Cleaners mopped up crime scenes, now they’re killing the coronavirus

Wiping counters with disinfectant is one thing, but showing up with a team of people covered head to toe in protective gear to blast away the coronavirus?

Many things stand out about how specialists do extensive cleaning at restaurants, hotels and hospitals across South Florida. Some even resemble Ghostbusters as they lug cleaning backpacks to spray every surface.

Here are some key details that may surprise you about the lucrative, largely unregulated coronavirus disinfection industry.

Michael Clementi has been cleaning up suicides and homicides in South Florida since 1996. In recent months, he’s transitioned his rather unique skill set and equipment to disinfect restaurants, dentist offices and senior centers of the coronavirus.

“It’s been nonstop,” he said.

Fort Lauderdale-based company, Scene Kleen, is one of many who have used their experience cleaning blood, mold or bathrooms to bill themselves as coronavirus fighters who can disinfect hospitals, hotels, schools and restaurants.

Nearly all of them tripped upon the industry months ago.

In January, Clementi was asked by a nursing home in Boca Raton to disinfect their home for the norovirus. He purchased an electrostatic sprayer that can hit nearly every inch of a surface with disinfectant. By March, the sprayer was sold out and Clementi noticed a demand. He launched a new website advertising his services to fight viruses and calls haven’t stopped.

Coastal Building Maintenance, which has done janitorial work for over 20 years, jumped into the game after losing millions during the shutdown. “I was desperate,” said Matthew Sullivan, president of the Doral-based company. In May, he dusted off the sprayers sitting in his warehouse to offer disinfection services to the hotels, hospitals and schools he serviced. He also started selling hand sanitizer. “We had to reinvent ourselves.”

United Restoration, a Pompano Beach mold and water damage restoration company, started stocking up on hospital-grade disinfectants, Tyvek suites, respirator masks, gloves and other protective equipment in early February — before they became impossible to find.

Within weeks they were offering disinfectant services to longstanding contracts with schools, courthouses and libraries. They’ve also picked up over 200 new clients like restaurants and personal residences. Since February, they have hired 10 new employees and recently opened a new office in Fort Myers.

“Business has increased at an overwhelming rate,” said Jordan Cohen, director of business development.

SUSAN STOCKER/SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL PHOTOS A team of technicians with United Restoration wipes down work surfaces at JAFCO Children’s Ability Center in Sunrise.

A technician with United Restoration uses a fogging machine loaded with hospital-grade disinfectant.