Can Odours Return After After Death Cleaning? What Causes Smells to Come Back

In some cases, odours can return after an after death cleaning has already taken place. This can be confusing and distressing for families or property owners, particularly if the smell seemed to be gone initially.

This article explains why odours sometimes come back, what causes this to happen, and how it is usually prevented in professional cleaning.

Why Odours May Seem to Disappear at First

Immediately after cleaning, a property may smell fresh due to:

surface cleaning
ventilation
deodorising products

However, if the underlying source of contamination has not been fully addressed, odours can reappear days or weeks later.

Common Reasons Odours Return

Contamination in Porous Materials

Odour can become trapped in:

carpets and underlay
soft furnishings
mattresses
wooden floorboards

If these materials are not treated or removed when necessary, smells may gradually return.

Subfloor or Structural Absorption

In more severe cases, biological material may seep into:

subfloors
cracks or joints
wall cavities

Surface cleaning alone cannot always reach these areas.

Incomplete Decontamination

If cleaning focuses only on visible areas, bacteria responsible for odour may remain. Odour is often a sign of ongoing contamination rather than a simple smell problem.

Changes in Temperature or Humidity

Odours may become more noticeable when:

heating is turned on
humidity increases
the property is closed up

This can make it seem as though the smell has “returned” suddenly.

Why Masking Odours Is Not a Long-Term Solution

Air fresheners and deodorisers may:

temporarily hide smells
give a false sense of resolution

But they do not address the source. Once the masking effect fades, odours often return.

How Professionals Prevent Odours from Returning

Professional cleaning typically includes:

removal of contaminated materials where required
deep cleaning and disinfection
treatment of porous surfaces
targeted odour control methods

The goal is to remove the source, not cover it.

When Further Treatment May Be Needed

Additional work may be required if:

the body was undiscovered for an extended period
contamination spread beyond one room
initial cleaning was limited or DIY

In these cases, follow-up assessment helps ensure the issue is fully resolved.

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Final Thoughts

If odours return after cleaning, it usually indicates that the underlying cause was not fully addressed. Understanding why this happens helps property owners and families take the right next steps and avoid repeated problems.