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While a biohazard cleanup sounds like a scary process, knowing what to expect can help ease your concerns and set you up for success. It’s good to note that more than one professional might be needed depending on your situation, but that will be determined during the assessment. What you can expect during a home biohazard cleanup is the following:

• Assessment: The first step in this process is for a biohazard cleanup professional to assess the damage. They create a report that includes the biohazard safety level, the needed damage cleanup, and the time it should take to complete the project. 

• Setup: The cleanup professional prepares the site to prevent cross-contamination and reduce toxicity risk. This process can include tarping and creating decontamination zones. 

• Removal of surface contamination: Any contaminated materials are removed from the area, starting with large materials followed by small ones. The professional can assess any floor-related damage once everything is removed from the site. 

• Salvaging items: The biohazard cleanup professionals assess which items can be saved and which are contaminated beyond the point of saving. Those deemed unsafe will be disposed of immediately. 

• Waste disposal: The next step is carefully disposing of the hazardous waste. Your professional will place the contaminated items in specific containers to keep the contamination from spreading.   

• Disinfection: The house will be disinfected and odor-neutralized. Even more minor details, like light switches and bulbs, will be disinfected so that they do not recontaminate the area in the future. 

• Restoration: Once the decontamination is complete, the last step is to restore the home. This includes repairing the damage to flooring, walls, or even the home's foundation.  

You can use dish soap mixed with warm water to clean just about any type of flooring, and while vinegar is a great addition to some floor cleaners, it’s not a good idea to use it on wood flooring or engineered wood flooring. Vinegar is very acidic, and it can gradually eat away at the protective finish on wood floors. If you’re cleaning laminate, tile, concrete, or vinyl floors, feel free to use vinegar and water in a 1-to-1 ratio with a few drops of dish soap. For wood floors, substitute the vinegar for olive oil.

Cleaning typically takes 1-2 days, depending on the property size and debris amount.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using an EPA-registered disinfectant product to disinfect a house properly. If such a product isn't handy, a strong bleach solution can disinfect high-touch surfaces. Before hiring a professional, be sure to discuss the type of chemicals and disinfectants they plan to use to ensure they’re safe for household use.