Unattended Death Cleanup: What To Do, Costs, Who To Call

Discovering an unattended death is traumatic. The body has started decomposing, releasing fluids and odors that contaminate floors, walls, and furniture. Your mind races between grief, shock, and the overwhelming question of what happens next. The scene requires immediate attention, but touching anything without proper protection exposes you to dangerous pathogens and bloodborne diseases.

Professional biohazard cleanup teams handle this work safely. They arrive with specialized equipment, remove contaminated materials according to health regulations, disinfect every surface, and eliminate odors at the source. Most importantly, they protect you from the physical and emotional toll of cleaning up after someone you may have known or cared about.

This guide walks you through each step after discovering an unattended death. You'll learn what not to touch, who to call first, how to find certified cleanup companies in your area, what the process costs, and what your insurance might cover. By the end, you'll know exactly how to restore your property safely while protecting your health and meeting legal requirements.

What is unattended death cleanup

Unattended death cleanup is the specialized process of removing biohazardous materials, bodily fluids, and contaminated items from a property after someone dies alone and their body remains undiscovered for an extended period. The longer a body goes unattended, the more extensive the decomposition and contamination become. You'll face blood, tissue, fluids that have seeped into porous materials like wood subflooring and drywall, and overwhelming odors that standard cleaning cannot remove.

Why You Need Professional Help

This work requires OSHA compliance and certified biohazard training because decomposition creates serious health hazards. The body releases bacteria, viruses, and pathogens that can infect anyone who touches contaminated surfaces without proper protective equipment. Standard household cleaners don't kill these pathogens or penetrate deep enough into materials where fluids have soaked through multiple layers.

Professional teams use EPA-registered disinfectants, industrial-strength equipment, and follow strict protocols for containing, removing, and disposing of biohazardous waste according to state and federal regulations. They wear full protective suits, respirators, and sealed gloves while working. The process includes removing carpeting, padding, sections of subflooring, drywall, and any other porous materials that absorbed bodily fluids.

Attempting cleanup yourself exposes you to hepatitis, HIV, MRSA, and other bloodborne pathogens that remain infectious for days or weeks after death.

Insurance companies typically require documentation that cleanup met biohazard remediation standards before they'll approve claims. Without certified professionals handling the work, you risk denied claims, incomplete decontamination, and potential legal liability if someone gets sick from exposure to inadequately cleaned areas.

Step 1. Stay safe and do not clean yourself

The moment you discover an unattended death, your first priority is staying away from contaminated areas. Bodily fluids carry infectious diseases that remain active for days or weeks after death, and direct contact without proper protection puts your health at serious risk. You might feel compelled to start cleaning immediately, especially in a family member's home, but this impulse can lead to dangerous exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, MRSA, and other bloodborne pathogens.

What You Risk by Cleaning Yourself

Decomposition creates biohazards that household cleaning products cannot neutralize. Blood and tissue fluids seep into subflooring, drywall, and furniture, spreading pathogens throughout porous materials you cannot see or reach without specialized equipment. Standard bleach solutions require specific dwell times and concentrations to kill pathogens, and improper application leaves dangerous bacteria alive.

Without OSHA-compliant protective equipment and certified training, you expose yourself to infections that can cause permanent health damage or death.

Attempting cleanup yourself also violates biohazard disposal regulations in most states. You cannot legally place contaminated materials in regular trash, and improper disposal creates public health hazards that result in fines and legal liability.

Secure the Area Immediately

Your immediate actions should focus on preventing further exposure:

1. Keep all people and pets away from contaminated rooms

2. Close and lock doors to the affected area if possible

3. Turn off HVAC systems that connect to the contaminated space to prevent airborne contamination

4. Do not touch, move, or cover any visible fluids or materials

5. Avoid walking through the area, as you'll track biohazards to other locations

Document the scene with photos from doorways if authorities haven't arrived yet, but never enter the contaminated area for any reason until professional cleanup teams arrive.

Step 2. Contact authorities and your insurer

Before any cleanup begins, you must contact law enforcement to document the death officially. This call creates the legal record required for insurance claims, estate proceedings, and verification that the death occurred without foul play. Police or medical examiners will arrive to investigate, remove the body, and clear the scene for cleanup once their work concludes. Skip this step and you'll face denied insurance claims and potential legal complications that delay the entire restoration process.

Call Emergency Services First

Dial 911 immediately when you discover an unattended death. The dispatcher will send police and medical personnel to the scene to determine the cause of death and whether an investigation is necessary. Do not touch anything or attempt to move the body, as this could interfere with their assessment.

Law enforcement will spend anywhere from a few hours to several days documenting the scene before releasing it for cleanup. They'll provide you with a case number and incident report that your insurance company requires for processing claims. Request copies of all documentation before officers leave the property.

Contact Your Insurance Provider Within 24 Hours

Call your homeowner's or property insurance company as soon as authorities clear the scene. Most policies cover unattended death cleanup under biohazard or trauma coverage, but you must report the incident within specific timeframes outlined in your policy. Late reporting often results in claim denials that leave you paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Insurance companies require professional cleanup documentation and certification to approve claims, so tell your adjuster you plan to hire certified biohazard specialists.

Ask your adjuster these specific questions during your first call:

• What coverage limits apply to biohazard cleanup?

• Do I need pre-approval before hiring a cleanup company?

• Which documentation do you require for claim processing?

• What's my deductible for this type of incident?

