Short answers
Questions and answers
If your question is not here, call and ask. You are not committing to anything.
Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before the cleanup
Who do I call first after finding someone who has died?
911. Police and the coroner or medical examiner come before anything else.
How do I know the home has been released?
Ask the officer. If they have left, call the police non-emergency number for your town and ask.
Can I clean a small amount of blood myself?
A small amount on a hard surface, perhaps, with gloves. Anything on carpet, upholstery or wood, or more than a little, is better left to a company.
Should I throw out the mattress or carpet?
Not yet. An insurer may want to see them, and they need proper disposal.
About the work
How long does it take?
It depends on the room and how long it was before the person was found. The company can give its view once it has seen it.
Will the smell go away?
When the material that absorbed fluids is removed and the area treated, the odor should go. Covering it up does not work.
Do I need to be home?
No. Many people hand over a key and come back when the work is done.
Can the company come without a marked van?
Ask. Many can.
About cost
How much does it cost?
It depends on the room, the materials removed and the waste. Ask the company to explain its cost before it starts.
Does insurance pay?
Sometimes. Call your insurer before work starts and ask what your policy covers.
Is there help after a crime?
Yes. Wisconsin's Crime Victim Compensation Program can help with securing and cleaning a crime scene when other sources do not pay.
Appleton and the Fox Cities
Talk it through before you decide
You do not need to know the right words. Describe the room and what happened, and ask what the company would do first.
When the home has been released
Call and say what happened, in your own words. An independent cleanup company will explain what the work involves. You decide whether to go ahead.
Call (920) 555-0110Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. See the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.