Blood Cleanup
It’s inevitable that accidents happen and we have no way to predict when or how these accidents may occur. Whether you’re at home or at work, you might find yourself in a situation that desires precise and considerate cleanup of bodily fluids – including one of the most hazardous substances: blood.
The team at Bio Clean 911 includes trained professionals who specialize in removing and sanitizing areas that have been polluted by bloodshed. We will restore the affected areas and reduce the stress that is associated with blood cleanup.
Why Is It so Dangerous to Clean Blood?
Human blood can carry many infectious diseases including the three most dangerous bloodborne pathogens – HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C. Other dangerous but, less common bloodborne pathogens include Human T-Lymphotropic Virus, Syphilis, and West Nile Virus.
Thus, when exposed to blood you should always assume the blood is infected, and seek the right cleanup crew right away.
How to Properly Clean up Blood from Hard Surfaces
Most commonly, bloodshed will occur on hard surfaces, including tile, vinyl linoleum, metal, hardwood, cement, and even pool decks. Lucky, most hard surfaces are non-absorbent which makes cleaning much easier than absorbent surfaces. However, we strongly encourage following the steps below to better ensure safety.
- Prepare. Prepare yourself with the proper equipment and protective gear. Always wear disposable gloves when cleaning up blood and if there is a possibility of splashing, wear a protective gown in addition to protective eyewear. Prescription glasses, sunglasses, or other fashion glasses are not considered protective eyewear.
- Discard. Discard any broken glass or other sharp objects using tongs or a brush into a biohazard, puncture-proof container. Do not pick up the objects by hand as the objects could puncture gloves or other protective gear.
- Clean. Clean the affected area with a disposable cloth or paper towel (if using a towel, it must be thrown away immediately after use) to soak up most of the blood. The disinfectants will not work is fluids are on the surface. Immediately discard the blood-soaked paper towel after use..
- Disinfect. First, clean the affected area with soap and water, then disinfectant the area for 10 minutes with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. After 10 minutes, scrub with a paper towel or heavy-duty towel from the outside to the center then dispose of the towels in a biohazard bag.
- Clean again. Clean the affected area once more with tap water then allow the area to dry.
- Discard. Discard all contaminated paper towels (or other towels), gloves, and other disposable equipment into a biohazard bag. Make sure not to contaminant other areas during this process – you may want to use an additional pair of gloves.
- Contact. Contact your local health department for proper disposal instructions.
- Last Check. Conduct one last check over your body and clothes to ensure no blood remains.
- Wash. Using either soap and water or an alcohol-based wash, scrub hands and arms vigorously.
- Follow-up. If dealing with a work accident cleanup, follow up cleaning with an incident report.
How to Properly Clean up Blood Spills on Carpeted Surfaces?
Due to the absorbent properties of carpet blood spills on carpeted surfaces are the most difficult to properly clean. Though many of the cleanup procedures are similar to cleaning hard surfaces, there are a few crucial steps to keep in mind. Also, carpet cannot be 100% disinfected due to the absorbent properties thus, we suggest quickly cleaning and sanitizing thoroughly.
- Prepare. With all blood cleanup, you should prepare yourself with the proper equipment and protective gear. Always wear disposable gloves when cleaning up blood and if there is a possibility of splashing, wear a protective gown in addition to protective eyewear. Prescription glasses, sunglasses, or other fashion glasses are not considered protective eyewear.
- Discard. Discard any broken glass or other sharp objects using tongs or a brush into a biohazard, puncture-proof container. Do not pick up the objects by hand as the objects could puncture gloves or other protective gear.
- Contain. Contain the spill from spreading by placing absorbent materials, like paper towels, around the spill to create a barrier.
- Clean. Begin the cleaning process by spraying the affected area with carpet detergent – this will kill some but, not all of the surviving pathogens. Allow the detergent to sit for 10 minutes before moving to the next step.
- Blot. Use a disposable paper towel to blot as much excess fluid as possible. After, dispose of the towels into a sealable biohazard bag.
- Remove. Using a wet-vacuum, wet and extract any remaining fluids. Repeat this process several times.
- Disinfect. After vacuuming, saturate the affected area with a disinfectant recommend by the carpet manufacturer to ensure the fibers remain undamaged. Allow the disinfectant to sit for 20 minutes before moving to the next step.
- Repeat. Repeat the previous step and disinfect the carpet a second time. Allow the disinfectant to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse. Using water, rinse the affected area to remove lingering detergent, then wet-vacuum the affected area.
- Dry. Use paper towels, or another disposable towel, to absorb any remaining water. Immediately dispose of the towels into a biohazard bag. Place fans by the affected area to speed drying time.
- Last Check. Conduct one last check over your body and clothes to ensure no blood remains.
- Wash. Using either soap and water of an alcohol-based wash, scrub hands and arms vigorously.
- Follow-up. If at work, follow up cleaning with an incident report.
