Crime Scene Cleanup
Crime scene cleaning begins after police release and covers blood, odor and the affected property.
See crime scene cleanupGet blood, bodily fluids, contaminated materials and odor removed after investigators release a home, rental, business or vehicle in Milwaukee 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.
This work involves more than an ordinary cleaning service. Technicians identify contamination both in and around the affected space, isolate rooms that were not affected and take out anything that cannot be disinfected. Surfaces that can remain are treated. When requested, the scope also covers insurance company records, hazardous waste packaging and disposal, and odor removal.

You are consulted about recoverable personal property after it is isolated and before a removal decision occurs.
To help preserve your privacy during a painful time, you may ask for unmarked vehicles and restrict access to authorized people.
When discussing the loss with property owners and insurance companies, you can use photos, inventories, scope notes and disposal paperwork.
You can request details about cleaning, necessary removals, waste movement off the property and the work left for restoration.
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:
Once police release the unit and essential belongings are removed by the family, an authorized manager or landlord may arrange scene cleanup.
Checks of carpet, insulation, seats and trim determine which materials are cleanable and which require removal.
Tracing the entire path is necessary when tissue and blood can reach carpet, walls, furnishings, ceilings or concealed joints.
Blood cleanup may involve a bedroom, living area, hallway and nearby surfaces that were exposed during the event.
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) 351-0904According to available homicide cleanup cost guides, planning for a violent crime scene uses a published range from $2,500 to $9,000 as guidance. For smaller scenes, they list $2,000 to $6,000 as a planning range, while larger scenes use $3,000 to $10,000 in the same guides. This is not a quote. The assessment sets the final scope.
These ranges come from published national cost guides, not from a site visit. You learn what your property will cost after the on-site assessment and before any work begins.
Ask about cost: (888) 351-0904Homicide cleanup may be paid through a renters, homeowners or commercial policy. Whether it applies depends on the specific loss, policy terms and deductible.
The lease, local law, property ownership and policy terms can affect who arranges work and who pays. Landlords and tenants should contact their insurers.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Victim Compensation Program lists crime scene cleanup among covered costs, so victims of violent crime can ask about including it in a claim. Insurance is usually checked first.
Check with your insurance company about its requirements for photos, inventories, work notes, bills and waste documentation. Save a copy of every submitted document.
After the scene is released by police, inform the insurer about the loss. Ask whether biohazard cleanup, damaged building materials and restoration are included.
After scene release, a controlled order guides the remediation work. Each step reflects how far contamination went, which items can remain and the waste rules that govern the material.
Technicians check contents, nearby surfaces, possible travel paths and flooring edges after an authorized person identifies the affected areas already known.
The cleanup area is isolated from unaffected rooms. Cleanup technicians rely on proper personal protective equipment and containment controls to keep contamination from being tracked past the scene.
Before detailed cleaning and disinfection, visible bodily fluids and blood are gathered using a method appropriate for each surface.
If carpet, drywall, pad, subfloor or upholstery cannot be thoroughly disinfected, removal is limited to the minimum workable area.
Cleanable materials undergo detailed scene cleaning before an EPA-registered disinfectant is applied and stays wet throughout the label contact time.
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 closing assessment examines completed work, returns salvageable personal property according to the agreement and records removed finishes for restoration services.
Call at any time. You speak with a homicide cleanup specialist who outlines the process and schedules a start time with you.
Serious health risks can come from blood, bodily fluids and contamination you cannot see. The concern remains even if visible signs seem dry or limited.
Fluids may travel into carpet padding, joints, grout, walls and the subfloor. Cleaning the visible mark does not address material below or behind the surface.
Blood may contain HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Dried blood must still be controlled carefully because the CDC says hepatitis B survives on surfaces for at least seven days.
For family and loved ones, the scene may be very distressing. With professional cleanup, your family can avoid touching personal property or entering the affected area.
Can you clean it yourself? A small amount of fresh blood on a hard, non-porous surface may be cleaned with disposable gloves and an EPA-registered disinfectant used for its full label contact time. If blood reached carpet, wood, fabric, drywall or an area with unclear edges, keep away and seek professional cleanup.
Porous material usually comes out after it absorbs blood. Non-porous surfaces can often be kept, provided that every exposed section is accessible and can be disinfected.

The schedule depends on scene size, the depth of contamination, the number of rooms, scene access and the amount of material that must be removed. You can get a more useful timeline after the initial assessment.
| Scene | Typical time on site |
|---|---|
| Limited affected area with accessible surfaces | Work schedule established following release and assessment |
| One affected space containing absorbent materials for 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 cannot be corrected with fragrance alone when fluids remain absorbed in drywall, hidden cavities, carpet, furniture or subfloor. The source must be located and removed first.
HEPA air scrubbers may filter particles from the air following removal of contaminated material. If equipment instructions permit, hydroxyl treatment can be suitable where a space remains occupied. Strict controls apply to ozone, and nobody may be in the treatment area. Vents and rooms next to the scene may also be checked as part of cleaning before you continue.
The full homicide cleanup guide covers what is cleaned or removed, odor and air quality work, and the rules that apply in your state.
Read the full homicide cleanup guide
Planning for access, containment and cleanup can depend on local population, housing and entry conditions.
For an injury during discovery, Ascension Se Wisconsin Hospital is the nearest listed hospital at approximately 1.5 miles away.
The surrounding area includes Miller Valley, Washington Park, and West End, so cleanup travel may cross several local streets or municipal boundaries.
Neighborhood level directions help narrow the location, but crews still need entrance details before bringing containment and cleaning equipment inside.
You can ask about cleanup in nearby communities and ZIP codes during the call.
Crime scene cleaning begins after police release and covers blood, odor and the affected property.
See crime scene cleanup
Blood cleanup clears blood from furniture, walls, hard floors and carpet, followed by safe disposal.
See blood cleanup
Trauma scene cleanup is needed after violent events, accidents and injuries.
See trauma scene cleanup
Fluids, odor and impacted belongings are addressed when a home is cleaned after a death.
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
Forensic cleaning addresses investigation residue, fingerprint powder and tissue along with cleaning of blood.
See forensic cleaning
Death odor removal targets the source through ozone treatment, hydroxyl and air scrubbers.
See death odor removalA murder scene is cleaned by professional homicide cleaners after investigators allow access. The work may include waste disposal, containment, odor removal, disinfection, careful cleaning and taking out absorbed fluids. Do not ask a family member to enter or clean a room that still contains bodily fluids or blood.
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. Before work starts, find out which documents are required and ask about biohazard cleanup, personal property, restoration and damaged materials.
Each falls under death cleanup and trauma scene cleanup, yet the conditions may not be the same. Until law enforcement releases a homicide scene, it stays under official control and may contain residue from evidence processing. Time between death and discovery means an unattended death may involve decomposition along with more extensive odor issues.
Yes, additional hazards may be present at the 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.
Items outside the contaminated zone can be protected in place or moved to a clean area. Scene property is evaluated item by item. Belongings with hard, non-porous surfaces might be cleaned. Porous belongings may require removal, but you should be consulted about photographs, documents and treasured items before any choice is final.
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. Save your invoices, disposal paperwork, scope details and photographs.
Discreet, respectful homicide cleanup, 24 hours a day, with crews in unmarked vehicles.