a Suicide Cleanup Crew


A biohazard remediation company is a licensed organization of professionals with expertise in cleaning up biohazardous materials. Biohazardous materials include anything from chemicals, to sharp objects, to human remains and blood.

Some instances of suicide can be quite violent, with small particles of blood reaching in far places. When you hire a suicide cleanup crew, they will understand this and anticipate finding blood in interesting places. Licensed suicide cleanup crews know what to look for and what to expect. 

For instance, what might seem like a small mess of blood on carpet to an uneducated eye could very well be a threat to someone who knows the danger of pathogens. That small patch of blood could have seeped to the subfloor of the carpet and expanded to farther places underneath.

If that blood is left unattended and not cleaned up, serious illness can come from it. That’s why it’s incredibly important to hire a suicide clean up crew after a suicidal event.

But First, Compassion


When the BIOClean Team is called to a suicide cleanup, we practice discretion and professionalism in every step of the way. If loved ones are still on-scene after our arrival, we will first always express our deepest condolences.

The BioClean Team was founded by a nurse with more than 10 years of emergency room experience. Her goal is not just to provide fast, efficient and thorough biohazard cleanup services, but also to provide her clients with a dose of compassion.

She’s helped hundreds of people during some of the most emotionally trying times of their lives, and has trained her team to provide caring and compassionate services. It’s not just about the cleanup; it’s about providing some measure of comfort after a horrible tragedy has occurred.

Compassion is always important, but it is especially crucial in the first moments after losing a loved one to suicide. Suicide is devastating and unthinkable. We understand that seeing a cleanup crew come to clean up your loved one’s blood and remains can also be traumatizing in and of itself.

The Process

Next, we will ask everyone to clear the scene so that we can get to work. We will investigate the area and learn about the incident and how the event happened. Learning about what happened allows us to anticipate where we might find any biohazardous materials. 

We will then use special chemicals to disinfect and clean out the site. We will carefully thumb through and remove infected materials like carpets, rugs, cushions, furniture, etc. Removing these items ensures that there are no lingering pathogens after we leave the site

The specific chemicals we use not only disinfect any bacteria left behind, but also ultimately allows for the space to be habitable again by people and animals. 

We Can Help You

The BIOClean Team has helped thousands of people within the Los Angeles and southern California area, and we now serve Las Vegas as well. We work 24/7, 365 days a year. We pride ourselves on not only being the fastest to arrive, but for our professionalism as well.

The BIOClean Team are not only experts at suicide cleanup, but we are the most compassionate as well.

Since BioClean works with insurance, chances are that you won’t have to pay a dime. Please call us if you need help. Let us take this incredibly difficult burden off of your shoulders so that you can do what you need to do in the next moment.

Contact us today so that we can help.

Suicide Prevention & Resources

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, and you can speak with a counselor at any time, night or day.

What To Get a Clean Freak for Christmas

Clean freaks are… particular. Let’s be honest about that. If you or someone you know takes cleanliness to a whole other level, then we are sure you agree with us. Clean freaks like their stuff and space to be germ-free, smell good and be spotless. 

And as The BIOClean Team, ‘germ-free’ and ‘spotless’ is our job.

When on-site, we utilize specific chemicals to disinfect a biohazardous area properly. But when we’re in our personal lives at home, or cleaning other kinds of messes, we might choose to use softer products instead.

Whether in our personal lives or on the job, we’ve used many different cleaning agents. Some of us prefer to use a more natural and gentle approach in our homes, while others are steadfast bleach users. One thing is for sure: The BIOClean Team are definitely the experts when it comes to getting things squeaky clean. 

Now back to the clean freak that you’re shopping for. 

What if he or she won’t settle for Bleach and Comet? What if the cleanest person in your life loves natural cleaners without the harsh chemicals? Or maybe it’s the opposite; they want to kill germs with fire, with the most acidic chemical they can find. 

Whatever their style, rest assured that we have the perfect Christmas gift for the germaphobe in your life — no matter the chemicals they like to use to kill bacteria. 

Air Freshners 

A clean freak loves to keep their home smelling lovely. Air fresheners come in all kinds of modalities, like plug-ins to spray bottles. Depending on their preference, your clean freak friend or loved one might like one over the other.



Natural Oil Diffusers

For some, a commercial plug-in air freshner is terrible. Since most regular plug-ins are made from artificial scents and chemicals, they can be harsh on the nose.

If your clean-freak-friend is one of those people, we highly recommend using an oil diffuser. You can purchase any oil diffuser on Amazon, Target, or wherever else you like to shop for home goods. A great price point for an oil diffuser is about $20-45 dollars. Make sure to pair the oil diffuser with something bright, like a citrus blend for that super-clean-smell. 

Plug Hub Warmer


Ever heard of a Plug Hub Warmer? These awesome plug ins warm up a scent that is evenly distributed throughout a space. It’s eco friendly, cruelty free, and made with zero toxic chemicals. Plug Hub Warmers are excellent for the clean freak in your life who has kids, pets, or is especially cautious about burning candles and the toxins they omit. If you’re looking to wow your all-natural friend, give them a Plug Hub Warmer. 

