Suicide cleanup
Suicide cleanup in Stockton
We are sorry you are dealing with this. You do not have to clean the room yourself, and no one should ask you to. A call connects you with an independent cleanup company that can take it from here.
If you are struggling, call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at any hour.
Lines answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Let someone else do this part
Family members often feel they should clean up themselves. It is not expected, and it can make grief harder. The cleanup company can do the whole job, and you can stay somewhere else while they work.
You can ask on the phone for unmarked vehicles and a quiet approach, and for workers to speak with you only as much as you want.
The San Joaquin County Office of the Medical Examiner looks into suicides in the county. When the medical examiner and police have finished at the home, the cleanup can start.
The work
What the company takes care of
- Removing anything that cannot be cleaned, such as carpet, a mattress or a chair.
- Cleaning and disinfecting walls, floors and fixtures.
- Setting aside personal items you want to keep, if they can be cleaned.
- Packing and removing the waste under California's trauma scene waste rules.
- Treating odor so the room can be used again.
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
Suicide: common questions
Will the neighbors know?
Ask for unmarked vehicles and a discreet approach when you call. The company can tell you what it is able to do.
Does insurance cover suicide cleanup?
Sometimes. Homeowner and renter policies differ, so read the policy or ask the insurer before work starts. See who pays for cleanup.
Where can I find support for myself?
Call or text 988 at any hour, or chat at 988lifeline.org. It is for anyone who is struggling, including people who have lost someone.
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.
- 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.
- Infectious Disease DisinfectionCleaning and disinfection after illness or contamination with infectious material.
- 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
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.