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Columbia SCBiohazard

After a violent crime

Crime scene and trauma cleanup in Columbia

When the investigators leave, the room they worked in is still yours to deal with. A biohazard cleanup company takes that part off your hands.

Call (803) 637-8296

Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Two workers in white coveralls and respirators carry sealed red boxes down the steps of a brick ranch house

What the police do, and what they leave

Officers and investigators document the scene and collect evidence. They do not clean. When they are finished they release the property back to you, and the cleanup becomes the owner's or the family's decision.

Ask the officer in charge when the home will be released and how you will be told. Inside Columbia city limits, the police non-emergency number is (803) 252-2911. Outside the city, the county sheriff's office is the one to ask.

Wait for that release before anything is cleaned or thrown out. Cleaning too early can disturb evidence, and it can also make it harder to show an insurer what was damaged.

How the cleanup usually goes

  1. A walk-through

    The company looks at every affected area, including places that are easy to miss: under rugs, behind baseboards, inside vents, on the underside of furniture.

  2. Sealing off the area

    Doorways may be covered with plastic sheeting so nothing spreads to the rest of the home while they work.

  3. Removing what cannot be saved

    Carpet, pad, mattresses, upholstered furniture and sections of drywall or subfloor that have absorbed blood are cut out and bagged as biohazard waste.

  4. Cleaning and disinfecting

    Hard surfaces are cleaned first, then treated with a disinfectant left on for the time its label requires. Residue left by investigators, such as fingerprint powder, is usually part of the job.

  5. Odor and a final check

    The company deals with lingering odor and walks the room again before handing it back. Ask what records and photos you will receive.

People who can help with the rest

Cleanup is only one part of the days after a crime. These offices handle other parts.

  • Columbia Police, non-emergency(803) 252-2911For questions about a scene or a report inside Columbia city limits (Columbia Police FAQ).
  • Richland County Sheriff, Victim Assistance(803) 576-3115For victims of crimes the sheriff's department investigated (sheriff contact page).
  • SC Crime Victim Compensation(803) 734-1900Weekdays 8:30 to 5. It may help with counseling, funeral costs and lost wages, but its published FAQ lists crime scene clean-up among the requests it does not pay.

Questions about crime scene cleanup

Do I need to be there while the work is done?

Not always. Someone has to let the company in and agree to the work. Ask whether they can work while you stay elsewhere and send photos when they finish.

Will they move or throw out personal belongings?

Tell them before they start what must be kept, such as papers, photos or jewelry. A careful company will set aside personal items it finds and ask you about anything it is unsure of.

Can they help with a business or a rental unit?

Yes. The steps are the same. Tell them on the call what kind of space it is and whether any part of it has to stay open.

When you are ready, one call is enough

Tell the company what happened, which room or vehicle it is in, and whether the police and coroner have finished. They will explain the work, when they can come and how they arrive at a price.

Talk to a cleanup company

The call puts you in touch with an independent biohazard cleanup company that works in the Columbia area. Say what happened and ask what you need to know. Whether you hire them is up to you.

Call (803) 637-8296

Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.

Call (803) 637-8296