Odor Neutralization Services for Properties in South Florida with Rescue Clean 911
Smells are often impossible to ignore. A smell is often the first thing a visitor will notice when coming into a space, and one that is often accompanied by strong olfactory memories. When unpleasant odors are present, it’s often difficult to go about one’s daily life until the smell is removed.
But odors can also be one of the most difficult elements of a property to clean. Covering up the odor is usually temporary and can sometimes make it worse, and because the molecules that cause bad smells can be microscopic and durable, wiping down the home often isn’t enough to get rid of the odor. This unfortunate combination makes bad smells a significant detriment to a property’s value and habitability.
That is where professional odor neutralization is important. Rescue Clean 911 offers residential and commercial odor removal services throughout all of South Florida, in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Miami, and beyond. With our advanced odor neutralization services, we can identify the source of odors, remove any contaminated materials, clean surfaces, and purify the air to address all the causes of bad smells.
Our odor remediation works with any type of odor, and can be provided alongside our other full service property restoration options, including mold removal and biohazard cleanup. Get a free quote or schedule a visit from our team by calling us at 833-253-2699.
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About Our Odor Neutralization Services
Odors are often a sign that there is a larger underlying problem on the property. In many cases, a smell is what can lead property owners or nearby neighbors to discover mold growth, an unattended death, sewage problems, neglect, and more. All of these events come with their own challenges for cleaning and present their own risks to property and health. But even after all visible debris is cleared away, the smells can often stay behind.
This is because the small particles that cause odors are likely still on the property. They may be inside the cracks and crevices that most materials on a property have, like pores in wood and cement or mesh of fabrics. The particles that produce odors may soak into the surface, lay on top of the surface, or even be airborne. That makes odors especially difficult to remove.
To effectively remove odors, you have to get rid of these microscopic particles wherever they occur. At Rescue Clean 911, we use a range of technology and the leading disinfectants to make sure these molecules are both removed and covered, using more powerful cleaning agents than typical consumer cleaners and an approach that reaches all odor causing particles no matter where they may be.
Our odor neutralization is not merely covering up odors. We neutralize them. This means that any elements that are causing smells are broken down and removed so that odors are gone for good.
What Causes Property Odors?
Although there are many types of events that can lead to bad odors, the smell itself is generally caused by a few types of molecules. The causes of property odors include, but are not limited to:
Bacteria
Bacteria exist everywhere. The human body itself contains many types of bacteria, particularly those that aid in the digestive process. Water, air, trash, and surfaces may also contain a variety of bacteria.
Many bacteria are involved in breaking down larger organisms. During this process, they create compound chemicals, many of which have a foul smell. These chemical molecules are what causes things like feces and decomposing bodies to smell so potent. In both instances, bacteria are breaking down a substance – food and tissue, respectively – and producing toxic smelling chemicals as a result.
Soot
Soot is a byproduct of fire. Many of the inorganic materials and possessions in a home, especially those containing plastics, will not burn cleanly. The heat and plastic react to form soot. Soot retains a burnt smell, often made harsher or more astringent as a result of the chemicals that burned.
Soot particles are microscopic, far smaller than the average dust particles or the width of a strand of hair. The tiny particles can be airborne for an extended period of time with their light weight, and when they land on surfaces, their small size makes it easy for them to become trapped in pores and crevices. Once trapped, soot continues to let off an odor and is very difficult to scrub away.
Mold Spores
The term “mold” refers to different types of fungi. Unlike bacteria, fungi are multicellular and more complex. Yet mold performs the same function as many bacteria, by breaking down larger organisms into simpler elements. Like bacteria, they produce chemical compounds during the process that cause odors.
People often describe this odor as “musty” or “damp.” It is often extremely pungent when the mold first starts growing, but will persist as long as spores are present.
Other Causes of Smells in a Property
The above list represents only a small portion of the particles that can lead to foul odors. Others include:
- Smoke
- Oils
- Waste
What causes odors can be different in each situation, and it’s because of these differences that, as a professional odor removal company, we find the source of these smells. Different odors have different cleanup methodologies, and when we find the source(s) we are able to discover what is causing the compounds and what can be done to remove it.
Remember that not all surfaces that need to be cleaned are visible. For example, mold growth will often happen in damp and dark spaces like wall voids, crawl spaces, and attics. Bacteria in water or blood soak through walls or flooring so that it contaminates carpet pads, subfloors, and insulation, even after the exterior surface has been cleaned.
The smaller particles are light enough to be suspended in the air where they are generally invisible. Being airborne makes it possible for odors to spread and continue to multiply in the case of mold or bacteria that will grow on new surfaces. Some odor causing compounds are also so small that they are capable of getting stuck inside of the smallest pores on a surface, and thus are unable to be removed with traditional household cleaning methods.
