Steps to Meth Lab Cleaning

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Meth (methamphetamine) labs, used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine, turn up in houses, apartments, motel rooms, sheds, trailers and even motor vehicles. Any house that has been used to cook meth can still have the harmful chemicals present in the vicinity even though the cooking has stopped. Thorough cleaning is required before you can start to live in the house or an apartment which has been previously used as meth labs.

Cleaning of meth labs is essential as the fumes contain harmful chemicals that give rise to a number of health problems like headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathing problems or respiratory irritation and, skin and eye irritation

Here are some tips for meth property cleaning:

1. First and foremost, determine if the property was used for meth lab cooking. And if so, to what extent?
2. After being seized, the property is aired out, decontaminated and closed for security reasons by the professionals. This short term airing-out is not enough for the area. Therefore it is necessary to air out the area before and during the cleaning process. Air out the property for at least 3 to 5 days.
3. Before starting any cleaning process, wear certified protective gear like gloves, goggles, and protective clothing. Respirators that offer protection against fumes are recommended.
4. Get rid of all the unnecessary items and dispose them properly.
5. Get rid of all the visibly contaminated objects or items that have odour. Most of the area in the vicinity of the cooking kit will be full of stains. Its best to get rid of it.
6. All the surfaces need to be properly cleaned with adequate cleaning methods, keeping personal healthcare in mind.
7. The ventilation system carries the air around in the house and particularly has most of the fumes sediment. Cleaning the ventilation is very important before starting to reside in the premises again.
8. Leave the plumbing and any additional odour removal to the professionals.

Meth lab cleaning is a complicated process involving the use of many counter chemicals in order to neutralize the effect of the existing chemicals used to cook meth.  It is highly advisable to hire expert professionals for meth lab cleaning.

We, Bio Cleanse Services, cover all aspects such as assessing the property, devising a solution, removal and disposal of hazardous chemicals, property cleanup, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVACs), High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuuming, decontamination of property, sanitisation of property and post sampling to ensure that it is chemical free and safe to occupy. Our service areas are Goulburn, Canberra, Batemans Bay and surrounding areas of NSW. Visit our website to know more about our services or call on 0427 411 789.

Facts you need to know about biohazards

Biohazards are known to be the greatest threat to humankind. Here are some important facts you need to know about biohazards. The risk and extent of exposure to biological materials/ hazards depend on the industry and workplace. Exposure to biological hazards is can be widespread and is not always obvious.
Hence it is important to have a good understanding of what constitutes a biohazard material as well as the different categories of hazardous waste. This allows you to take the right actions to protect your health and property.

What is a biological hazard?
A biological hazard or biohazard, refers to any biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms – humans or animals.
Exposure to biohazards can cause a variety of effects ranging from skin irritation and allergies to infections (e.g., tuberculosis, AIDS), cancer, etc.

What are the sources of biological hazards?
Sources of biological hazards may include bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans.

What are the categories of biohazard waste materials?
They are categorized into broad groups based on the source of potential transmission.

Solid and liquid biohazardous waste
Human bodily matter and blood products which includes blood and other body fluids, tissues, vomit, urine, faeces, semen, saliva and breast milk etc, These may contain viral or bacterial infection.
Animal products including raw and cooked meat, offal, skins, bones, blood, milk and eggs

Microbiological waste
Laboratory cultures like animal and human tissue cultures, bacterial and cell cultures waste, biopsy materials.

Pathological waste
Refers to human or animal organs, tissues, and body parts that have been removed or from medical procedures or autopsies.

Animals/birds, their wastes and carcasses
Live animals and birds, or any material used by that them which may be infected. Their wastes include urine and droppings/faeces. Carcasses and body parts tend to get contaminated with infectious agents or parasites.

Sharps waste and rubbish
Needles, blades, syringes, scalpels, microscope slides, and broken glass tubes. These dangerous items can penetrate the skin and allow toxins from the biohazard materials to enter the bloodstream.

Biohazard Safety Levels
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, there are 4 levels of biohazards. Each level has specific controls for containment of microbes and biological agents and requires specific laboratory practices, safety equipment and facility construction. The bio safety levels range from BSL-1 (low-risk microbes) to BSL-4 (high-risk microbes).

Biohazard Level 1
The viruses in this level are not very dangerous and usually only cause mild sickness. Precautions against the biohazardous materials are minimal, mostly involving washing hands with soap, wearing gloves and some sort of facial protection, and putting waste materials in specially-marked bins. Some of the bacteria and viruses include canine hepatitis, E-coli, Bacillus subtilis, chicken pox.

Biohazard Level 2
The microbes like Staphylococcus aureus in this level pose moderate to severe hazards to laboratories and the environment. Diseases associated with this level are of varying severity such as Hepatitis, influenza A, salmonella, mumps, measles, dengue fever, HIV. Access to the laboratory should be restricted and appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn

Biosafety Level 3
The microbes are airborne and can cause severe to fatal disease in humans like SARS and yellow fever, tuberculosis and malaria. However, vaccines or other treatments do exist for these diseases. Access to these areas should be restricted and controlled at all times with persons there being kept under medical surveillance and might receive immunizations.

Biosafety Level 4
It is the highest level of biological safety as these microbes are dangerous and exotic. They cause diseases that are frequently fatal to humans. Treatment or vaccines are usually not available for such diseases like Ebola and Marburg viruses, smallpox. Here, the use of a positive pressure personnel suit, with a segregated air supply, is mandatory. Areas dealing with this has to be in a separate building or isolated and restricted zones. There are strict decontamination procedures before and after entering such areas


If you are facing a biohazard situation, call us at Bio Cleanse Services 0427 411 789. Our trained professionals eliminate the biohazardous substances and dispose them properly. They are equipped with necessary safety apparatus and cleaning products, to decontaminate the area and help turn your property into a clean & safe place.