How to Clean Up Bodily Fluids

• The dangers of bodily fluids
• How to clean a body fluid spill
• Why only trained professionals should clean them up
• What are bodily fluid clean up kits?
• Get in touch

After an incident in the workplace or in your home, a swift clean up of bodily fluids is critical to prevent stains and protect people's health. You must always bring in trauma cleaning specialists to deal with such situations to ensure the scene is restored to its previous, safe condition. 

Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer our trauma cleaning services nationwide, 24/7, 365 days a year. In an emergency, our specialist cleaners can be on site within several hours, no matter where you are in the UK. 

Keep reading to find out how to clean up bodily fluids and why it should always be left to professional trauma cleaners. 

The dangers of bodily fluids

Bodily fluids carry a multitude of infectious agents, making them potentially hazardous. Blood, saliva, urine, and other substances can contain viruses like Hepatitis B and C or HIV. When someone comes into contact with contaminated fluids and it gets into their cuts or mucous membranes, they risk infection.

Thorough clean up is essential to make the affected area safe again and protect people's health in the future. Clean up is particularly dangerous as the cleaners will have to come in close contact with the harmful substances. This is why professional cleaners wear protective gear when handling these materials including gloves and face masks.

Although bodily fluid clean up sounds straightforward, one should never underestimate the potential danger posed by exposure to these substances. Even if there are no visible needles or sharp objects present in the spillage area which may cause injury and possible infection, pathogens can still be present in dried material that has not been properly disinfected.

There are also lots of risks associated with the improper disposal of bodily fluids and biohazardous waste. This includes the contamination of water sources and the environment, and potentially putting people that come in contact with the waste in danger. There are lots of stringent guidelines and regulations that must be followed. 

How to clean a body fluid spill

Professional trauma cleaners will start by putting on their personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes gloves, masks, eye protection, and sometimes gowns. Next, they will contain the spill to prevent further contamination. They will use specialist absorbent materials to blot up excess liquids.

Trauma cleaners will then use a disinfectant to inactivate any harmful microorganisms that may be left behind on the affected surfaces. 

Lastly, they will dispose of the biohazardous waste. Cleaners will do this by sealing them inside leak-proof bags before putting them into designated biohazard bins which professionals will handle appropriately according to health regulations.

You can find out more about what happens during a trauma clean in this blog. 

Why only trained professionals should clean them up

Firstly, they can give you peace of mind the area is safe to re-occupy. They are trained to spot potential hazards that you may not be aware of and can contain potential outbreaks. 

They will also have access to industrial-strength cleaning agents intended for bodily fluid spill clean up that can eliminate all biohazards, stains, and unpleasant odours. 

They will be well-versed in the local regulations for disposing of biohazardous materials, as well, and can save you potentially causing pollution or putting people's health at risk. 

If a bodily fluids spill is part of a crime scene, you may disturb evidence during clean up which is illegal. Cleaners specifically trained for such scenarios work hand-in-glove with law enforcement agencies to ensure crucial evidence remains untampered.

Cleaning up bodily fluids can be upsetting, too, particularly if it was caused by a crime or someone passing away and you knew the victim. Trauma cleaners can take care of the difficult situation for you in a discreet, sensitive manner. 

What are bodily fluid clean up kits?

Bodily fluid clean-up kits can help people that work in settings where such spills are frequent deal with them safely. They come packed with all of the equipment required to tackle hazardous substances like blood, vomit, and urine. Only people trained to use them should use a spill kit. Their contents usually include:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, masks, face shields, gowns, and aprons to protect the cleaner against any pathogens
• High-grade cleaning agents and disinfectants that meet regulatory standards to ensure surfaces are made safe and hygienic after an incident
• Absorbent materials, like granular compounds that turn fluids into gels and specialised pads that soak up bodily fluids
• Biohazard bags which are thick and labelled clearly to help you avoid accidental contact with the waste inside them
• Tongs so you can pick up contaminated items without touching them directly
• Sharps containers for the safe disposal of syringes, needles, and anything else sharp

Get in touch

Our specialist technicians have been accredited by the National Association of Crime Scene Cleaners, and can carry out a quick, effective clean up. 

To get your free site survey and no-obligation quote for our trauma cleaning services, speak to our team on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.