Death odor removal · MadTown Biohazard
Death odor removal that lasts, around Madison
The smell after a death doesn’t go away on its own, and it doesn’t go away with air fresheners. We find what’s holding it, remove it, seal what’s left and clean the air system so it doesn’t come back on the first warm day. We also handle unattended death, suicide, crime scene and homicide, blood and biohazard, hoarding cleanouts and tear gas and fingerprint powder cleanup, and the rebuild afterward.
No money up frontPrice approved firstInsurance billed for youLocal techs, 24/7
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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 answerDeath odor removal eliminates the smell left by decomposition after an unattended death by removing its source, sealing the structure and treating the air and ductwork. MadTown Biohazard does it across Madison and south central Wisconsin with local techs, a price you approve first, direct insurance billing and nothing due up front.
What we do
How death odor removal works around Madison
Decomposition odor comes from fluids and tissue that soaked into materials: carpet, pad, subfloor, mattresses, upholstery, drywall and sometimes the framing. If any of that stays in the house, the odor stays too, and it gets worse in summer heat and humidity.
So we remove the source first. Then we clean and seal the structure underneath, clean the ductwork and returns, replace filters and treat the air. Only then do we call the job done, after walking the house with you.
Included
- Source found and removed
- Subfloor and framing cleaned and sealed
- Ducts and returns cleaned
- Filters replaced
- Soft goods cleaned or removed
- Final walkthrough with you
Why it lingers
Why air fresheners and ozone alone don't work
Fragrance covers odor for a few hours. Ozone and other air treatments can help with what’s in the air, but they can’t reach fluids inside a subfloor or a mattress. If the source stays, the smell comes back.
Ozone also isn’t safe for people or pets to breathe and can damage rubber and some fabrics, so it should only be used by trained people in an empty house, after source removal.
Step by step
Death odor removal from the first call to the last walkthrough
You approve the scope and price before any work starts.
Walkthrough
We find where the odor is coming from.
Approve
Written scope and price first.
Remove
Contaminated materials out.
Seal & treat
Structure sealed, air and ducts treated.
Check
We walk the house with you before we leave.
Under the floor
Why the odor keeps coming back
Blood and fluids from a death or a serious injury move down through carpet and pad into the subfloor, and in older Madison homes with plank floors, into the ceiling of the room below. Scrubbing reaches only the top layer, which is why the smell comes back on the first warm day.
Belongings
Clothes, furniture and keepsakes
Odor gets into soft things in the same room and sometimes throughout the house. Many items can be cleaned or deodorized. Items that absorbed fluids usually can’t. We sort with you and ask before anything goes.
Photos and papers can often be saved if they weren’t directly contaminated.
Selling or renting
Getting a house ready to sell or rent
Odor is one of the first things buyers and tenants notice. If a house is going on the market after a death, we can do the odor work and the rebuild so it’s ready for photos and showings.
We give you a written record of what was done, which can help with disclosure questions from agents and buyers.
How a job like this goes
Odor that came back after a first cleanup
What we walk into
A family hired a general cleaning company after a death in an upstairs bedroom. The room looked fine, but the smell returned within two weeks and spread downstairs.
What we did
- Walkthrough. The tech lifted the new carpet and found the subfloor stained and untreated.
- Scope. A section of subfloor, the baseboard, the closest duct run and the return, approved on site.
- Cleanup. Subfloor section cut out, joists cleaned and sealed, duct cleaned, filter replaced.
- Finish. New subfloor and the family’s carpet reinstalled.
The result. The odor was gone and stayed gone through the summer.
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
Death odor removal tips from our techs
What we tell people on the phone before we get there.
Turn off the forced air
The furnace or AC fan spreads odor through the whole house.
Don't paint over it
Paint traps odor for a while, then it comes through. The source has to come out.
Bag clothing separately
Keep clothes from the room in sealed bags until we can look at them.
Ask about the ducts
If the furnace ran after the death, the ducts probably need cleaning.
Find your tech
Death odor removal near you
We provide death odor removal in Madison, Monona, Waunakee, Oregon, Lake Mills, Reedsburg, Edgerton and Dodgeville, 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 odor removal: 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
Death odor removal questions, answered
Still have a question? Call 608-974-1788 any time and talk to someone on our local team.
A biohazard cleanup company, because the smell comes from fluid that soaked into the building. MadTown Biohazard removes the source, seals what’s left and treats the air. Call 608-974-1788.
Not by itself. They mask or treat the air, but the source in the carpet pad, subfloor or drywall keeps releasing odor. It has to come out first.
Yes, when the source is removed and the structure is sealed. That’s what we do.
Usually one to three days after the source is removed, depending on the house and the air system.
Yes. Vehicles are harder because of foam and trim, but often they can be saved.
When it’s part of cleanup after a sudden death, it’s usually included in the same claim.
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Steady, meaningful work in Madison and across south central Wisconsin. We hire people from the towns we serve and train you to IICRC standards.