Find your situation
If more than one row applies, follow the more cautious answer.
- IfSomeone may be hurt, a crime may have happened, or a person has diedThenCall 911. Do not clean. Wait for authorities to release the property.
- IfA few drops or a small smear of blood on a sealed hard surfaceThenReasonable to clean yourself with gloves, soap and water, then a disinfectant left wet for its full contact time.
- IfBlood or fluids on carpet, a mattress, upholstery or unsealed woodThenConsider professional help. Soft materials hold contamination below the surface.
- IfAny contamination connected to a death, especially one not discovered right awayThenProfessional cleanup. This is not a job for family members.
- IfA small amount of sewage on a hard floor from a clogged toilet, quickly stoppedThenOften manageable with gloves, boots, eye protection and disinfectant, if no one in the home is at higher risk.
- IfSewage on carpet, in drywall, in a finished basement or across several roomsThenProfessional cleanup. Porous materials usually need removal.
- IfA few mouse droppings in a cabinet or garage cornerThenReasonable with the wet-cleaning method: soak, wait, wipe, bag. Never sweep or vacuum dry.
- IfWidespread droppings, nesting in insulation, or dead animals in walls or ductsThenProfessional help, with respirators and proper disposal.
- IfOne needle in plain view on your propertyThenReasonable to contain carefully with tongs and a rigid container, or leave it and ask your city.
- IfNeedles mixed into clothing, bedding, trash or clutterThenProfessional help. Do not reach into material you cannot see.
Personal factors that tip the decision
- Factor
- Pregnancy
- Why it matters
- Some infections carry added risk
- Lean toward
- Let someone else handle it
- Factor
- Weakened immune system or chronic illness
- Why it matters
- Higher risk from exposure
- Lean toward
- Professional cleanup
- Factor
- Cuts, eczema or broken skin on hands
- Why it matters
- Gloves can tear and skin is not a full barrier
- Lean toward
- Let someone else handle it
- Factor
- Close relationship to the person involved
- Why it matters
- Emotional toll can be significant
- Lean toward
- Professional cleanup
- Factor
- No access to proper gloves or disinfectant
- Why it matters
- Improvised cleaning spreads contamination
- Lean toward
- Wait until supplies are available or call for help
The cost of getting it wrong
Trying to clean a large or soaked area yourself rarely saves as much as people hope. Scrubbing pushes fluids deeper into carpet and grout, spreads them on mops and shoes, and can leave odor that returns in warm weather. Professionals then have to remove more material than they would have. Insurers may also ask why contaminated items were discarded before they could be documented.
Just as important is the human cost. Family members who clean up after a loved one's death often describe it as one of the hardest parts of the experience. It is fine to decide you do not want to do it, even when you could.
General information for the Denver area, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.