When someone was found days later
Unattended death cleanup
When a person dies alone and is not found for some time, the room needs more than cleaning. An independent company can remove what was affected, treat the odor and make the space usable again.
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Why it is more than a deep clean
Fluids from decomposition move down and sideways. In a house built on a concrete slab they can run under tile and baseboards; in a second-floor apartment they can reach the ceiling below. The smell settles into fabric, drywall and the air handler.
A cleanup company opens up what it needs to, removes affected flooring and furniture, cleans and disinfects, then deals with the odor. Ask whether that includes the air conditioning ducts and filter.
Before the cleanup
In Florida, a death unattended by a doctor is one the district medical examiner looks into (s. 406.11). In Seminole County that office works from Leesburg and answers (352) 326-5961 at any hour for death investigations. The family chooses a funeral home, and the home is usually yours again once police and investigators have left.
The step-by-step guide on what happens after a death at home covers the order of things.
Questions
Will the smell come back?
It should not if the source is removed rather than covered. Ask the company how it checks before it leaves, and what happens if odor returns.
Can belongings be saved?
Hard items such as dishes, papers in closed drawers and jewelry often can. Mattresses and upholstered furniture in the room usually cannot. Tell the company which things matter to you before they start.
Who pays when the person rented the home?
Often the landlord arranges the unit's cleanup and deals with the estate afterward. See the landlord guide.
Related
- After a death at homePolice, the medical examiner, the funeral home and then the cleanup, in order.
- For landlordsA death or injury in a unit you rent out: the unit, the tenant's family and the next lease.
- Blood and bodily fluidsInjuries, falls and illness that left blood or fluids on floors, walls or furniture.
Call when you are ready
You will speak with an independent cleanup company that works around Sanford. Say what happened and where, ask what they would do and what affects the price, and take your time deciding.
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Calls may be recorded. Details are in the referral disclosure and privacy policy.