Questions
Questions and answers
Short answers, with links to the longer guides.
Before the cleanup
When can cleanup start?
After the police, and the coroner if a death is involved, have released the home or the vehicle. In Sonoma County the coroner is part of the Sheriff's Office.
Can I clean it myself?
A small spot on a hard surface, often yes, with gloves and a proper disinfectant. Anything that has soaked in or spread is a job for a company. More on that.
Do I need to be there?
No. A key or a code is enough. Agree first what the company should set aside for you.
Cost and paying
How much does it cost?
It depends on how far fluids spread, what has to be removed and how much waste there is. Ask for the price in writing before work starts. What moves the price.
Will insurance pay?
Sometimes. Ask your insurer before work starts. This site cannot say what a policy covers.
Does California help victims of crime with cleanup?
Yes. CalVCB can reimburse crime scene cleanup after a crime in a home or vehicle, done by a state-registered company.
The call
Who answers?
An independent biohazard cleanup company, or a referral service that puts you through to one.
Do you cover my town?
Santa Rosa and the towns listed on the service area page. If you are nearby, call and ask.
Is there a needle pickup service?
No. If you find needles or syringes, do not handle them; tell the cleanup company before it arrives.
When you are ready
Talk to a cleanup company about your home
Describe what happened and which rooms are affected, and say whether the police or the coroner have finished. The company will explain the work and its price.
Ready to talk to a cleanup company?
You will speak with an independent biohazard cleanup company that works in Santa Rosa and nearby towns. Ask what it would do and what it would charge. Nothing is agreed until you say so.
Call (707) 271-4587Answered 24 hours a day, every day
Calls may be recorded. The referral disclosure explains how this site is paid.