Free meth lab cleanup tool
Meth Lab Cleanup Company Vetting Checklist
Fifteen questions to ask any cleanup company, a score that shows how ready you are to hire, and a list of what is still unanswered.
Hiring for a lab property is harder than hiring a cleaner. The work must meet a number-based standard and follow state rules where they exist. It must also produce a file that holds up when buyers, agencies, and maybe a court look at it. The Company Vetting Checklist turns those needs into questions you ask before signing. Some cover qualifications. Does the company or its staff hold any state cleanup license? Do they have hazardous waste worker training? Others cover method. How do they seal off the work area? Do they test before tear-out? Which lab do they use? How do they handle ducts and plumbing? The rest cover paperwork, waste, and what they promise about clearance. As you confirm each answer, the tool tracks your progress. It builds a list of the questions still open.
The readiness score is not a grade for the contractor. It measures how much you have really checked. That is different from how sure you feel. Some companies give a smooth pitch but cannot show a sample lab report, their training certificates, or a sample clearance package. They should leave you with a low score, and that means the tool is working right. Copy the open questions into an email and send them to each company you are considering. The answers will tell you more than a website ever could. So will their willingness to put answers in writing. Check any credential directly with the agency that issued it. Do not just accept a picture of a certificate.
How to use it
- 1Read each question and ask it of the company by phone, email, or during the walkthrough.
- 2Check a question only when you have seen documents or gotten a clear written answer, not spoken comfort.
- 3Review the readiness score to see how much checking is left before you are ready to sign.
- 4Copy the open questions and send them to the company. Come back and update the checklist as answers arrive.
Prefer to ask a person?
Your request is sent to the follow-up inbox. A coordinator can reply by email. Not for emergencies; call 911 first if anyone is in danger.
Check a company before you sign
Meth Lab Cleanup provider vetting checklist
Start with the questions specific to this kind of job. Tick each one once the provider has answered it in writing or shown you the document. Your progress stays on this device only.
Readiness: 0 of 21 confirmed (0%)
21 questions still need a written answer. Copy the list and send it to the provider before you sign anything.
A worked example
Picture a made-up buyer with a purchase contract on a house. The house is on a county list of former drug-lab sites. The seller claims it was cleaned years ago but has only a one-page invoice. The buyer opens the checklist and starts calling cleanup companies to get an independent inspection. The first company answers most method questions with confidence. Then she asks which lab tested their last clearance wipes. She asks if she can see a sample report with private details blacked out. The company changes the subject to how fast they can start. She leaves those items unchecked. The second company sends a sample clearance package and names its lab. It explains that the state requires a tester who is separate from the cleanup contractor. It also sends copies of staff training records. She checks off most items. She still has open questions about waste shipping records and duct work. The tool's open-questions list becomes the body of an email to both companies. The first never replies in writing. The second answers within a few days with a written work plan for the inspection. Her readiness score for the second company goes up. She shares the whole checklist with her lawyer before deciding whether to extend the inspection period in her contract.
Facts worth knowing
As of March 2013, 25 states required or recommended cleaning former meth labs to set limits, ranging from 0.05 to 1.5 micrograms of meth per 100 square centimeters.
Why it matters: "Clean" means different things in different states, so ask which limit applies to your property and get test results showing it was met.
A federal review found the most common state limit for meth left on surfaces after cleanup is 0.1 micrograms per 100 square centimeters.
Why it matters: Compare the numbers on your after-cleanup test report with this limit or with your own state's limit.
Washington State requires meth-contaminated properties to be cleaned down to 1.5 micrograms of meth per 100 square centimeters of surface.
Why it matters: If your property is in Washington, ask for final test results at or below this level; other states often use stricter limits.
Company Vetting Checklist questions for meth lab cleanup
What credentials should a meth cleanup company have?
Rules vary by state and county. Some states license or certify cleanup contractors and testers. Others do not regulate the work at all. Ask whether a state credential exists where the property is, and confirm it with the agency that issues it. Staff should usually have hazardous waste worker training and respirator fit testing. Never rely on the network to confirm any company's credentials.
Should the same company sample and clean?
Some places require the clearance tester to be separate from the cleanup contractor. This avoids a conflict of interest. Even where one company may do both, an independent tester makes your file more believable. Ask the company what the local rule is. Be careful if they cannot answer or try to talk you out of independent testing.
What if a company guarantees clearance on the first round?
Treat that as a warning sign. Clearance depends on lab results that no one can promise before the work is done. A responsible company explains what they will do if a round fails. They explain how that affects cost and schedule. Promises of certain results before testing are a reason to leave the question unchecked.
How can I confirm a meth cleanup contractor is certified in my state?
Many states that regulate meth labs have a health or environmental agency that keeps a list of approved cleanup contractors. Check that list first. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent straight from the contractor's insurance agent. Look up any contractor license through the state licensing board. The readiness score assumes you confirmed these yourself. So do not check the item based on a promise alone.
Can I use the checklist for an inspector as well as a cleanup contractor?
Yes. Many of the questions about labs, testing plans, chain of custody, and reports apply to both. For an inspector, put extra weight on the testing method and how sample spots are chosen. Check whether the report maps results to a floor plan. Skip the questions about waste handling if the inspector will not remove anything.
What should I do if a company will not answer part of the checklist?
Ask once more in writing. Explain why the item matters to you, such as needing the answer for your insurer or a future buyer. Some companies simply miss email questions. If the company still says no, note the refusal on your checklist. Weigh it against the other choices. A gap on testing, clearance, or waste handling is more worrying than a gap on scheduling.
Can I share my completed checklist with my insurer or attorney?
Yes, and it can be useful. A filled-in checklist shows how you compared companies and why you chose one. That supports the claim that you acted with care. Attach the written answers and bids you got. Remove any notes you would not want others to read. Keep the original with your cleanup file in case your choice of company is questioned later.
Related community polls
Vote to see how other people answered. You can change your answer at any time.
If a house you wanted had a documented lab cleanup that passed clearance, what would you most likely do?
Which factor would you weigh most when choosing a meth cleanup contractor?
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OpenMore on meth lab cleanup
Meth Lab Cleanup services
See how the inspection, chemical cleanup, duct work, and clearance testing fit together on a former lab or heavy-use home before you hire.
Costs explained
What drives the price, published cost ranges, and how to read a written quote line by line.
Insurance and payment
Which policies may respond, how to document a claim, and what to do if coverage is denied.
Community polls
See how other owners, buyers, and landlords think about disclosure, sampling, and contractor choice, then compare your own view with theirs.
Knowledge quiz
Test what you know before you talk with a company. Topics include how residue spreads, state programs, sealing off work areas, cleanup steps, waste, and clearance records.
Articles and resources
Read plain explanations of state rule changes, testing questions, disclosure disputes, and lessons from real cleanups across the country.
Field guides
Dig into step-by-step guides on inspections, soft materials, and ducts. They also cover landlord duties and building a strong file for future buyers.
City guides
Find cleanup and testing companies who serve your area. Remember to check every credential directly with the state agency.