A family contacted Trauma Clean 24 Seven for our after death cleaning services after discovering that a relative had sadly passed away at their home in Lowestoft, Suffolk.
The family understood that the person had died in late October but remained undiscovered until December. During this time, decomposition caused biological contamination within the downstairs living room.
Trauma Clean 24 Seven sent two specialist operatives to assess the property, remove contaminated materials, clean and sanitise the affected areas and manage the resulting waste. Throughout the project, our team treated the home and the person’s belongings with care and respect.
Project overview
| Project detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Service | After Death Cleaning Services |
| Client | Bereaved family |
| Location | Lowestoft, Suffolk |
| Operatives | Two |
| Main area affected | Downstairs living room |
| Contamination | Decomposition-related bodily fluids |
| Materials removed | Armchair, curtains and affected floorboards |
| Additional clearance | Food, fridge, freezer and general waste |
| Additional cleaning | Kitchen and living room |
| Waste management | Appropriate removal and disposal of contaminated materials |
| Outcome | Team removed the contamination, sanitised the affected areas and treated the exposed structural joists |
The situation
The person had passed away while sitting in an armchair in the downstairs living room. Because they had remained undiscovered for a significant period, decomposition-related contamination had affected the armchair and the wooden flooring beneath and around it.
The family needed a specialist team to:
- Remove the contaminated armchair and other affected materials
- Clean and sanitise the affected area
- Empty the fridge, freezer and household bins
- Remove food and general waste
- Assess the full extent of the contamination
- Determine whether the affected flooring could remain
- Protect any valuables found during the work
Our operatives first assessed the affected areas and planned how to manage each type of contamination safely.
Identifying hidden contamination
After death cleaning services often requires more than cleaning visible surfaces.
Bodily fluids can pass through several layers, including furniture, carpets, flooring, subflooring and structural materials. If cleaners treat only the visible surface, contamination may remain underneath.
At this property, our operatives identified two affected areas. The armchair had sustained extensive contamination and could not remain in the home. The wooden flooring underneath had also absorbed bodily fluids and required further investigation.
The team carefully assessed which items they could clean and retain and which items they needed to remove.
Removing contaminated furniture and waste
Our operatives carefully removed the affected armchair, contaminated curtains and sections of wooden flooring.
The clearance included:
- The contaminated armchair
- Affected curtains
- Contaminated floorboards
- Food from the fridge and freezer
- Food waste within the property
- General waste from the affected area
The team separated contaminated materials from general household waste and followed the appropriate waste procedures throughout the project.
Trauma Clean 24 Seven holds upper-tier waste carrier registration, which allows our team to transport controlled waste responsibly as part of our specialist cleaning work.
Removing the affected floorboards
The floorboards formed one of the most important parts of the project.
Cleaners can often sanitise hard, non-porous surfaces successfully. However, wood can absorb biological fluids beneath its visible surface. In this case, surface cleaning alone would not have removed all the contamination.
Our operatives therefore removed the affected sections of flooring. This exposed the supporting structure and allowed the team to inspect areas that had previously remained hidden.
The team then removed the contaminated floorboards from the property through the appropriate waste-management route.
Cleaning beneath the flooring
After removing the floorboards, our operatives inspected the structural joists underneath.
The joists formed part of the building’s structure, so the cleaning team could not simply remove them. Instead, the operatives thoroughly scrubbed, cleaned and sanitised the accessible surfaces.
Our team explained the condition of the exposed structure to the family and advised them about the work that had taken place.
This stage shows why professional After Death Cleaning Services require a careful and methodical assessment. Contamination can spread beyond the original location and remain hidden beneath furniture, flooring and other porous materials.
Cleaning, sanitisation and odour control
Once the team had removed the contaminated materials, they thoroughly cleaned and sanitised the remaining affected areas.
The operatives also checked for other issues commonly associated with a person remaining undiscovered for an extended period, including:
- Persistent odours
- Flies and other insect activity
- Fly larvae
- Contaminated food
- Residual biological contamination
The team also vacuumed and mopped the kitchen and living room to improve the overall condition of the surrounding areas.
