Becoming a Crime Scene Cleaner To become a crime scene cleaner there are three requirements, which include: • • •
Knowledge of deep cleaning equipment Attention to detail Specialized training
The crime scene cleaner usually works with a team and is the ones that are called to the crime scene after all the necessary evidence have been collected. They are hired by an insurance company or the property owner. If the crime scene is in a public place, they may be hired by a government agency. It is important to know before you decide to become a crime scene cleaner that you will see and smell a variety of things like: • • • •
Broken items, damage to doors, glass, and walls if there was violence Bodily fluids along with various types of smells and stains Blood carpets Splattered brain matter
If you have a queasy stomach or are easily upset this is not the job for you. The first step to become a crime scene cleaner is to obtain a certificate in crime scene cleaning. There are many career and community colleges that offer programs you can take to get that certificate. In this program you will learn various things such as: • • • •
How to remove the smell of decomposition and death from a space Techniques on how to clean a variety of body fluids How to deal with hazardous chemicals Cleaning up after a fire
You will need to have all of these skills and more once you secure a job as a crime scene cleaner. There are many different types of equipment that you will need to know how to use before you get your certification like: • • • • •
High powered exhaust fans Carpet stain removers Steam cleaners Powerful chemical cleaners Air masks
You will also need to have a clean police record along with the certification. When working for an insurance company or property owner many times they will have a short list of three crime scene cleaning/ hoarding cleaning companies that they will call when needed. There is a service agreement between the insurance or property owner and cleaning company that will
give the turn-around time they require from the first phone call and when the job should be done. At times, the insurance adjusters and property owners will inspect the quality of the work before they will pay for the service so the job has to be done correctly. Both will also expect the crime scene cleaning company to clean the obvious damage and stains but also expect the clean up company to look for and clean up any secondary damage and provide sewage backups. At the end of the clean up the exact location of the crime should not be visible to anyone