Grout Cleaner

Everyone has that friend who is unsettled unless their floors are clean. That same person is also the individual who looks forward to spring cleaning, or cleans when they are stressed out. If the cleanest person you know is one of these people, the following is for them.

As clean freaks ourselves, we find few tasks as satisfying as cleaning grout lines. Cleaning grout lines delivers an unmatched instant gratification. And we have a sneaking suspicion that your clean-freak-friend might feel the same way, too.

Drum roll please..

 

Battery-Powered Power Scrubber and Grout Brush Head 

Isn’t she beautiful? As all-things-squeaky-clean obsessed, this power brush is exciting.This power scrubber looks like a tooth brush, is easy to hold, and makes a noticeable difference quickly. The head of the brush can reach in corners, crevices, and weird shaped spaces. You can use the ‘pulse’ setting or the ‘continuous’ setting, depending on what is being cleaned. In short: it gets hard jobs done with ease.

Best part?  You can snag it on Amazon for less than $30. 

Sparkling Countertops 

Have you ever heard of Grove.co? Grove is a sustainable and natural product company that sells chemical free cleaning agents. Although you won’t find harsh chemicals in their products, your friend will notice how well they work and how good they smell.

Grove Countertop Cleaning Set

This bundle of cleaning goodness is bound to spark some holiday joy. The sturdy backing on the sponges are made of tough-as-nails walnut shells. The glass spray bottle is double walled and made to last, with a silicone sleeve to protect dings. The all-purpose cleaner comes in a 2 pack and lasts a long time. Snag this awesome gift set for only $18.95 on Grove.co. 

Shower Power

Cleaning showers can be quite tedious, even for those that love to put in the work to make it their bathroom shine. And although giving cleaning chemicals to a friend might seem weird, your clean freak buddy will thank you for this one.

 

Wet and Forget Shower

Give your friend or family member the gift of convenience with this wet and set shower cleaner. This shower cleaner is going to allow the debris and build up from showering break down while you clean it the next day. It’s a fantastic option for those who want a spotless bathroom space without the hassle of cleaning everyday. Perfect for busy people or those with kids. 

Pick up this little jug of magic online at Home Depot for $21. 

We hope this little list of goodies was helpful in helping you pick out the perfect gift for the clean freak in your life. Happy holidays! 

The Holidays and Life After Suicide Loss

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24/7 at 800-273-8255, 

Life after suicide can feel impossible. Knowing someone you loved was hurting so deeply that they took their own life is crushing. Not only are you mourning the loss, but it’s common for survivors to contemplate what they could have done to save their person. This contemplation can seem life-long.

The holidays can often feel like a mirror, amplifying our loss back to us in our own reflection. Life seems to go on as it does — but your person isn’t here anymore, and life never got to carry on for them. The way things move forward on their own, without pause for the devastation, can feel cold and crass. 

Grief does not visit when it’s convenient and shows up unannounced all the time. And although everyone says this is normal, you might be wondering how a feeling so debilitating could ever be called ‘normal’.

You may feel like you just survived the hardest thing anyone has ever endured, but you are not alone

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is November 19th, 2022 — just days before Thanksgiving. This international day of remembrance was created for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. Losing someone to suicide is a very unique situation that can be hard for others to understand. Connecting with others who are going through the same experience, or similar, can help mourners cope with the loss. 

International Survivors of Suicide Loss was created by an organization called the American Association for Suicide Prevention. ASFP is an incredible resource for information regarding all things suicide prevention, loss, and community. If you are struggling with the loss of a loved one, we strongly urge you to lean on this organization for support.

Each year the organization holds events on International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, in different cities. We’ve included a few below, but if your state isn’t included in our short list, check out the website for more information. Every state has a chapter and each state will hold an event.

San Diego, California
November 19th, 2022
8am – 12:30pm
Location: University of San Diego (USD), Joan B Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
5555 Marian Way, San Diego, CA 92110

Las Vegas, Nevada
November 19, 2022
10am-12pm
Location: TBD

Tempe, Arizona
November 19, 2022
9am-1pm
Rio Salado College Conference Center
2323 W 14th St Tempe, Arizona

Globally, over 800,000 people lose their lives to suicide each year. That equates to around one person taking their own life every 40 seconds. Unfortunately, suicide is common—but the shock and loss felt by those left behind ripples through communities, relationships, and more. 

As if dealing with grief wasn’t enough, here come the holidays right around the corner. It’s supposed to be the ‘happiest time of the year’; but if you’re struggling to even get out of bed in the morning, it can easily become the most challenging time of the year.

The following tips might seem simple or redundant, but we hope you consider them. They are statistically proven to be helpful in giving your mind and body what they need to survive this time. 

Say No 

Grieving is a deeply chaotic time for the body, and ‘grief brain’ is a real thing. You might find that you walk into rooms with no idea why you came in the first place. Forgetting what you’re talking about, or forgetting important things are common. 

Sometimes grief will take precedence over things you want to do and spending time with people you love — and that is okay. If you are unable to do something (like meet friends for a holiday dinner or happy hour), just say no. Don’t force yourself to do things that you can’t do. Mourning bodies and brains need exponential care and softness.