Protecting personal belongings
Specialist after death cleaning services requires sensitivity as well as technical knowledge.
Our operatives do not automatically discard every item within a property. Where belongings can safely remain, they handle them carefully and keep them separate from waste.
During this project, the team identified several valuables and placed them into security bags for the family. This protected possessions that may have held financial or sentimental importance.
Before leaving the property, the operatives checked the completed work and recorded the outcome.
The result
By the end of the project, the Trauma Clean 24 Seven team had:
- Removed the contaminated armchair
- Removed the affected curtains
- Taken out the contaminated floorboards
- Exposed and inspected the area beneath the flooring
- Scrubbed, cleaned and sanitised the accessible structural joists
- Cleared food and associated waste
- Removed general waste from the affected area
- Emptied the fridge and freezer
- Cleaned the kitchen and living room
- Sanitised the affected areas
- Placed identified valuables into security bags
- Checked and documented the completed work
The work removed the immediate contamination and left the family with a safer environment.
Why specialist after death cleaning matters
Decomposition-related contamination can present serious biological risks. Bereaved relatives, landlords and general cleaning teams should not attempt to handle it without suitable training, protective equipment and waste-management procedures.
Visible staining may show only part of the affected area. Bodily fluids can penetrate furniture and flooring before reaching the structural materials underneath.
A specialist team can assess how far the contamination has travelled, remove materials that cannot safely remain and treat the surfaces that can stay within the property.
Trauma Clean 24 Seven provides discreet and compassionate support while managing the physical cleaning process on behalf of families and property representatives.
Supporting families during a difficult time
Discovering that a relative has passed away can cause considerable distress. Families should not also have to clean decomposition-related contamination themselves.
Trauma Clean 24 Seven can assist with:
- After death cleaning services
- Unattended death cleaning
- Blood and bodily fluid cleaning
- Decomposition-related contamination
- Removal of contaminated furniture and belongings
- Removal of affected carpets and flooring
- Cleaning beneath affected flooring
- Biohazard waste removal
- Fly and larvae treatment
- Odour treatment
- Fridge, freezer and food clearance
- General waste clearance
- Cleaning and sanitisation of affected areas
Our operatives remove materials that cannot safely remain, clean and sanitise items and surfaces that can stay and treat every property with care and respect.
Frequently asked questions
What are After Death Cleaning Services?
After Death Cleaning Services provide specialist cleaning and decontamination following a death. The work may include removing bodily fluids, decomposition-related contamination, odours, insects and affected materials such as furniture, carpets or flooring.
Do floorboards always need to be removed?
No. Our operatives first assess the flooring material and the extent of the contamination. If they can clean and sanitise the flooring properly, it may remain in place. However, they may need to remove porous floorboards when bodily fluids have penetrated beneath the surface.
What happens if contamination reaches beneath the floor?
The team may need to remove affected sections of flooring to inspect and treat the area underneath. During this Lowestoft project, our operatives removed the contaminated floorboards before scrubbing, cleaning and sanitising the accessible structural joists.
What happens to contaminated furniture?
Our operatives assess each item individually. If they cannot safely decontaminate a piece of furniture, they remove it through the appropriate contaminated waste route.
Can you protect personal belongings during the clean?
Yes. Our team separates valuables and personal belongings from general waste wherever it remains safe to do so. During this project, the operatives placed identified valuables into security bags for the family.
Can you clear other waste from the property?
Yes. Depending on the agreed scope, Trauma Clean 24 Seven can remove food, fridge and freezer contents, general household waste and contaminated belongings.
Do you need help following a death?
If someone has passed away and remained undiscovered, you do not need to clean the affected area yourself.
Trauma Clean 24 Seven provides discreet and compassionate After Death Cleaning Services for families, landlords, solicitors, housing providers, councils and other organisations.
Our specialist team can assess the affected environment, remove contaminated materials, clean and sanitise accessible areas and manage the resulting waste appropriately.
Contact our expert Operations Team confidentially to discuss the circumstances and the support required.
Telephone: 0203 640 8247
Email: info@24sevengroup.co.uk
Website: www.traumaclean24seven.co.uk