Porous versus non-porous
Decomposition fluids, hair and droppings stay on top of hard, sealed surfaces like metal ductwork, sealed concrete or vinyl, which can be cleaned and disinfected. Porous materials such as insulation, unsealed wood, drywall paper, carpet pad and fabric absorb them, and the smell comes from deep inside.
The decision for each material depends on how deeply it absorbed, how big the area is, and whether it can be replaced cheaply. Insulation and pad are inexpensive and usually replaced. Framing lumber is structural and usually cleaned and sealed rather than removed.
Material by material
- Material
- Fiberglass or cellulose insulation
- Usually
- Bag and replace the affected section
- Notes
- Cheap to replace; nearly impossible to deodorize
- Material
- Wood framing or subfloor
- Usually
- Clean, apply an enzyme product, then seal if odor persists
- Notes
- Stain-blocking sealer locks in what cleaning cannot reach
- Material
- Drywall
- Usually
- Replace a stained or soaked section
- Notes
- Small patches are routine for a drywall finisher
- Material
- Plaster
- Usually
- Clean the surface; seal or patch if stained
- Notes
- Older plaster is harder to cut cleanly
- Material
- Carpet and pad
- Usually
- Replace the pad; clean or replace carpet
- Notes
- Fluid often soaks through to the subfloor
- Material
- Metal ducts
- Usually
- Clean and disinfect
- Notes
- Flex duct with a carcass inside is usually replaced
- Material
- Soil in a crawl space
- Usually
- Remove stained soil and bag it
- Notes
- Add or replace the vapor barrier afterward
Before materials are thrown out
Who decides what goes
A cleanup provider should explain, for each material, why it is being kept, cleaned or removed. Ask to see the material in place before it is pulled out, especially in a rental or condo where an owner or association will want to know what was done. Keeping photos of each material before and after makes later questions easy to answer.
Small areas matter. A carcass that lay on insulation for a week usually contaminates a patch about the size of a doormat, not the whole attic. A careful scope removes that patch and leaves the rest alone.
Common questions
Will an enzyme cleaner alone fix soaked wood?
Enzyme products break down organic residue and help a lot on surfaces, but deep soaking may still need a sealer afterward to stop any remaining odor.
General information for Sloan's Lake, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.