Infectious disease disinfection
Disinfection after illness or contamination
After serious illness, a death from an infectious disease, or contamination with body fluids, a room may need more than a household wipe-down. Call and you are connected with an independent cleanup company.
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Cleaning and disinfecting are two steps
The CDC puts it simply: cleaning removes most germs from surfaces, and disinfecting kills the germs that remain. Disinfecting works on a clean surface, with a product suited to the germ, left wet for the full contact time on its label. Products should never be mixed. Source: CDC, When and How to Clean and Disinfect.
A cleanup company brings protective equipment, EPA-registered disinfectants and a method for working room by room. Ask which products they use and why.
No company can honestly promise that a space has no germs at all. Be wary of anyone who does. What you can ask for is a clear description of what was cleaned, with what, and for how long.
The work
What to expect
- Questions about the illness or contamination, so the right products are chosen.
- Removal of items that cannot be disinfected, such as soiled bedding or a mattress.
- Cleaning first, then disinfection of touched surfaces, bathrooms and floors.
- Packing contaminated waste for proper disposal.
- A short written summary of what was done, if you ask.
Before you book
Questions to ask on the phone
You can ask any of these on the first call. A reputable company will answer them plainly.
- Are you registered with the California Department of Public Health as a trauma scene waste management practitioner?
- Will you give me a written price before work starts, and what could change it?
- Which materials do you expect to remove, and will you show me before you do?
- Can you work with my insurer or with a CalVCB claim by providing an itemized invoice and photos?
- How will the waste leave the home, and where does it go?
- Can I keep personal items or papers that are set aside during the work?
Questions
Disinfection: common questions
Is this the same as routine cleaning?
No. Routine cleaning is about appearance. This is about removing infectious material safely, with protective equipment and disinfectants used as labeled.
Do I need this after an ordinary cold or flu at home?
Usually not. Household cleaning and disinfecting as the CDC describes is enough for most everyday illness. Call when body fluids are involved or a death has occurred.
Can businesses call?
Yes. Offices, shops and rental properties use the same service. Say what kind of space it is.
Other situations
Other cleanup situations
- Crime Scene CleanupAfter a homicide, assault or other violent event, once police have released the scene.
- Unattended Death CleanupWhen someone died alone and was not found right away. Includes odor and decomposition cleanup.
- Suicide CleanupQuiet, discreet cleanup after a suicide, so family members do not have to do it.
- Blood and Bodily Fluid CleanupAfter an injury, a fall, an accident or a serious illness at home.
- Hoarding Cleanup with BiohazardsWhen a hoarded home has animal or human waste, needles or rotting food in it.
- Vehicle Biohazard CleanupBlood or bodily fluids in a car, truck or van after an injury, death or crime.
- Needle and Sharps CleanupUsed needles found in a home, a rental unit, a yard or a business.
When you are ready
One call to a cleanup company that serves Stockton
Say what happened, where, and roughly when. The company will ask a few questions, explain what the work involves and arrange a visit if you want one.
Talk to a biohazard cleanup company
Your call is connected with an independent cleanup company that works in Stockton and San Joaquin County. You can ask questions first. There is no obligation to book.
Call (209) 555-0161Lines answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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