How to Sanitize Blood Spills?

How To Sanitize Blood Spills?

As much as we don’t like it, accidents happen but how to sanitize blood spills, is the real questions. So although it’s never alright to see blood spilled, it’s always good to know how to clean it. Why? Because spilled blood is actually one of the most potentially hazardous substances, since it could be carrying any number of blood-borne pathogens (like Hepatitis B, HIV, and many others). What’s the best way to handle blood spill to ensure culture and safety?

First off, the size of the spill will determine whether or not you need to contact a bio hazard cleaning service. If it’s a manageable blood spill, your next step will be in the safety cleaning equipment you use. You’ll need to make sure you’re well protected with gloves, boots, goggles and even a lab coat or dressing gown.

After you’ve sufficiently protected yourself, you’ll need the best cleaning materials, they usually come in a kit, and can help you contain and get rid of all traces of spilled blood. The kits contain both personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning plus disposal equipment (think disinfectants, absorbent pads, brushes, leak-proof containers and so forth).

Once you’ve gotten all these items, your next step is to actually clean properly. Since blood can spill on any number of surfaces, you’ll be seeing different ways of getting spilled blood off different surfaces.

How To Handle The Clean Up

Non Carpeted Surfaces

Like tile, wood, metal, ceramic, vinyl and other non absorbent surfaces are easier to clean but there are still some important steps you’ll need to consider;

● Restrict all access to the area until clean up is done. This is to prevent unsuspecting and unprotected people from exposure to the area.

● Wear your personal protective equipment.

● Don’t add any cleaning product to the blood spilled. First use absorbent pads or towels to wipe off as much of the blood as possible.

● Now you can pour the disinfectant, like bleach, to the affected area. Don’t scrub immediately, let it sit for about 20 minutes before wiping off.

● Secure all disposable and soiled materials (like the gloves and absorbent pads you used) in a garbage bag. All non disposable items, like mops should be soaked in disinfectant and allowed to dry.

● Secure your garbage in a second bag before discarding. Wash your hands thoroughly when you’re done.

Carpeted Surfaces

Are very porous, so are typically the most difficult surfaces to clean. Here’s what you should do, that’s after you’ve taken the necessary precaution of protecting yourself.

● Keep the affected area contained, so it doesn’t spread to other areas. Then spray the affected area with your disinfectant. This will be the first of many disinfectants (carpets absorb a lot of fluids)

● Use an absorbent towel or rag to soak up excess fluids. Then rinse and repeat with the spray disinfectant and the towel. Do this at least three more times. (note, you can use a vacuum cleaner with good suction to get the water out of the carpet).

● If the affected carpeted area is too large for home clean up, you can call a steam cleaning firm, and they’ll be more equipped to handle your carpet.

● If you DIY, make sure you properly dispose all Bio Waste safely!

Wrapping It Up

There you have it. Even though no one looks forward to a blood spill, it’s always handy to know how to clean it when there’s an accident, since you never know how hazardous a particular spill is. How to sanitize Blood spills can be a tough situation.
Just remember to take all your safety precautions before a clean up. If it’s too much for you to DIY, you can always call a biohazard clean-up company.

To find out more on how Joe’s BIO does Blood Cleanup.