Odd Jobs: Crime-Scene Cleaner

If you are a fan of one of the popular crimes shows on television like CSI or LAW & ORDER, you've seen your fair share of gruesome crime scenes. You are probably well acquainted with how coroners evaluate a body for physical evidence of what killed or injured the victim. You know how crime scene investigators comb the crime scene for any clue as to how the crime was committed or who was responsible. You are also well aware of how the police use the evidence collected to question a suspect and try him/her in a court of law. But, what you never see on these shows is what happens to the crime scene after all evidence has been removed.

After the victims and evidence are taken away from the scene of a crime, professionals known as CRIME SCENE CLEANERS arrive to clean up the mess. CRIME SCENE CLEANERS are responsible for removing all traces of a crime, including blood, bodily fluids, and human remains that might be present. They have to use many different types of chemicals to remove stains and spots. It is not an easy of a job as it might seem. For example, a blood stain on a wood floor might require a different chemical to clean than a blood stain on a sofa. CRIME SCENE CLEANERS also have to use many tools such as blacklights and microscopes to make sure that they get even the smallest spots removed from the scene.

There is more to cleaning a crime scene than just getting rid of the blood and human remains. Crime scene investigators can make a mess when searching for clues. They use powders and chemicals to look for fingerprints and footprints. They may also tear down walls, pry through floors, or open up ceiling tiles to get information and evidence. CRIME SCENE CLEANERS have to clean up the debris from their work, which can be a long, tiring process.

If you conduct further research, please note that crime scene clean-up is often referred to as CTS DECON, or crime and trauma scene decontamination. 

Above all, CRIME SCENE CLEANERS must be willing to spend their days looking at gross, ugly crime scenes. They must be able to stomach seeing and working with blood, human remains, and other remnants of a crime scene.