Contents Cleaning & Odour Treatment

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Before Work Starts

Send an item list and photos before arranging transport. Please include the material where known, the suspected source, when the problem started and any cleaning products or treatments already used. This helps us avoid repeating work that has already failed or choosing a method that could damage the item.

Some contamination problems involve a few items rather than an entire room or vehicle. We review requests for small batches of contents affected by residue or persistent odours, then advise whether cleaning is worth attempting. The decision depends on the item, its condition and what it was exposed to.

What We Review

Requests may involve removable fittings, storage containers, washable covers or other items whose affected surfaces can be reached. Items containing foam, layered fabric, unfinished wood, adhesives or enclosed components need closer review. An exterior that can be cleaned does not necessarily make the whole item suitable for treatment.

We confirm acceptance for each project. Delivery, collection and any storage arrangements are agreed in writing before the items are moved.

Cleaning or Replacement?

A metal fitting, a fabric cover and a foam insert can require different decisions even when they belong to the same item. We consider whether the proposed cleaning can reach the affected material, whether the item can tolerate it and how the result could be assessed.

Experimental methamphetamine research found different cleaning outcomes for washable textiles, smooth nonporous surfaces and materials such as plywood and drywall. That finding supports reviewing materials separately; it does not predict a removal rate for your belongings or for a different contaminant. Serrano et al., 2012

Where replacement is more practical, we explain that before committing to repeated treatment.

What the Quote Covers

The quote identifies the accepted items, the proposed work and any handling or access requirements. Where a trial on one item or a small area would help, it is agreed before the rest of the batch is treated.

Testing is included only when a suitable method can answer a defined question. Its scope and limitations are explained in advance. A reduction in smell does not, by itself, establish that a contaminant has been removed.

After Treatment

The completion record identifies the items treated, the work performed and any unresolved concerns or recommended replacement. If the original source remains in the building, vehicle or storage area, returning the items may expose them again. Where the source is uncertain, a separate source investigation may be useful before further cleaning.