Trauma Clean 24 Seven attended an HMO in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, after a former resident left numerous bottles and containers holding human urine and faeces in a bedroom. Two specialist operatives removed the human waste, contaminated mattress, bedding and carpet before they cleaned, sanitised and treated the room for odours. The team completed the work in one day and left the room ready for redecoration and refurbishment. This case study demonstrates why a specialist Bio Hazard Clean Up may be necessary when human waste has contaminated a rental property.
Project snapshot
| Project | Details |
|---|---|
| Service | Bio hazard cleaning and human waste removal |
| Client | HMO landlord |
| Location | Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire |
| Property | Bedroom within a House in Multiple Occupation |
| Duration | One day |
| Operatives | Two |
| Bio hazards present | Human urine and faeces |
| Waste removed | Six heavy-duty waste bags containing emptied bottles, cans, tubs and associated waste, together with a contaminated mattress, bedding and carpet |
| Additional issues | Severe odour and urine-contaminated furnishings and flooring |
| Outcome | Room cleared, cleaned, sanitised and prepared for redecoration and refurbishment |
The situation of this bio hazard clean up
The landlord of an HMO in Huntingdon contacted Trauma Clean 24 Seven after other occupants raised concerns about one resident’s bedroom.
The resident had used bottles, tubs and assorted containers to store urine and faeces rather than leaving the room to use the property’s toilet. After the resident moved out, the landlord found numerous containers holding bodily waste throughout the bedroom, including around furniture and inside drawers.
This was not a conventional end-of-tenancy cleaning job. The room contained significant quantities of human waste, and urine had contaminated the mattress, bedding and carpet. The landlord needed a specialist team to remove the biological contamination and affected materials under controlled conditions before decorators or maintenance contractors could enter.
The challenge
Our operatives found a substantial accumulation of bottles, cans, tubs and other containers. They could see some immediately, but they found others stored or concealed among belongings and furniture.
The main challenges included:
- Large quantities of stored urine
- Containers holding human faeces
- Bodily waste contamination throughout the bedroom
- Urine-contaminated bedding and mattress
- Heavily contaminated carpet
- Strong, persistent odours
- Waste containers located around furniture and inside drawers
Because urine and faeces can expose anyone entering the room to biological contamination, our team needed to carry out the clearance methodically. The operatives also assessed porous materials carefully because contamination and odours can penetrate beyond the visible surface.
Our approach
Initial bio hazard assessment
Before beginning the clearance, our team established where the resident had stored the waste, how far the contamination had spread and which materials it had affected.
The operatives systematically identified the bottles, cans, tubs and other containers throughout the bedroom. They also established that the mattress, bedding and carpet were too heavily contaminated to remain in the property.
Suitable personal protective equipment
The risk of direct contact and splashing required our operatives to wear suitable personal protective equipment, including:
- Disposable protective coveralls
- Protective gloves
- Safety goggles
- Respiratory protection
- Safety footwear
This equipment helped reduce the risk of skin, eye and respiratory exposure while the operatives handled the human waste and contaminated items.
Controlled human waste removal
Our team prioritised the stored urine and faeces. The operatives carefully located and handled each bottle, tub and container before transferring its contents into a suitable receptacle under controlled conditions. They then discharged the human waste through the property’s foul drainage system.
The team emptied each container, securely bagged it with the associated waste and removed it from the bedroom. In total, the operatives cleared approximately six heavy-duty waste bags containing bottles, cans, tubs and related waste.
Removal of contaminated materials
Our team could not effectively decontaminate every item in the room. Urine had penetrated several porous materials, resulting in staining and persistent odour.
The team therefore removed:
- The mattress
- Contaminated bedding
- The bedroom carpet
The operatives securely contained these items and removed them from the property for appropriate disposal. They needed to remove the source of the contamination because surface cleaning alone would not have resolved the staining, biological contamination or deeply embedded odour.
Cleaning, sanitisation and odour treatment
After removing the human waste, affected materials and general waste, our operatives thoroughly cleaned the bedroom.
The team used professional-grade products suitable for biohazard environments to clean and sanitise affected surfaces. They also treated the strong residual odours caused by the prolonged storage of urine and faeces.
