How to clean up blood spills at home

Blood spills at home could result from accidents at home or cases of homicide and suicide. In instances where you have to clean up large pools of blood, it is necessary to be careful as you are exposed to various hazardous blood pathogens. For some situations, for instance, biohazard cleanups, it is better use a professional company.

Here are some tips for cleaning blood on various surfaces.

1. Cleaning on non-carpeted floors

The most prevalent environment for blood spills is a hard, non-carpeted surface. Although it is easier to remove the blood and other human fluids from these surfaces than from absorbent surfaces, there are still significant considerations to take. Spills on hard surfaces tend to spread over wider regions; thus, they must be contained fast. Here are some steps

• Close off the area until it has been cleaned and disinfected. do not allow visitors or unprotected staff
• Wear a pair of disposable gloves.
• Mop away as much of the spill as you can use a paper towel or other absorbent material.
• Pour the bleach solution over all of the affected areas gently.
• Allow 20 minutes for the bleach solution to sit on the contaminated area before wiping away any residual bleach solution.
• Disinfect all non-disposable cleaning materials by soaking them in bleach and allowing them to air dry.
• Remove the gloves and toss them in the trash with the rest of the dirty cleaning supplies.
• Garbage bags should be double-bagged and tightly tied before being discarded.
• Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water.

2. Cleaning blood spills on carpeted floors

Carpets are absorbents; hence cleaning blood spills may be the most challenging task. Also, the procedure and concerns remain intact. However, since there is no way to clean a carpet entirely, sterilizing it as thoroughly as possible is the best solution. heres how to work on carpeted floors

• Work swiftly because blood will quickly solidify and build upon carpets. Therefore ensure you work as fast as possible and have suitable cleaning gear such as disposable gloves.
• Use the right products; avoid using bleaches as they may damage the carpet. Ensure to use products with antimicrobial  substances and repeat the process of washing more than once. Alternatively, use carpet shampoos and cleaners.
• Steam clean; you may also employ a steam clean depending on the extent of the spill. Steam cleaners clean, degrease and sanitize carpeting more thoroughly than traditional cleaning methods. Although steam cleaning is more expensive, it is the most effective technique to guard against bloodborne diseases.
• Change carpet tiles; Detachable carpet tiles are an excellent technique to guard against bloodborne pathogen exposure. Carpet tiles are frequently less expensive than ordinary carpet, and they may be quickly cleaned and replaced if a specific region becomes significantly contaminated with blood

3. Cleaning blood spills on furniture

Cleaning blood spills on furniture is also a very challenging task. However, there are several actions you can do to keep it as clean and safe as possible. First, ensure you control the spill. Furniture made of cloth requires more care than furniture made of wood or metal. Depending on the kind of cloth furniture and the spill’s severity, the best cleaning option is to remove the fabric covering and wash it separately on a warm wash cycle—quite a few times. However, if the cloth is detachable, follow the process of disinfecting a carpet.

 In conclusion, cleaning blood spills can be a daunting task. However, the above tips will help you clean from various surfaces.