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Police do not clean, and the bill does not automatically fall on the family. Here is exactly who is responsible and how insurance normally covers it.
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24/7 response across Michigan
Unattended Death & Decomposition Cleanup
Complete decomposition remediation — fluids, odor, and contaminated structure removed and the property returned to a safe, habitable condition.
A person answers — not a voicemail or an answering service
24/7Live dispatch, every day
~30 minTypical on-site response
16 yrsMichigan remediation
343Cities covered statewide
The situation
When a death goes undiscovered for days or weeks, decomposition releases fluids and gases that penetrate flooring, subfloor, wall cavities, and HVAC systems. The damage extends well past what is visible.
Why this is not a cleaning job
Decomposition fluid is highly invasive and carries a heavy bacterial load. It travels along joists and into insulation. Odor molecules bond to porous material and to the ductwork, which is why masking agents and ozone alone always fail — the smell returns within days because the source was never removed.
The one question worth asking any contractor: do you remove contaminated porous material, or clean it in place? Removal is the difference between remediation and a job that fails two weeks later. We remove it.
How we handle unattended death cleanup
The same documented process every time, whether it is a single room or an entire building.
Assess the true extent
We trace fluid migration into subfloor, joist bays, and wall cavities. Visible staining is usually a fraction of the contaminated area.
Contain and ventilate
Negative pressure containment stops odor and aerosols from spreading to clean areas of the home.
Remove contaminated structure
Flooring, subfloor, insulation, and drywall that absorbed fluid are removed and disposed of as regulated waste.
Treat the source
Enzyme-based cleaners break down residual organic material at a molecular level, followed by hospital-grade disinfection.
Eliminate odor
Hydroxyl or thermal fogging treatment addresses airborne and embedded odor only after the source material is gone.
Clear and document
Verification testing plus a written report for the estate, landlord, or insurer.
What you get with us
We answer, and we come out
Every call reaches a person on our team at any hour. We dispatch immediately and typically reach addresses in our service area within 30 minutes.
Certified and documented
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030 trained. Every job ends with verification testing and a written report you keep for insurance, compliance, or disclosure.
Insurance billed directly
We bill homeowners and commercial insurance directly. Our estimates are written to carrier standards, so they get approved without argument and you are not paying while a claim is open.
Discreet by default
Unmarked vehicles and plain uniforms. No signage, no logos, no conversation with neighbors. Your situation stays yours.
Removed, not painted over
Contaminated porous material comes out. We do not clean and seal saturated subfloor and call it finished — that is why our odor results hold.
Handled with care
Our technicians are trained to work around families. We take direction from one point of contact and never ask you to look at or handle anything.
Unattended Death Cleanup — questions we get asked
Can the smell be completely removed?
Yes — but only by removing the contaminated material first. Any company that proposes to treat odor with ozone or fogging without removing saturated subfloor and structure is selling you a temporary result. Once the source is gone and the space is treated, the odor does not come back.
How long does unattended death cleanup take?
Most residential jobs take one to three days. The variable is how long the decomposition went undiscovered and whether fluid reached the subfloor or the level below.
Who pays for unattended death cleanup?
Usually the homeowners policy on the property, billed directly to the carrier. If the deceased was a tenant, the landlord's policy generally responds. Where no policy exists, the estate is responsible and we can work against estate funds.
Is the property safe to enter afterward?
Yes. We verify with surface testing before clearing the space and provide written documentation confirming the area was remediated to a safe baseline.
Unattended Death Cleanup near you
We cover 343 Michigan cities. These are our highest-volume areas for this service.
Related reading
Biohazard Cleanup Cost: What Actually Drives the Price
An honest breakdown of what biohazard and trauma cleanup costs, what moves the number up or down, and why hourly quotes are usually a warning sign.
Read the guide →After an Unattended Death: What Happens and What to Expect
A step-by-step guide for families and landlords — from the medical examiner through remediation to getting the property usable again.
Read the guide →Related services
Crime Scene Cleanup
Discreet, certified remediation after a violent crime — blood, tissue, fingerprint powder and chemical residue fully removed and verified.
Learn more →Suicide Cleanup
Compassionate, discreet cleanup handled by technicians trained to work with families present — you should never have to do this yourself.
Learn more →Blood Cleanup
Certified bloodborne pathogen cleanup for homes, businesses, vehicles, and public spaces — fully documented for compliance.
Learn more →Need unattended death cleanup now?
Call and speak to someone who can dispatch a crew while you are still on the phone.
Answered by a person, 24 hours a day · Free assessment · We bill your insurer directly