Cleaning with compassion: Scene Clean

By Andrea M. Galabinski

Scene Clean owners Alice N. Jackson, left, and Tracy Gunn dressed in biohazard suits believe in compassion for their clients. They are in a very unique business, something like a cross between Mr. Clean and CSI. The owners of Scene Clean, Tracy Gunn and Alice N. Jackson, take the business very seriously, and consider the best way to describe what they do as "cleaning with compassion." The women provide crime and trauma scene cleanup, with 24 hour emergency services.

The scenes can include crimes, such as homicide, suicide and unattended death, all very traumatic times for clients. They work with policing agencies throughout Southwest Florida and for private clients.

"When tragedy strikes, we're here to relieve others of the burden of preforming such a traumatic and possibly dangerous task clean up can be," said Gunn. "We discreetly and safely restore the scene." They work within strict OSHA and Department of Health regulations, and get regular training. They wear full biohazard suits for the clean ups.

It's not a subject many feel comfortable talking about, and the two women know it. They care very deeply about the personal side of the tragedies.

Jackson grew up around the bereaved. Her father was a funeral director in her hometown in New Jersey. "He never missed a day of work in 45 years, until he got cancer," she said. The death of her parents effected her deeply, and she truly feels for the individuals they work for. Another thing point for their company is that they've made their services affordable. "We don't want to victimize them twice," she said. "First with their own tragedy, and then the burden of a huge bill."

Gunn was born and raised here in Naples, and is an extremely upbeat individual, yet very serious when she talks about what the two do. They are best friends, and both moms of nine year olds. "Motherhood comes first," said Gunn. They are also proud to be certified woman business owners and are registered with the state.

They have been in business now for three years, but it was Jackson's father's own compassion for the grieving that inspired the idea years ago. "The family shouldn't have to do it. It shouldn't be their last memory," she said.

They also do what is called Distress Property, such as a home where the owner, before dying, had 37 cats that needed to be cleaned up after. It was a tremendous undertaking, they said.

"One of the hardest things is that sometimes we need to go through personal effects to get the job done. I'm very aware that we're strangers," said Gunn. "We respect that."

The job can be very emotional at times, both women said, in the light of tragedy. "You can't get a suit that protects you from that," said Gunn. Of the suits, they say they lose three to four pounds on each job, as they are hot and heavy. There is no exposed part of the body in what they do.

Gunn generally deals with the families. "It makes me feel like I'm helping them, giving my own condolences." They know that the whole subject is taboo, and people don't like talking about it. When they give out their cards, Gunn says, "I hope you never need our services. But if you do, we're here."