When someone was not found for some time
Unattended death and decomposition cleanup
When a person dies alone at home and days or weeks pass, the room is affected in ways that ordinary cleaning cannot fix. This is a hard thing to find. You do not need to deal with the room yourself.
Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
First, the coroner
An unattended death is reported through 911. In Kennewick, Richland and West Richland, the Benton County Coroner takes charge of the person who has died. In Pasco it is the Franklin County Coroner.
Under Washington law the coroner has jurisdiction over sudden or unexplained deaths, and remains must not be moved or disturbed without the coroner's authorization (RCW 68.50.050). Wait until you are told the home is released.
Why it is more than a deep clean
Decomposition releases fluids that move through carpet into pad and subfloor, and sometimes into the ceiling of the room below. Odor settles into soft materials and drywall. Insects may have come in.
A cleanup company usually removes the affected flooring and furniture, cleans and disinfects what remains, and treats the odor. If the subfloor is affected it may be cut out or sealed before new flooring goes down.
Things families often ask about
Belongings
Tell the company which items matter to you: photos, papers, keepsakes. Ask how they will set those aside and clean them where possible.
Utilities
Equipment needs power and water. If service was stopped after the death, ask the utility to restore it before the work date.
Pets
If a pet was in the home, Benton County Animal Control can be reached at 509-460-4923. The coroner's office lists that number for families.
The rest of the home
Odor can travel through vents and into closed rooms. Ask the company to check the whole home, not only the room where the person was found.
Ask before work starts
- How will you check the subfloor and the room below?
- How will you treat the odor, and how will you know it has gone?
- Will you give me a written list of what you removed?
- Can you work with the estate's lawyer or the landlord directly?
You may also need
Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Pasco
One call, then the decision is yours
You can call now to ask questions, even if the home has not been released yet. An independent company will tell you what happens next.
When you are ready to talk
Say what happened, where, and whether police or the coroner are still involved. The company explains what it would do and how it prices the work. Nothing is agreed until you say yes.
Call (509) 555-0109Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.