Accidents, injuries, illness
Blood and bodily fluid cleanup in Lexington
A fall, a bad cut, a medical emergency: sometimes what is left behind is more than a household cleaner can handle. An independent cleanup company can take care of it.
Why blood is handled with care
Blood can carry germs that cause disease. OSHA names hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV as examples of bloodborne pathogens, and its workplace rules require protective equipment and training for people who clean it up on the job.
Blood also travels. On carpet it reaches the pad and the subfloor; on a mattress it goes deep into the filling; on drywall it can wick up behind paint. What looks clean on top may not be.
If you need to do something before help arrives
- Keep others, especially children and pets, away from the area.
- If you must touch anything, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands well afterwards.
- Do not vacuum or scrub dried blood; it spreads it and lifts particles into the air.
- Leave stained items where they are rather than putting them in the household trash.
What the company does
It protects its workers first, then removes the fluids and anything they have soaked into, cleans the surfaces underneath, and applies a disinfectant. The waste is bagged and taken away as medical waste. Some companies also handle a small repair afterwards; ask if that matters to you.
If the blood came from a crime, see the crime scene page: Kentucky’s victim fund may help pay.
Questions
Can I just use bleach?
On a small spill on a hard, sealed surface, many people do. Once blood has soaked into carpet, upholstery, wood or drywall, cleaning the surface does not reach what is underneath.
Is a small job worth a call?
Yes. Ask the company. Some jobs are short, and they can tell you on the phone whether it is something you can manage yourself.