Tear gas cleanup · MadTown Biohazard
Tear gas and pepper spray cleanup in Madison
After police use tear gas or pepper spray inside a building, the residue keeps burning eyes and lungs for weeks. It settles on every surface, in fabrics and in the ductwork. We remove it so you can live or work there again. We also handle unattended death, suicide, crime scene and homicide, blood and biohazard, death odor removal and hoarding cleanouts cleanup, and the rebuild afterward.
No money up frontPrice approved firstInsurance billed for youLocal techs, 24/7
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Talk to a local tech now
Tell us what happened and where. The local tech closest to you is on the way while we talk. No pressure, and nothing to pay up front.
- The tech closest to you heads out right away
- Written scope and price you approve first
- No money up front. We bill your insurance
Quick answerTear gas cleanup removes CS gas, pepper spray and OC residue from homes, apartments and businesses after a police action. MadTown Biohazard does it across Madison and south central Wisconsin, cleaning walls, floors, fabrics and the air system, with a price you approve first and documentation for insurance.
What we do
How tear gas cleanup works around Madison
Tear gas and pepper spray are made of fine powders and oils. They land on walls, ceilings, floors and furniture, soak into carpets, curtains, clothes and bedding, and get pulled into the furnace and the ductwork, where every cycle spreads them again.
Wiping with water just smears it and can reactivate it. We HEPA-vacuum first, then clean every surface with products made for the job, launder or remove fabrics, and clean the ducts and replace the filter.
Included
- HEPA vacuuming of every surface
- Walls, ceilings, floors and furniture cleaned
- Fabrics laundered or removed
- Ductwork cleaned and filters replaced
- Broken doors and windows fixed in the rebuild
- Documentation for insurance or the agency
Health
Why you shouldn't clean it yourself
Tear gas and pepper spray residue cause burning eyes, coughing, skin irritation and trouble breathing, especially for kids, older adults and anyone with asthma. Cleaning it stirs it up again.
Our techs wear respirators and protective gear and work room by room so the residue doesn’t spread into clean areas.
Step by step
Tear gas cleanup from the first call to the last walkthrough
You approve the scope and price before any work starts.
Call
Tell us what was used and where.
Walkthrough
We check every room and the air system.
Approve
Written scope and price first.
Clean
HEPA vacuum, surface cleaning, fabrics and ducts.
Return
You move back in. We fix doors or windows if needed.
Who pays
Who pays for tear gas cleanup
Sometimes the homeowner’s or landlord’s insurance covers it. In some cases the law enforcement agency or the city has a claims process for damage from a police action. We document the job either way and can help you ask the right office.
If you’re the tenant, your renters policy may cover your belongings.
Fingerprint powder
Often paired with fingerprint powder
If investigators processed the scene, there may also be fingerprint powder on doors and frames. We can clean both in one visit. See fingerprint powder cleanup.
If doors, windows or drywall were damaged, we can fix them under the same plan.
How a job like this goes
After a standoff at a rented house
What we walk into
Police used tear gas in a rented house during a standoff. The tenant was gone; the owner couldn’t go in without coughing, and the front door had been forced.
What we did
- Walkthrough. Tech in a respirator checked every room, the basement and the furnace.
- Scope. Whole-house surface cleaning, carpets, curtains, ducts and a new front door, approved by the owner.
- Cleanup. Two days of HEPA vacuuming and cleaning; ducts cleaned and filter replaced.
- Finish. New door installed and the house aired out.
The result. The owner could walk through without irritation and start the turnover.
A typical example of how these jobs go, written to show our process. It isn’t a specific client; names and addresses are never shared.
Techs on standby now
Facing something similar?
Call and we’ll explain exactly what we’d do in your situation, before anything starts.
- The tech closest to you heads out right away
- Written scope and price you approve first
- No money up front. We bill your insurance
From our techs
Tear gas cleanup tips from our techs
What we tell people on the phone before we get there.
Don't run the furnace
Forced air spreads the residue to every room. Keep it off until we look.
Don't use water first
Water can reactivate pepper spray. Leave surfaces alone.
Bag clothes and bedding
Put them in sealed bags. Many can be laundered.
Ask about a claim
Ask the officer or the city about any claims process for damage.
Find your tech
Tear gas cleanup near you
We provide tear gas cleanup in Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Janesville, Beaver Dam, Portage, Monroe and Watertown, plus every town on our service areas page. Your call goes to the tech who covers your zone, and the rest of the crew comes in when the job is big. Pick a tech, or tap your town.
Stylized map, roughly to scale. Rings show the five zones. Every town we serve is marked. Tap one to open its page.
Every town we cover
From the Capitol Square out to Janesville, Baraboo, Portage and Monroe. If your town isn’t listed, call. We likely cover it.
Kevin’s zone
When families in Madison contact our local office after a traumatic event, we understand how important compassion and professionalism are. Our job is to handle the difficult cleanup process with respect, discretion, and attention to safety.Kevin, MadTown tech
Robyn’s zone
When a traumatic incident happens in Verona, residents should know that specialized cleanup assistance is available close to home. Our Madison-area office is committed to helping families through these difficult circumstances.Robyn, MadTown tech
Gabby’s zone
After a suicide, families deserve privacy, compassion, and professional assistance. Our Madison-area office is here to help Oregon residents address the cleanup without placing that difficult responsibility on loved ones.Gabby, MadTown tech
Rick’s zone
Cambridge families and property owners deserve access to specialized crime scene cleanup without having to search across Wisconsin for assistance. Our Madison-area office helps connect surrounding communities with professional remediation services.Rick, MadTown tech
Joe’s zone
Families and businesses in Janesville deserve reliable crime scene cleanup services when unexpected tragedies happen. Our Madison-area office is a resource for professional remediation, respectful communication, and careful property cleanup.Joe, MadTown tech
Who pays
Paying for tear gas cleanup: will insurance cover it?
Answer three quick questions to see who usually pays for death, crime scene or biohazard cleanup in Wisconsin. We confirm it with your insurer before we start, and nothing is due up front.
Insurance often pays for this.
- Usually paid by your homeowners policy. Sudden events like a death, crime or injury are often covered.
- Nothing is due up front. We bill the insurer directly where the policy allows.
A general guide, not a coverage decision. Your policy decides, and we check it with you before we start.
FAQ
Tear gas cleanup questions, answered
Still have a question? Call 608-974-1788 any time and talk to someone on our local team.
A biohazard cleanup company that handles chemical residue. In the Madison area, MadTown Biohazard does, at 608-974-1788, including ducts, soft furniture and clothing.
Sometimes the department or its insurer will consider a claim, and homeowners insurance may cover it too. We document the damage and the cleanup so you can file either way.
It can keep irritating for weeks or months if it isn’t removed, especially in fabrics and ducts.
Usually not comfortably until it’s cleaned. Kids, older adults and anyone with asthma should stay out.
Yes. It’s one of the most important parts, because the furnace spreads the residue.
Insurance, and sometimes the agency or city, depending on the situation. We document the job for either.
Keep reading
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Jobs available
We hire local. Join our cleanup team
Steady, meaningful work in Madison and across south central Wisconsin. We hire people from the towns we serve and train you to IICRC standards.