Say no if you don’t have it in your tank. It’s okay to do so. People that love you will understand. 

Sleep Well

If you’re grieving, chances are you’re very sleepy—often. Your body is fighting to regain homeostasis, and loss shocks the system. Let yourself sleep if you need to. If you have children, lean on your community and ask for help so that you can nap. Do not feel guilt or shame if you can’t keep up with others right now.

Sleep is the number one way that our bodies get stronger and heal. Give yourself sleep, and don’t feel bad for how many hours you need. You may find that you can sleep well past 8+ hours. This is normal, this is necessary.

love and kindness concept, heart painted on frozen glass window

Have Grace

Life after suicide looks different for everyone.

Rage might appear in your life, anger, resentment, and deep sadness. There is no playbook or manual on how to deal with these things. This is not a normal situation. However you deal with your grief, is how you deal with your grief. Have grace for yourself and the way that you’re dealing with the insurmountable loss felt after suicide.

In our line of work, we see many families directly after the loss of a loved one. We witness their pain, confusion, and shock— and we show up with rolled up sleeves and a deep softness for their situation.

We witness their pain, confusion, and shock. The BioClean team meets each family with deep compassion and care, and cleaning up the unimaginable is our honor.

What is ‘Gross Filth’ Cleanup?

Gross filth cleanup is different from a hoarder cleanup situation for seceral different reasons. Gross filth results from left behind trash, feces, food waste, dirty dishes, etc.  This kind of extreme filth can occur for many different reasons. 

Consider a person being too sick or elderly to take care of themselves. Trash will accumulate—especially if said person cannot use the restroom alone anymore. Sometimes people die in their homes without anyone finding them for a while. Some of those people may have many animals in the home that are uncared for— leaving behind mass amounts of feces, urine, and debris behind.

It’s also common for this level of filth to occur in meth houses or transient spaces. And of course, places in extreme hoarding situations.

Cleaning up a gross filth scene is challenging and can feel incredibly distressing.

The amount of trash and filth that is considered to be a gross filth cleanup is an unbearable job for anyone. In most cases, the person tasked with cleaning up the filth is not the person who made the mess in the first place. 

It’s common for landlords to encounter gross filth when a tenant moves out of their apartment, for instance. The landlord has no idea that the tenants are living in filth, and when they move out, the landlord is shocked with what’s left behind. This is also a similar situation for investors or homeowners who have bought an abandoned property or a fixer-upper.

Family members of deceased loved ones are often faced with cleaning up a gross filth situation, too. Sometimes when people are sick, especially elderly people, they can no longer take care of themselves. In many cases, the sick individual does not alert their family or friends of the growing situation in their homes. And when they pass, their family members come into the home to organize their belongings, only to find a serious mess that they feel overwhelmed with cleaning.

Examples of ‘gross filth’ are: 

  • Excessive common household trash and debris building up over long periods of time without removal.
  • Pets urinating and defecating freely inside the home without cleanup.
  • Food laden plates or containers piled up in the sink, bathtub, and counters unwashed.
  • Unflushed, overflowing, or broken toilets and sinks.
  • Human waste in other areas of home or bathroom besides proper vesicles.
  • Mattress, couches, or other items soaked in urine, blood, or loose stool for a variety of reasons.
  • Light switches, walls, entryways, and door jams smeared with food waste, dirt, feces.

Many regular clean up companies, like housekeepers for instance, will not clean up a gross filth situation.

Why?

Because when filth goes to the extreme (feces, old food, animals, etc.), it becomes a biohazard. Housekeeping companies are not licensed to clean up biohazardous waste and do not have the tools to do so safely.

That’s where The BioClean Team comes in.

How is Gross Filth Cleanup Different From Hoarder Cleanup?

Hoarder cleanup is a different situation from gross filth cleanup. Hoarding is a mental illness that provokes people to constantly consume. You can read more about hoarding here.

Cleaning up a hoarders home requires compassion, patience, and understanding of the disorder. The BioTeam takes great care in helping a hoarder throw away their things and determine what items to keep. We will carefully comb through every item, throw away trash, and clean any areas of filth.

The goal of hoarding cleanup is to give the hoarder a fresh start and a clean space to live in again. Many times when we clean a hoarder’s home, the hoarder is still there. Hoarding is a serious mental health disorder that makes a person believe that “more” will make them feel safe.

People can hoard animals, things, or trash. It really depends on the individual.

Most items will be thrown out in a gross filth cleanup.

Carpet will be replaced, tile busted out, fresh drywall hung up again. Gross filth is often a situation where people can’t live in space until it is completely cleaned out and remediated of any biohazard threat.

Feces and urine from animals and humans alone is enough to qualify for a growth filth clean up. Cleaning spaces where meth or other drugs have been made is also considered a gross clean up situation. Make sure not to expose yourself to bodily fluids or mold, either. 

If you have a gross filth cleanup situation on your hands, please give us a call. Allow professionals with the education and appropriate gear handle the situation for you. Risking your health just isn’t worth it!