What does crime scene cleanup involve?
It covers everything an investigation leaves behind that is hazardous or just unfit to live around. Blood and tissue are the main concern, but investigators also leave residue of their own: black or gray fingerprint powder that stains porous surfaces, and chemical reagents used to find and photograph traces of blood. Break-ins and violent events add broken glass and damaged doors, which a cleanup crew will remove or flag even though repairs are a separate job.
The cleanup is not about appearances. Blood can carry hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, and it seeps into places a mop never reaches, such as the gap under a baseboard, the seam of a floor or the back of a drywall panel.
Who cleans up after the police leave?
You do, or the person who owns the property does. Investigators from the Lakeland Police Department, which has its own forensic services unit, or from the Polk County Sheriff's Office if the address is outside city limits, collect evidence and document the scene. They do not clean afterward. When they hand the property back, the owner, landlord or business is responsible for arranging biohazard cleanup in Lakeland.
Do not start before the release. Moving or washing anything can interfere with the case, and detectives sometimes come back to a scene a second time. Ask the officer in charge directly: "Has the scene been released?"
What are the signs a scene still needs professional work?
If the scene has been released and any of these are true, hire a professional:
- You can see blood, tissue or bodily fluid on floors, walls, furniture or fixtures
- There is dark powder residue on doors, windows, counters or switch plates
- A smell remains, or the room has been closed up for more than a day or two
- Carpet, padding or a mattress is soaked through
- Fluid has run into a seam, a vent, a baseboard or under flooring
- You are a landlord or manager and the next tenant or customer will use the space
Something that looks clean can still be contaminated. Fluid soaks into porous materials and moves downhill, so what is on the surface is often a small part of what is there.
How does a provider clean a crime scene?
A reputable provider follows the same basic sequence on every job, adjusted for what they find. In general it looks like this:
- Walk-through and scope. The crew looks at every affected room, decides what can be cleaned and what has to be removed, and explains it before touching anything.
- Containment. The affected rooms are sealed off so fluid and dust do not travel to clean areas.
- Protective equipment. Technicians wear disposable suits, gloves, boots and respirators, as OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires for anyone who may contact blood.
- Removal of porous material. Soaked carpet, padding, mattresses and unsalvageable drywall are cut out and packed as biomedical waste.
- Cleaning and disinfection. Hard surfaces are cleaned first and then disinfected with an EPA-registered product used for the full contact time on the label.
- Odor work. If needed, air scrubbers or hydroxyl or ozone equipment are used after the source is gone.
- Waste handling. Biomedical waste has to be handled and transported by a provider registered with the Florida Department of Health under Chapter 64E-16, and you should get a receipt.
- Final check. The provider inspects the work. Some also use ATP swab testing to confirm surfaces are clean. Ask what they do.
The industry standard for this work is ANSI/IICRC S540, and some technicians hold the IICRC's Trauma and Crime Scene Technician (TCST) certification. Those are credentials of the individual provider, so ask to see them.
What does crime scene cleanup cost, and who pays?
The price follows the size of the scene, the amount of porous material that has to be removed and how long the scene sat. A single room with a limited area is a very different job from several rooms or a second floor. Published guides from cleanup companies place typical residential jobs in the low-to-mid thousands of dollars, but only a written estimate from a provider who has seen the property tells you what yours will cost.
Insurance can help. Homeowners and commercial property policies often cover cleanup after a sudden loss, subject to exclusions and a deductible, so call your carrier before work starts. If you are the victim of a violent crime, ask about Florida's Crime Victim Compensation program and whether cleanup qualifies. Renters insurance usually covers a tenant's belongings but not the building.
Is there anything particular to Lakeland?
Jurisdiction decides who you deal with. A property inside Lakeland city limits falls to the Lakeland Police Department, while one in unincorporated Polk County falls to the Sheriff's Office, whose non-emergency line is 863-298-6200. Both release scenes through the same logic, but the contact you need is different.
Heat matters too. In Central Florida a closed-up room in summer breaks down faster, and odor spreads through the house faster, so a few days of waiting can change the scope. Construction matters as well. Older homes near the downtown lakes can have wood subfloors and original flooring that soak up fluid, and newer subdivisions use different materials, so the provider will tell you what has to come out only after seeing the property. For other situations that can overlap, see trauma scene cleanup for non-criminal injuries and homicide cleanup for longer investigations.
When should I call?
Call as soon as law enforcement confirms the scene is released, or earlier to line up a provider while you wait. We connect you with an independent provider that serves your ZIP code, whether that is North Lakeland, Cleveland Heights or elsewhere in Polk County. The provider assesses the scene and gives you a price before work begins. For the full overview of how our Lakeland biohazard cleanup referral line works, see the homepage.
Frequently asked questions
How soon after the police leave can crime scene cleanup start?
As soon as law enforcement confirms the scene is released to you. Ask the investigating agency directly. Starting earlier can interfere with the case.
Does crime scene cleanup include repairs?
Usually not. Cleanup removes contaminated material and disinfects. Replacing flooring, drywall or doors is normally a separate construction job, though some providers can coordinate it.
Can I clean up a crime scene myself?
It is not recommended. Blood can carry hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, and household cleaners do not remove fluid from porous materials. Professionals use protective equipment, EPA-registered disinfectants and a legal route for waste disposal.
Will insurance pay for crime scene cleanup in Florida?
Often, when it follows a sudden covered loss, but it depends on your policy, exclusions and deductible. Call your carrier before work starts and keep the provider's written estimate.
What is fingerprint powder and is it hazardous?
It is the fine dust investigators use to lift prints. It mostly stains and makes a mess, and it can irritate eyes and lungs. Professionals remove it with proper equipment so it does not spread.
How do I know a provider is legitimate?
Ask for its Florida Department of Health biomedical waste ID, proof of insurance, and its approach to waste disposal. The state publishes a list of registered trauma scene cleanup providers.