Situations
Crime scene cleanup in Bellingham
After a violent crime, the police decide when the home is yours again. Once it is, an independent cleanup company can remove what was left behind so you don't have to.
Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before anything is cleaned
Police may keep the home closed while they collect evidence. Nothing should be cleaned, thrown out or moved until they say so; doing it early can make their work harder.
If you're not sure whether the home has been released, ask. Bellingham police take non-emergency requests on (360) 676-6911. Outside the city, the same number reaches the dispatch center that serves the Sheriff and most town police in Whatcom County.
When you call a cleanup company, say whether the home has been released yet. A company can plan the work before then, but it won't start until it has been.
What the cleanup usually covers
- Removing blood and bodily fluids from floors, walls, furniture and fixtures
- Cutting out carpet, pad, drywall or subfloor that fluids have soaked into
- Removing fingerprint powder and other residue left from the investigation
- Disinfecting what stays, then bagging and boxing the waste for disposal
- Boarding a broken window or door, if you ask and the company offers it
Things to tell the company
Which rooms were affected, and whether anything happened outside, on stairs or in a vehicle. Whether anyone in the home has been told not to enter certain rooms.
If you rent, tell your landlord early. The landlord's insurance usually deals with the building, and they may want to arrange the work themselves. Your own renter's policy, if you have one, is about your belongings.
Questions
Will the state pay for crime scene cleanup in Washington?
No. Washington’s Crime Victims Compensation Program lists crime scene cleanup among the costs it does not pay. It may help with other costs after a crime, such as counseling. See who pays for where else to ask.
Can I clean it myself?
You can, but you don't have to, and many people find they can't face it. Blood can carry disease, so anyone who does it needs gloves, eye protection and a safe way to bag the waste.
Who answers when I call?
Your call goes to an independent biohazard cleanup company that works in the area. It is not a government office and not the police. The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Other situations
- Unattended death cleanupWhen someone died alone and was not found for some time.
- Suicide cleanupQuiet, careful cleanup, so the family doesn't have to do it.
- Blood and bodily fluid cleanupInjuries, falls and illness at home, at work or in a rental.
- Hoarding cleanupHomes with animal or human waste, spoiled food or sharps under the clutter.
- Disinfection after illnessSurfaces and rooms after someone was sick or died of an illness.
- Vehicle cleanupBlood or bodily fluids in a car, truck or RV.
Whenever you are ready
There is no rush and no obligation. Call to ask questions, get a quote, or simply understand what would happen next.
Talk it through first
Call when you are ready. Say what happened, where, and whether police or the medical examiner have released the place. An independent cleanup company can then explain what it would do.
Call (360) 555-0108Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and privacy policy.