Death and Decomposition Cleanup in Arlington, TX
We clean up homes in Arlington, TX, where a person died and wasn't found for days or weeks, removing decomposition fluids, the flooring and walls they reached, and the odor that has spread through the house. HomeGuide puts unattended death cleanup at $1,000 to $7,000 on average and up to $10,000. Call 123-456-7890 for a free walkthrough and a written price.
What an Unattended Death Leaves in a Home
An unattended death leaves fluid and odor that keep spreading until the source is removed. Decomposition fluid moves through a mattress or carpet into the pad, the subfloor, and the joints between floor sections, and it can travel under walls into the next room. Insects follow. The odor settles into drywall, ceilings, clothing, curtains, and the duct system, so airing out the room doesn't clear it.
We remove the source first. Every porous material the fluid reached comes out, and the odor treatment starts only after that.
Why These Deaths Go Unfound in Arlington
These deaths go unfound when nobody checks in for a stretch of days. The American Community Survey counts 10,092 Arlington households made up of one person age 65 or older, and a fall or a heart attack in one of those homes can go unnoticed until a neighbor notices mail piling up or a smell at the door.
Heat speeds up what we find. The National Weather Service's DFW Airport station, using its 1991 through 2020 normals, averages 20 days a year at 100°F or hotter and a mean temperature of 66.6°F, and a closed house with the air conditioning off grows much hotter inside. We seal the room and the vents at the first visit to keep the odor from moving further.
Before the Cleanup Can Start
Before the cleanup can start, the death has to be investigated. Texas law sends deaths that happen without medical attention to the medical examiner, and in Arlington that's the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office in Fort Worth. Police and the medical examiner's staff remove the person and release the home.
Once the home is released, keep the doors closed, leave the air conditioning set where it was, and stay out of the room. If the house will be sold, our post on selling a house after a death in Texas covers disclosure. Then call us and we'll come out for the walkthrough.
What We Remove and Clean
What we remove and clean is set by how far the fluid went, and we list it all in writing.
- Mattress, box spring, bedding, recliners, and other upholstered furniture
- Carpet, pad, and tack strip, plus vinyl, laminate, or wood flooring that fluid reached
- Subfloor sections, drywall, and baseboards with soaked-through fluid
- Insects and their remains, removed and the area treated
- Clothing, curtains, and fabrics that absorbed the odor, set aside for the family to decide on
- HVAC registers and the return near the room, cleaned and deodorized
Work is performed by independent professionals.
How We Clear the Odor
How we clear the odor comes down to order. First, we remove every porous material that absorbed fluid. Second, we clean and disinfect the subfloor, framing, and hard surfaces, and seal any stained wood that stays. Third, we treat the air and the remaining surfaces throughout the home. Finally, we check the house again after it has been closed up, and we don't call the job done while the odor is still there.
What Unattended Death Cleanup Costs
What unattended death cleanup costs rises with the number of days before the person was found. HomeGuide reports $1,000 to $7,000 on average, up to $10,000, and Fixr reports $200 to $300 an hour for unattended death work. Those are national averages, not Arlington quotes.
The rooms affected, the depth the fluid reached, and the amount of flooring and drywall removed set the real price. Our crime scene cleanup cost page shows how those factors add up, and we give you a written price after the walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for cleanup after an unattended death?
The person or estate responsible for the property arranges the cleanup. In an owned home, that's the owner's family or the executor. In a rental, the landlord or property manager arranges it, and the tenant's representative handles the belongings. Call 123-456-7890 once the home is released and the person who can approve the work can schedule the walkthrough.
Does homeowners insurance cover unattended death cleanup?
Coverage is set by the wording of each policy, so call the insurer before work begins. Ask whether cleanup after a death in the home is covered, whether removing and replacing flooring and drywall is included, and what the deductible is. Write down the claim number and the adjuster's name. We put that claim number on our itemized invoice so it matches the file.
Can we open the windows and run fans to clear the smell?
Opening windows and running fans moves the odor around the house without removing its source. The smell comes from fluid inside the mattress, flooring, and subfloor, and it returns as soon as the windows close. Fans can also push contaminated dust and insects into other rooms. Keep the door shut and the room closed until the affected materials come out.
How long does unattended death cleanup take?
A single room found within a few days takes one or two days of work. A home where the person was found after weeks, or where fluid reached the subfloor or a second room, takes longer, because more material has to come out and the odor treatment runs longer. The written scope states the expected number of days before the work starts.
Can belongings from the house be saved?
Many belongings can be saved. Items outside the affected room are cleaned and deodorized, and hard items like dishes, tools, jewelry, and electronics clean well even near the room. Papers and photos are set aside for the family. Upholstered furniture, mattresses, and fabrics that absorbed fluid are discarded only after the family approves the list.
Get a Free Estimate in Arlington
If a death went unnoticed in an Arlington home, call 123-456-7890 for a walkthrough and a written price. See how we handle crime scene and trauma cleanup in Arlington or the related biohazard cleanup work.