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Odor Removal as Part of Rescue Clean 911’s Full Service Property Cleanup
The germs, soot, and spores that generate odors are often introduced into a property through damage, a disaster, or an accident. Examples include a flood, a mold infestation, a fire, or a trauma – all of which leave different particles that can lead to odors.
Each of these events also has additional ramifications for the property and the people living there, beyond the bad smell alone. The bacteria and spores are a health concern, and many disasters will cause physical damage that can last beyond the event itself.
Thorough cleaning after these types of events is essential to eliminating odors. Until the water, mold, fire damage, or other contaminants that are producing odors are eliminated, your home will still be at risk with or without an odor. We provide an array of services that can respond to all of the causes of property damage here in South Florida.
All of the chemicals used by our technicians in the odor removal process are OSHA compliant and family friendly.
Technicians with Rescue Clean 911, LLC have been property trained in odor removal and use state of the art equipment to eliminate odors caused by death, decomposition, rodents, house pets and smoke.
Please, before you attempt to clean a crime or trauma scene with associated odors, speak with one of our trained & certified technicians. We have personnel standing by 24 hours a day to answer your questions.
Rescue Clean 911 works with several different insurance companies, therefore we are often able to bill your insurance company directly.
Often, the only payment required from you will be your policy deductible. If insurance coverage is not available, we do offer several different payment plans, which generally suit most budgets.
If you have already cleaned the underlying cause of an odor, odor neutralization may be all that your property needs, although odors can often indicate that there is still damage that needs to be addressed. Rescue Clean 911 is experienced with all the causes of odors. We can help you identify where the odors are coming form and provide guidance if any additional cleaning is needed.
We can also provide odor neutralization services as part of many of our other cleaning and restoration procedures for a comprehensive cleaning. These include:
Water Damage Repair
Water damage can occur from a small leak over time, a rush of water from a damaged pipe or appliance, or a flood from a storm or sewage backup. In many cases, the water comes from a source that is not perfectly clean. This is called grey water or black water because the water contains microorganisms, parasites, debris, and other sentiment that makes the water unhealthy to touch or drink.
Besides being unhealthy, the particles in the water can cause odors. The water absorbs into flooring, walls, ceilings, furniture, and belongings, carrying the germs with it. When the water evaporates, the germs are left behind where they continue causing a smell. Water can also lead to mold, which has odors of its own.
A deep clean following the water extraction process reduces these odors, as well as the staining caused by the bacteria and minerals in water. We can follow this with additional odor neutralization procedures to fully eliminate any smells that are present in the air.
Mold Remediation
Mold is a common concern in South Florida. With a local climate that is warm and humid, all it takes is a bit of water for mold to thrive on the surfaces around properties. A single spore on a damp surface can expand into a significant infestation in only days while also releasing additional mold spores into the air.
Growing mold produces volatile organic compounds – compounds that often have strong scents. As these compounds spread, they cause a pervasive “mold smell.” This smell comes from the surfaces where mold is actively growing but mold’s ability to spread through airborne spores can lead to several mold growths and, subsequently, several odor sources to make the overall smell overpowering.
Removing mold from surfaces or disposing of contaminated items when they cannot be successfully cleaned – carpets, fabrics, and insulation for instance – will get rid of the majority of mold. Remaining spores in the air, however, can continue causing odors as well as a risk of illness. Our mold remediation services catch these remaining spores to return the property’s air quality to healthy and odorless levels.
Fire Damage Restoration
Fire produces a strong odor that can linger long after the flames are out. The flames can cause physical damage to a property, but the smoke, ash, and soot that are produced in the fire make it difficult to restore the home to its original condition without professional help.
During a property fire, natural elements such as wood, paper, and cotton fabrics serve as fuel. There may be some ash or charring as a result, and these can carry a burnt odor. The charred items will be in the area where the active fire was, and the ash can spread throughout the property to coat surfaces as it settles.
Soot is even more troublesome than ash. With its miniscule size, it is able to become trapped in very small surfaces and pores. Since it is also corrosive, it will become further embedded as it eats away at surfaces.
Like ash, soot will smell smokey and burnt. It is also not limited to the area where the fire occurred. The extreme heat produced by fire results in the surrounding air moving to cooler areas due to pressure differences. As the air moves, it will carry the smoke and soot with it until the entire property is covered.
Removing soot and ash is a necessary step in fire damage restoration to prevent cosmetic damage and illness. But we also remove the debris from a fire to eliminate odors and follow with additional odor neutralizing techniques so that the property is completely restored.