Step 3. Hire a certified biohazard cleanup company

Once authorities clear the scene and your insurance claim begins processing, you need to find qualified professionals immediately. Certified biohazard cleanup companies specialize in unattended death cleanup and follow strict health and safety protocols that protect you, your property, and future occupants. The right team arrives with industrial-grade equipment, proper disposal containers, and training to handle every aspect of contamination removal. Choose the wrong company and you risk incomplete decontamination, denied insurance claims, and potential legal liability.

What Certifications and Credentials Matter

Look for companies that hold IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) credentials specifically in trauma and crime scene cleanup. This certification proves technicians completed extensive training in bloodborne pathogen handling, proper disposal procedures, and OSHA compliance standards. You should also verify that the company carries commercial liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage, as this protects you from liability if someone gets injured during cleanup at your property.

State licensing requirements vary, but legitimate companies provide proof of their credentials without hesitation. Request copies of their IICRC certificates, insurance policies, and any state-specific licenses before signing contracts. Companies that hesitate or make excuses about documentation likely lack proper training or coverage.

Only hire companies that demonstrate current certifications and insurance, as working with unqualified teams can void your insurance coverage and leave you financially responsible for any resulting problems.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Call at least three certified companies and ask these specific questions to compare their qualifications and services:

• How many years have you specialized in unattended death cleanup?

• What specific certifications do your technicians hold?

• Will you provide a detailed written estimate before starting work?

• How do you handle biohazard disposal and documentation?

• What's your average response time for emergency situations?

• Do you work directly with insurance companies for billing?

Get Multiple Estimates

Request on-site assessments from three companies before making your decision. Phone estimates cannot account for the full extent of contamination hidden beneath surfaces or inside walls. Professional teams will visit your property, inspect all affected areas thoroughly, and provide detailed written estimates that break down labor, materials, disposal fees, and timeline expectations. Compare these estimates carefully, but remember that the lowest price rarely indicates the best service when dealing with biohazardous materials that affect your health and safety.

Step 4. Plan for cleanup, repairs, and costs

Understanding the full financial scope before work begins helps you prepare for both immediate expenses and longer-term repairs that follow biohazard removal. Professional unattended death cleanup costs vary dramatically based on how long the body remained undiscovered, which materials absorbed contamination, and whether structural repairs become necessary after removing damaged subflooring or drywall. Your cleanup company should provide detailed estimates that separate cleanup from reconstruction so you can budget accurately and track insurance reimbursements properly.

What the Cleanup Process Includes

Professional teams follow a structured approach that begins with containment and ends with complete decontamination. The company seals off affected areas using plastic sheeting and negative air pressure systems that prevent airborne pathogens from spreading to clean spaces. Technicians then remove all porous materials that absorbed bodily fluids, including carpeting, padding, sections of subflooring, drywall, insulation, and furniture that cannot be salvaged.

After removal, crews apply EPA-registered disinfectants to all remaining hard surfaces and structural elements, following specific dwell times that ensure pathogen elimination. They use specialized equipment like ozone generators, hydroxyl generators, or thermal fogging systems to neutralize odors at the molecular level rather than masking them with fragrances. Final verification testing confirms that surfaces meet safety standards before the company signs off on completion.

Average Cost Ranges and Factors

Basic unattended death cleanup starts around $1,800 to $3,000 for situations where the body was discovered within a few days and contamination remains limited to one small room. More extensive cases where decomposition progressed for weeks can easily reach $5,000 to $15,000 or more, especially when crews must remove large sections of flooring, wall framing, or HVAC components that absorbed fluids or odors.

Several factors drive costs higher:

• Time elapsed before discovery (longer periods create more contamination)

• Square footage of affected areas

• Type of flooring and structural materials requiring removal

• Accessibility challenges in multi-story buildings or crawl spaces

• Additional services like hoarding cleanup if present

Professional companies provide fixed-price estimates after on-site assessment, protecting you from surprise charges that inflate original quotes.

Planning for Reconstruction Expenses

Cleanup companies remove contaminated materials but rarely handle reconstruction work that follows biohazard removal. Budget separately for contractors who will install new subflooring, drywall, insulation, and finished surfaces after the space receives clearance. Reconstruction typically costs $3,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the extent of material removal and your finish choices.

Your insurance policy may cover both cleanup and reconstruction under dwelling coverage or additional living expenses, but confirm specific coverage limits with your adjuster before authorizing any work. Request that cleanup companies document all removed materials with photos and detailed invoices that support your insurance claim and justify reconstruction needs.

Next steps

You now know exactly what to do when faced with an unattended death situation. Start by securing the area and keeping everyone away from contamination, then call 911 immediately to begin the official documentation process. Contact your insurance company within 24 hours to report the incident and ask about coverage limits before hiring anyone. Request on-site assessments from at least three IICRC-certified biohazard cleanup companies, compare their detailed written estimates, and verify their insurance coverage before signing contracts.

Professional unattended death cleanup teams will handle the dangerous decontamination work, but you'll likely need additional restoration services after they complete biohazard removal. Removed flooring, subflooring, and drywall require replacement before the property becomes livable again. Water damage from firefighting efforts or plumbing issues related to the incident may also need immediate attention to prevent mold growth and structural problems. Contact Water Damage Repair Tech for emergency water damage repair, interior demolition services, and reconstruction preparation once biohazard cleanup concludes and your property requires professional restoration to return it to safe, habitable condition.