FAQ
Biohazard Cleanup Questions & Answers
Common questions from homeowners, families, landlords and property managers across Southern Virginia and North Carolina.
What is considered a biohazard?
Blood, bodily fluids, human or animal waste, decomposition residue, sewage, used needles and other materials that may carry infectious organisms are treated as biohazardous.
Who cleans up after an unattended death?
Cleanup is normally the responsibility of the property owner, the family or the estate. A biohazard cleanup company such as Summit Bio Recovery performs the physical work.
Who cleans up after a crime scene?
Once any investigation is complete, cleanup falls to the property owner or the family. We handle that work independently.
Does law enforcement clean a crime scene?
No. Investigating agencies collect evidence; they do not perform remediation of the property. Summit Bio Recovery is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency.
Can family members clean blood themselves?
It is not advisable. Blood may carry infectious material, household products do not disinfect it reliably, and the emotional cost of doing this work yourself is significant.
What happens during unattended death cleanup?
We assess the true extent of contamination, contain the area, remove affected materials such as flooring, subfloor and furniture, clean and disinfect the remaining surfaces and treat odor.
Can you clean blood from carpet?
Carpet and padding are porous. Small surface incidents can sometimes be cleaned, but saturated carpet and padding are usually removed along with the affected subfloor area.
Can you clean blood from hardwood?
Sealed hardwood can often be cleaned and disinfected. Unsealed or saturated boards, and the subfloor beneath, may need to be removed.
Do you remove contaminated furniture?
Yes. Upholstered furniture, mattresses and other porous items that cannot be decontaminated are removed as part of the scope of work.
Do you clean hoarding properties?
Yes. We provide compassionate, confidential and judgment-free hoarding cleanup, including clutter removal, biohazard decontamination and odor treatment.
Do you remove animal waste?
Yes, including feces and urine contamination in homes, rentals, animal hoarding situations and abandoned properties.
Do you clean sewage backups?
Yes. We focus on the contamination side of sewage events: waste removal, contaminated material removal, disinfection, sanitation and odor treatment.
Do you remove needles and syringes?
Yes. We search the area, collect sharps into approved containers and decontaminate surrounding surfaces.
Do you clean rental properties?
Yes. Rental turnovers involving hoarding, waste, sharps, sewage or an unattended death are a large part of our work.
Do you work with landlords and property managers?
Yes. We provide a clear scope of work and documentation of the work performed.
Can biohazard odors be removed?
Odor is usually tied to contaminated source material. Once the source is removed, treatment often improves conditions substantially, but complete odor removal cannot be guaranteed in every situation.
How much does biohazard cleanup cost?
Pricing depends on the type and extent of contamination, affected materials, size of the area and labor required. Contact Summit Bio Recovery for an evaluation.
How quickly can you respond?
Response depends on the location and the current schedule. Call us and we will tell you honestly when we can be there.
What areas do you serve?
We serve approximately 70 miles from Ridgeway, Virginia, including Martinsville, Danville, Stuart, Rocky Mount, Roanoke, Salem, Eden, Reidsville, Greensboro, Kernersville, Winston-Salem, Mount Airy and surrounding counties.
Is the cleanup confidential?
Yes. We keep our work low-profile on site and we do not discuss your property or your situation with anyone else.
Need help with a biohazard situation?
You do not have to handle it alone. Summit Bio Recovery provides professional and discreet cleanup throughout Southern Virginia and North Carolina.
Professional • Discreet • Trusted
Serving approximately 70 miles from Ridgeway, Virginia.