The team aimed to do more than improve the room’s appearance. Our operatives removed the contamination sources, sanitised the affected environment and left the space in a suitable condition for the landlord’s contractors to begin redecoration and refurbishment.
Segregated waste disposal
The operatives securely contained all contaminated items before removing them from the HMO. They separated materials requiring specialist disposal from general waste and directed everything through the appropriate waste streams.
Trauma Clean 24 Seven operates as a registered upper-tier waste carrier. We transport the waste from specialist cleaning projects and direct it through the correct disposal routes.
The result
The difference after the clearance was significant. Before work began, the bedroom contained numerous bottles, cans, tubs and other containers, while contamination affected the mattress, bedding and carpet.
By the end of the one-day project, our team had:
- Safely removed the human urine and faeces
- Cleared the contaminated containers and associated waste
- Removed the affected mattress and bedding
- Lifted and removed the heavily contaminated carpet
- Cleaned and sanitised the affected surfaces
- Treated the strong residual odours
- Prepared the bedroom for refurbishment
The landlord could then arrange for decorators and other contractors to enter the room, complete the refurbishment and prepare it for a new resident.
Why specialist bio hazard cleaning was required
This project shows why some rental property clearances go far beyond a standard deep clean or end-of-tenancy service.
Human urine and faeces can contaminate floors, furnishings and other porous materials. When the contamination has remained for an extended period, odours may persist even after a cleaning team removes the visible waste. Cleaning the surface without removing heavily affected materials can leave contamination sources behind.
For landlords, letting agents and HMO property managers, a specialist team can deal with the bio hazard before cleaners, decorators, maintenance teams or other contractors enter the affected room.
Bio hazard cleaning in Huntingdon and Cambridgeshire
Trauma Clean 24 Seven provides specialist bio hazard cleaning for landlords, letting agents, property managers, housing providers, businesses and private clients across Huntingdon and the wider Cambridgeshire area.
Our team can assist with:
- Human urine and faeces contamination
- Blood and bodily fluid cleaning
- Unattended death cleaning
- Trauma and crime scene cleaning
- Hoarding and extreme cleaning
- Sharps and needle sweeps
- Contaminated property clearances
- Odour treatment
Our team assesses every situation individually and plans the cleaning, removal and waste-disposal process around the contamination found at the property.
Frequently asked questions
Can a normal cleaner deal with human urine and faeces?
Routine cleaning may sometimes deal with a small, isolated accident. However, significant quantities of stored human waste, widespread contamination or affected porous materials may require specialist bio hazard clean up.
A trained team can assess the contamination, use suitable protective equipment and products, and remove affected waste and materials appropriately.
Can urine be removed from a mattress or carpet?
It depends on the amount of urine, how deeply it has penetrated and how long the contamination has remained. When urine heavily saturates a mattress or carpet and causes a persistent odour, removing and disposing of the item appropriately may prove safer and more effective than attempting to clean it.
Do you clean HMOs in Huntingdon?
Yes. Trauma Clean 24 Seven provides specialist bio hazard and extreme cleaning services for HMOs and other rental properties in Huntingdon and across Cambridgeshire. We work with landlords, letting agents, property managers and housing organisations.
Can you make a contaminated room ready for refurbishment?
Yes. Our team removes the bio hazard, contaminated materials and associated waste before cleaning and sanitising the affected area. Once we complete the specialist work, decorators and maintenance contractors can begin the refurbishment stage, subject to the condition of the underlying structure and materials.
What information should a landlord provide when requesting a quote?
Tell us about the type of contamination, the affected rooms, how long the issue may have been present and whether we need to remove waste, furniture or flooring.
Photographs can also help our team understand the likely scope before attendance, although we may still need to carry out a site assessment.
Do you need bio hazard cleaning in Huntingdon?
If you find human waste, bodily fluids or other biological contamination in an HMO, rental property or commercial building, avoid sending unprotected cleaners or contractors into the affected area.
Trauma Clean 24 Seven provides discreet, specialist Bio Hazard Clean Up services in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas. Contact our team to discuss the situation and arrange an assessment.
For further information on our hoarding clean up services and death clean up services please do not hesitate to contact us on 0203 6408 247.