What is meth lab cleanup?
When someone makes methamphetamine in a house, apartment, motel room or vehicle, the chemicals do not stay in the pot. Vapors and fine residue settle on walls, ceilings, floors, furniture and inside vents. Heavy smoking of meth can also leave residue, though usually at a lower level than manufacturing. After the police or sheriff remove the lab materials and finish their investigation, the property is still contaminated.
Cleanup is the process of testing for residue, removing what cannot be cleaned, cleaning what can and confirming the result with sampling. It is different from drug paraphernalia cleanup, which handles needles and used items, and from chemical and toxic waste cleanup, which handles leftover containers and spilled chemicals.
Who removes the chemicals first?
Law enforcement, not a cleanup company. If you find what looks like a lab, such as glassware, tubing, strong chemical odors, many cold-medicine packages, propane tanks with discolored fittings or burn marks, do not touch anything and leave the building. Call 911 or the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Specially trained officers or contractors take away the hazardous materials and secure the scene. A cleanup provider deals with what remains afterward.
If you are a landlord who discovers a tenant left a lab behind, do not start cleaning or hauling anything yourself. Call law enforcement and wait.
What is left behind after the police are done?
- Residue on surfaces including drywall, ceilings, floors and counters
- Absorbed contamination in carpet, padding, insulation, ceiling tiles and upholstery
- Ventilation contamination in the air handler, filters and ductwork
- Chemical stains and corrosion on fixtures, plumbing and flooring
- Contaminated plumbing, since chemicals are often poured down drains
- Odor that can linger for a long time
The risk to the next occupants includes headaches, breathing problems, skin and eye irritation and long-term exposure effects, especially for children. That is why you do not simply paint over it and re-rent.
How does a provider decontaminate a drug lab?
- Scope and sampling. Surface wipe samples may be taken to measure methamphetamine residue, and a qualified professional interprets the results.
- Containment and protective gear. Respirators, chemical-resistant suits and gloves for the crew, with the work area sealed.
- Removal of porous materials. Carpet, padding, insulation, ceiling tiles and soft furnishings are removed and disposed of as required.
- Cleaning and decontamination. Hard surfaces are cleaned with procedures designed for chemical residue, which are different from ordinary cleaning.
- HVAC treatment. Ductwork and air handlers are cleaned or replaced as needed.
- Waste disposal. Contaminated material has to be handled and disposed of in accordance with applicable rules. Ask the provider how they handle hazardous waste.
- Post-cleanup sampling. Confirmation tests show whether the property meets the standard the provider and any authority are using.
Ask the provider what standard they are testing against and to give you the lab results in writing. There is no single national standard everyone follows, so the number and the method matter, and you should know them. If a lender, insurer or local authority is involved, ask what they require.
What does it cost and who pays?
Costs vary widely with the size of the property, the extent of contamination and how much has to be removed. A small apartment room is a very different job from a whole house with contaminated ductwork. Testing is a separate line item. Written estimates, sampling plans and results are the documents you need.
Insurance may or may not respond. Many policies exclude losses from illegal drug manufacturing or have specific limits. Call your insurer and ask directly. Landlords should also check whether they have recourse against a tenant and ask a Florida attorney about it.
What about selling or renting afterward?
This is a legal question, not a cleaning one. If a property was used as a drug lab, you may have obligations to tell buyers or tenants and to document the cleanup. Keep the sampling reports, the cleanup scope, the invoice and the post-cleanup results. A Florida real estate attorney can tell you what applies to your situation.
Is there anything Lakeland-specific?
The Polk County Sheriff's Office has run large methamphetamine trafficking investigations in the county, and meth contamination can turn up in rentals, motels and rural properties alike. Property managers in places like Highland Fairways and North Lakeland should know what to do if they find a lab: stop, leave, call law enforcement, and call a provider only after the scene is released. Heat and humidity do not help with chemical odors, and contamination can persist in closed units.
When should I call?
Call once law enforcement has finished and released the property, or earlier to line up a provider for testing and a plan. We connect you with an independent provider that serves your ZIP code. For the full overview, see the biohazard cleanup in Lakeland, FL homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to clean a house after meth was smoked there?
Possibly. Heavy smoking can leave residue on surfaces and in porous materials. Testing can show whether it needs cleanup, and a provider can explain the result.
Who removes the chemicals from a meth lab?
Law enforcement or specially trained hazardous materials crews remove the lab materials. A cleanup provider deals with residue afterward.
Can I just paint over meth residue?
No. Paint does not remove the contamination, and residue can remain in drywall, ducts and soft materials. The proper approach is testing, removal of porous items, decontamination and confirmation sampling.
How do I know the cleanup worked?
Ask for post-cleanup sampling with written laboratory results and ask what standard the provider used. Keep the report.
Does insurance cover meth lab cleanup?
Sometimes, but many policies exclude or limit losses related to illegal drug manufacturing. Ask your insurer directly before you hire a provider.
What should I do if I find what looks like a meth lab?
Do not touch anything, leave the building and call 911 or the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Keep others out of the property.