Types of Cleaning Solutions for Biohazard Spills

A biohazard is any biological or chemical substance that poses a threat to the health of humans and animals. Biohazards are found almost everywhere.

Biological spills can occur unexpectedly in workplaces. If a traumatic event has occurred on your property (for example a person committed suicide or was murdered on it), schedule a commercial building biohazard cleanup in Sacramento.

A biohazard cleanup specialist has the skills required to clean up chemical and biological spills safely and effectively. They take various precautionary measures to prevent viruses and bacteria from spreading.

There are different types of biohazard cleanup solutions. When a biohazard spill occurs, the right cleaning solutions must be used to ensure no trace of infectious materials is left behind.

Biohazard cleanup solutions are produced in different concentrations. When handling a biohazard cleanup, one of the most important questions the cleanup company is faced with is what concentration of cleaning solution to use.

When deciding the composition and concentration of the biohazard cleanup solution, the most important factor to consider is the toxicity and hazard levels of the spill.

Types of Biohazard Spills and Cleaning Solutions Used to Clean Them

Blood Biohazard Spill

Blood can carry disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and other blood-borne pathogens. Blood spills can occur anywhere after an accident, a drug overdose incident, or a crime (for example a stabbing or shooting incident).

Whatever the reason, a blood spill must be cleaned immediately or the property might become contaminated with bloodborne pathogens. If someone comes in contact with contaminated blood, they may contract a deadly virus.

To clean up hazardous blood spills, most biohazard cleanup companies use a mixture of one part 0.5 percentage chlorine and nine parts water. When preparing the solution, make sure the water is clean as unclean water contains organic matter that affects the properties of chlorine.

The solution should be applied immediately to contaminated surfaces as chlorine starts losing its effectiveness within 24 hours after being prepared.

Some biohazard cleanup professionals use Calcium hypochlorite powder, an inorganic compound. It contains 65 percent of available chlorine and is the primary ingredient of several commercial cleaning products. Others rely on granules to clean hazardous blood spills.

Animal Waste Biohazard Cleanup

If your building was a hoarding scene, have a biohazard cleanup specialist decontaminate it immediately. Animal waste such as bat, rodent, and bird droppings contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause different types of infections including histoplasmosis. It is caused by inhaling spores of a fungus known as Histoplasma, which lives in soil that contains large amounts of bat or bird droppings.

Animal remains too contain harmful pathogens. Often biohazard cleanup companies use baking soda to neutralize the pungent odor of animal waste.

The cleaning solution used for animal waste biohazard cleanup is prepared by mixing one part baking soda, one part dishwashing liquid, one part vinegar, and three parts clean water.

Just because these materials are found at home does not mean you can handle a cleanup yourself. Given the specialized nature of the task, it’s highly likely that you will make a mistake and may end up with a full-blown infestation.

Biohazard cleanup is a specialized task. Cleaning a hoarding scene is not as straightforward and simple as it might seem. If you take the wrong step, your building might become an infection hotspot.

Mold Biohazard Spill

Mold in your home or workplace is a serious problem. Mold is more than unsightly, it can cause several health issues including eye, throat, and skin irritation and nasal stuffiness. If a person with asthma or an allergy breathes in mold spores, they can have an asthma attack or an allergic reaction.

Studies have linked long-term exposure to mold to serious health effects such as insomnia and other sleep problems and confusion and trouble concentrating. Mold can even contribute to depression and anxiety.

Some studies have concluded that long-term exposure to mold can lead to muscle cramps, unusual weight gain, numbness in the extremities, hair loss, and increased sensitivity to light.

Mold can grow in homes and offices. It can affect employee productivity and morale. Mold spreads quickly and can be very difficult to remove and kill. If you wait too long to hire a mold remediation expert, things will get worse and you may end up paying more for mold remediation than you would have if you had moved quickly.

If you have mold in your home or office, a biohazard cleanup expert will come up with a plan to prevent the spread of mold biohazard spills. If mold spreads to other parts of your building and other businesses in the complex are affected, your reputation will take a hit.

Mold biohazard cleanup professionals usually use white distilled vinegar with five percent acidity or cleaning vinegar with six percent acidity to clean mold. Bleach can also be used for cleanup, but studies show that vinegar is a more effective cleaning agent than bleach.

There are several reasons why vinegar is usually used for mold cleanup. Unlike bleach that only kills mold from the surface, vinegar kills mold from the surface and also penetrates the membrane.

Bleach can do more harm than good. When bleach is applied to an affected surface, mold colonies detect it as a threat. Molds start feeding on bleach and begin to multiply. The EPA advises against using bleach for mold cleanup.

West Coast Fire & Water specializes in commercial building biohazard cleanup in Sacramento. We use state-of-the-art technology and tried and tested methods to deep clean and deodorize contaminated properties. Our pros take various measures to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses. We are also your go-to team for water and fire damage restoration. To learn more, call 707-307-6927.