Biohazard Cleanup
Biohazard cleanup encompasses many different events that leave behind biological material, usually from humans, on a property. These materials include blood, bodily fluids, tissue, bone, and sewage. Biohazards can occur on properties in the region after a trauma, crime scene, unattended death, suicide, sewage flooding, and more.
Because biohazard material is organic, it goes through a decomposition process. This is when bacteria in the biological material breaks it down. Decomposition releases gases and chemical compounds that have overwhelming smells that are both revolting and enduring. These odors are accompanied by any scents from human waste, blood, and other materials in the area.
We start by removing any hazardous materials. They will not always be easily visible. Blood, fluids, and bacteria can be absorbed into surfaces, so our cleaning process is an in depth one. Depending on several factors, particularly how long decomposition has been ongoing, removing the blood and tissue can be enough to get rid of odors. More advanced decomposition will lead to more pervasive odors, and it can be necessary to purify the air and deep clean surfaces to fully eliminate them.
Hoarding Cleanup
Hoarding is a psychological disorder in which a person is unable to throw away items or may obsessively collect objects until a residence is no longer considered livable. In many hoarding situations, there will also be rancid food, trash, animal waste, and sewage, either because household systems have broken or cleaning has not been kept up. The excessive clutter may also obscure mold, water damage, and biological hazards.
This combination of clutter and property damage will often lead to pungent odors. Often, the odors are associated with the objects in the home and will dissipate when those items are removed during hoarding cleanup. But some odors from hoarding can come from sources in the walls, floors, and furniture that is being kept. As part of the odor neutralizing process and for safety, we will decontaminate surfaces and remaining belongings during hoarding cleanup.
Other Causes of Odors
Odors may also result from more everyday circumstances as well. A large number of pets on a property, particularly any property where there has been neglect, can lead to a persistent odor and ammonia. Sewage problems, spills, trash build up, nicotine residue, industrial processes, and more can leave odors behind that will not dissipate on their own for years.
Even without a disaster, professional odor removal is important. Rooms or households with a lot of cigarette smoke, for example, often also house oils and compounds that can be dangerous over time. In some cases, there are some odors that are not caused by a disaster. For example, curry – which is made up of very aromatic spices – can permeate walls and cabinets in places where cooking with curry is common.
Whatever has caused unappealing smells at your home, business, or a property you manage, we can develop an odor neutralization plan that permanently gets rid of any odor causing bacteria, chemicals, or spores in the air and around the property.
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Technology and Cleaning Solutions to Eliminate Odors
Part of what sets our odor neutralization services apart from other local cleanup companies in South Florida is the science behind our methods. Removing all traces of an odor is a complex process. We rely on state of the art technology, cleansers with odor blocking formulations, and the latest techniques. All of this enables us to eliminate scents at the source.
Taking any contaminated items from a property and using advanced cleansers may be enough to remove some odors. When it isn’t sufficient, we deploy odor-fighting technologies like:
- Thermal Foggers – A fogger releases vaporized deodorizer, using heat to disperse the substance through a room as quickly as possible. The vapor consistency causes the deodorizer to coat every surface and get into the pores where it blocks all the odorous molecules.
- Air Scrubbers – Our air scrubbers use high-efficiency particulate air filters, or HEPA filters, to pull microscopic particles from the air in your home. We can place these in any rooms impacted by odors, leaving them there until all the air is processed through them. HEPA filters may be used alongside ventilation to let odor molecules naturally ventilate, or on their own.
- Hydroxyl Generators – These generators imitate the natural process by which the sun converts water molecules into hydroxyl radicals. These hydroxyl radicals exist in the earth’s atmosphere where they break down the chemical compounds that are either harmful or odorous. Hydroxyl generators bring that power inside a home or property to create billions of radicals that neutralize odor molecules in the air.
- Ozone Generators – One of the most advanced air purifying methods, ozone generators break apart O2 molecules into single oxygen molecules. The individual oxygen molecules then attach to other O2 molecules to form O3, or ozone. Ozone is highly reactive, causing it to latch onto other chemical molecules in the air that might cause odors. This neutralizes those odors. Because ozone is harmful to people, a property must be unoccupied during treatment, which generally lasts up to 24 hours.
These treatments can be used singly or in combination with other cleaning solutions. For enduring odors, multiple treatments can be applied until the odors are gone.
Benefits of Our Professional Odor Removal
At Rescue Clean 911, we deal with foul smells everyday. When faced with intense odors after mold, flooding, or even trauma, some property owners assume that they can eliminate the smell with a common household cleaner and a bit of scrubbing.
