Why powder needs a careful approach
Unlike smoke residue, which coats surfaces in a film, powder is loose. Fans, foot traffic, pets and household vacuums push it into carpet fibers, seat seams, air vents and the tracks of sliding drawers. Wiping it with a dry cloth often just moves it around.
Powder sold as cocaine may also contain other substances, including fentanyl. Because there is no way to tell by looking, we treat unknown powder with the same care we would bring to a fentanyl job.
Where we find it
- Glass and stone tabletops, nightstands and bathroom counters
- Carpet, rugs and the edges of hard flooring
- Sofa seams, cushions and mattress tops
- Car consoles, cup holders, seat tracks and floor mats
- Hotel room desks, dressers and bathroom vanities
- VIP rooms, green rooms and private areas of nightlife venues
Our method, room by room
We start with what is visible. Baggies, straws, cut cards, mirrors and small scales are collected and sealed. Loose powder is lifted with damp wipes or HEPA-filtered vacuums, never by dry sweeping or blowing, so it does not become airborne.
Next, hard surfaces are washed with detergent solutions and rinsed. Drawers and cabinets near the main use area are emptied and wiped inside. Carpet, rugs and upholstery with visible contamination are either deep-cleaned with extraction equipment or, when the contamination is heavy, removed with your approval.
Technicians wear gloves, coveralls and respiratory protection suited to the conditions. If there are also bodily fluids, those areas are cleaned and then disinfected with an EPA-registered product used according to its label.
Hospitality and vehicle jobs
Hotels, short-term rentals, apartments, bars, clubs and music venues often need a room or area back in service quickly and quietly. We work around your housekeeping schedule, keep the affected room out of inventory until we finish, and describe the work in a short summary for your records.
Cars, limousines and party buses need extra attention to seat tracks, vents and the space between seats and console. Fabric seats and carpet can be extracted, and heavily affected components may need replacement by an auto upholstery shop.
Health notes
Touching a surface with trace residue is not the same as using a drug, and medical toxicologists consider incidental skin contact with fentanyl residue exceedingly unlikely to cause intoxication. Still, keep children and pets away from areas where powder is visible, and wash hands with soap and water, not hand sanitizer, after any contact, as NIOSH advises for illicit drugs.
If someone has used and seems unwell, call 911. Medical questions go to a healthcare provider.
Signs the job is bigger than it looks
A few lines of powder on a table is one thing. Repeated use over months, especially in a closed room or a vehicle, can spread residue into places that are not obvious, such as the inside of drawers, the underside of furniture and the fabric of curtains.
When we see signs of longer-term use, we will tell you and explain the options, from a focused clean of the main area to a fuller decontamination of the room. You choose the scope; we explain the tradeoffs plainly.
What we do not do
We do not identify substances, take custody of drugs or act on behalf of law enforcement. If you believe the material should be reported, contact the police before we clean. Ductwork goes to an HVAC contractor.
If cocaine was smoked as crack, our crack cocaine cleanup page explains the different approach that smoke film requires. Hotels can also read about our biohazard cleanup for hotels and motels. We cover Nashville and all of Middle Tennessee.