After a frightening moment at home
Accidents at home are often sudden and scary. An older parent falls in the bathroom, a child is hurt on a glass table, or someone is injured using a power tool. Paramedics take care of the person, and the family is left with blood on the floor, the stairs or the furniture. This happens in owned homes, rentals and senior living apartments alike.
Adult children and caregivers often call us from the hospital, so the house is cleaned before anyone has to see it again. On that call, we ask where the accident happened and who can let us in. A neighbor, relative or landlord can give us access if no one can be there.
Where blood tends to end up
Blood travels further than people expect, and it settles into materials that ordinary cleaning cannot reach.
- Carpeted stairs, where fluid soaks through to the pad and tack strip
- Hardwood and laminate seams, grout lines and vinyl edges
- Recliners, sofas and mattresses, where it reaches the foam
- Bathroom tile, tubs, toilet bases and vanity cabinets
- Garage concrete, workbenches and driveways
- Walls, door frames and light switches touched during the response
What we do in your home
We begin by walking the affected rooms with you or your contact and explaining what can be cleaned and what may need to come out. Nothing is removed without your agreement.
Wearing protective equipment, our technicians lift fluids, clean every affected surface, and then apply EPA-registered disinfectants according to the label, keeping the surface wet for the full contact time. CDC guidance on blood spills follows the same order: remove visible material, then clean and decontaminate. Saturated carpet pad, cushions or mattress sections are removed and bagged for appropriate disposal.
We also check the path between the accident and the door, since responders and family members often track blood through hallways and entries.
Hidden places we check
Falls often involve more than one room. A person may have tried to get up, reached for a phone, or been helped to a chair before paramedics arrived. We follow that path and look at the lower edges of walls, the sides of cabinets, door handles and the floor under rugs.
We also look at items that were used during the emergency, such as towels, blankets, pillows and clothing. Washable fabrics with light staining can often be laundered by the family on a hot cycle with detergent; heavily soaked items are usually better discarded, and we will talk through each one with you.
Please hold off on these
- Scrubbing carpet or upholstery, which can push blood deeper into the padding
- Using a household vacuum on any affected area
- Mixing bleach with other cleaners
- Letting children or pets into the room before it is cleaned
Planning for the return home
If your loved one will come home with mobility limits, it may be a good time to think about what goes back into the room. We can leave a bathroom or bedroom cleared and disinfected so a caregiver or occupational therapist can set it up as needed.
Rebuilding stairs, replacing flooring or refinishing hardwood after removal goes to a flooring contractor or handyman. We will explain exactly what was removed so they can quote accurately.
Cost and coverage
Some homeowner's policies may cover cleanup after an accidental injury, depending on the policy and the circumstances, so a call to your insurer is worthwhile. Our page on biohazard cleanup and insurance explains what to ask. We give you a written scope before work begins.
For larger events in a home, including a death, see our trauma scene cleanup overview. If the main problem is a stained couch or carpet, our carpet and upholstery fluid removal page goes into more detail. A frightening accident can shake a whole family. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).