But DIY methods are often insufficient for larger scale odor removal, especially if you have not also addressed the cause of the odors. Leaving any mold or bacteria behind during a cleaning project makes it possible for the smell to come back.
This leaves you with an odor that is highly noticeable, enough so that people are unable to stay on the property because of the discomfort. In some cases, sharp odors may even release ammonia which can cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting that make a place physically uninhabitable.
Odors can also be a telltale sign of what occurred on the property. Many of the events that produce smells can leave a negative association with a property, such as a death or crime, mold, fire, or even hoarding. When future visitors suspect any of these events have happened through the smells, they can lower a property’s value or hurt a business’s reputation.
Our professional odor neutralization services start at the source of the problem. As a full service disaster clean up company serving Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, St. Lucie & Martin County, we know how to identify the cause of odors and manage the removal process no matter how strong or engrained the smells are.
Rather than covering scents or airing out a property, we use our technological solutions to actively target them for odor removal that is:
- Full Service – Odors are typically the most evident sign of a much larger problem and the odor, while unpleasant, actually indicates ongoing property damage and health risks. When you rely on Rescue Clean 911 for odor remediation, we can determine and treat the cause of odors alongside the smell itself so that you know your property is completely protected.
- Potentially Permanent – DIY methods like perfumed aerosols will wear off after a few hours and venting a property may provide temporary relief from some odors but will not solve the problem. The smell will return and could last for years if left alone. By addressing the underlying cause and cleaning the property with effective cleaning agents, we get rid of the bad smells completely.
- Safer and Healthier – Odors can often indicate health issues that are present on the property. Trying to deep clean it yourself could release more odor causing material, intensifying the odor and increasing exposure to bacteria for those without proper protective equipment.
The other element that makes odor neutralization from Rescue Clean 911 the most effective way to eliminate odors is our experience and training. It’s not just the equipment and cleaning products – we also have the knowledge to use them efficiently.
Our training requires that each member of our team and our processes meet the standards for odor removal and property restoration put forth by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
The IICRC/ANSI standards provide the industry guidance for safely cleaning and removing odors after any type of destructive event. As an IICRC certified company, we consistently meet or exceed these standards for an odor removal process that is more effective than what can be completed by an individual.
Why Choose Rescue Clean 911 for Odor Neutralization
Our goal with all of our services is that your property will be fully restored after we are finished, meaning that it is safe, comfortable, looks like new, and has no remaining smells or damage that indicate what occurred.
Rescue Clean 911 works with residential and commercial properties, taking on odor removal projects both small and large – whether it’s a small part of a single room or all throughout a property. Our innovative solutions and strategies provide efficient cleaning no matter the size or type of space, and we always treat you and your property with the utmost respect.
When a problem with odors at your property requires professional attention, Rescue Clean 911 is the company to call for dependable, local service in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the surrounding areas. We are a 24 hour company, enabling us to offer emergency response within a few hours if a disaster requires immediate attention. Even for a non-urgent odor issue, we are here to help fast so that you can have your property back to normal as soon as possible.
Call our team today at 833-253-2699 to learn more about how we can eliminate odors at your home or business and get a free estimate for our odor removal and other disaster restoration services.
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When Is Biohazard Cleanup Necessary?
While we might come into limited contact with germs everyday, biological waste is considered dangerous when significant amounts of debris are present, and can become more so the longer it is allowed to sit on your property.
How Our Biohazard Remediation Services Work
For most of our services, we can begin as soon as you call us. The only exception is crime scene cleanup or scenes where first responders are present, when we must first wait until the authorities “release” the scene or authorities have handled injuries or bodies. We can begin supporting you before that time, however, by letting you know what to expect during your service.
What are the Risks of Contamination with Biomaterials
The specific contaminants present at a biohazard site will vary based on the type of incident. Those most common, and with the most potential for danger, are:
- Blood Borne Diseases – HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C can be transmitted through infected blood. Combined, these diseases result in thousands of deaths each year and any exposure to blood or bodily fluids can increase the risk of becoming infected.
- Bacteria – Sewage, decomposing tissue, hoarding situations, and other biological debris can carry a range of bacteria. Those people are most often familiar with include Streptococcus, E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella, although there are dozens more. These bacteria can result in severe sickness if they are accidentally ingested.
- Infectious Disease or Viruses – With coronavirus continuing to be a concern at many homes and businesses in the foreseeable future, sanitizing completely after exposure to COVID-19 or any other contagious pathogens limits the spread of illnesses.
Rescue Clean 911’s team of certified technicians are on-call 24/7, and will respond quickly no matter when disaster strikes. We understand how critical it is that cleanup begins as soon as possible to limit the damage to your property, and will be there as soon as possible, day or night.
