Cleaning Up Meth Residue

[Dwight Gibb]

We have a 1968 Elcar two-bedroom trailer that we have been renting out for 35 years. It is well built with 1/4' oak paneling and good cabinetry, and it has made a nice home for people over the years.

Unfortunately we just had to evict two young renters after five months for careless behavior. Only then did we find that they must have had a meth habit, for there is a sticky, orange colored residue on many surfaces.

We have washed all walls, floors, ceilings and windows, and the place smells better, but not 100%.

We have read that the residue is absorbed into unpainted surfaces in cabinets and drawers, and that one can "cook" the residue out by cranking the heat to 90 degrees for a period of time, and we are willing to try that.

So my questions are:

1. Is it possible to have the building tested without involving state authorities?

1. Is it possible that we can clean this place and make it healthy for renters, or should we send the entire structure to the great recycler in the sky, which, I hear, costs about ,000?

2. Does the idea of "cooking" the porous surfaces make sense?

1. Do you have other suggestions.

Thank you very much in advance for your assistance!

Dwight Gibb

[Retired]

Some reading here may help with some of your questions:

[clare]

Meth habit, or meth hobby (lab)?

[Dwight Gibb]

This seems to be only meth habit, though I dont know where one draws the line, if users manufacture their own stuff.

[Ameri-Clean]

r 35 years. It is well built with 1/4' oak paneling and good cabinetry, and it has made a nice home for people over the years.

r careless behavior. Only then did we find that they must have had a meth h abit, for there is a sticky, orange colored residue on many surfaces.

lls better, but not 100%.

nets and drawers, and that one can "cook" the residue out by cranking the h eat to 90 degrees for a period of time, and we are willing to try that.

nters, or should we send the entire structure to the great recycler in the sky, which, I hear, costs about $3,000?

There is a lot of information online about meth labs. Usually professional cleanup is recommended; however, here is an article on doing it yourself: h ttp://

I hope yo u were using protective gear while cleaning up the place. Given the dangers , you should want professional testing before allowing anyone else to live there.

[clare]

If they make their own it's a lab. All laws regarding remediation of a meth lab apply. Might be simpler to light a match and start over.. Being a trailer, tow it away first. Claim the insurance BEFORE lighting the match.

[CRNG]

On Sat, 13 Aug 2016 09:58:55 -0700 (PDT), Dwight Gibb wrote in

Unfortunately, it will probably end up at the great recycler.

[trader_4]

Seems like a lot of people are jumping to conclusions here, starting with the OP:

"Only then did we find that they must have had a meth habit, for there is a sticky, orange colored residue on many surfaces. "

From that I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that it's because of meth, that they were cooking it, etc. I've seen rooms that had orange residue just from heavy smoking. Were they heavy smokers? Pot smokers? Who knows. Unless I had more evidence than some orange residue, I wouldn't be focusing on the meth lab scenario and screwing myself.

[Dwight Gibb]

r 35 years. It is well built with 1/4' oak paneling and good cabinetry, and it has made a nice home for people over the years.

r careless behavior. Only then did we find that they must have had a meth h abit, for there is a sticky, orange colored residue on many surfaces.

lls better, but not 100%.

nets and drawers, and that one can "cook" the residue out by cranking the h eat to 90 degrees for a period of time, and we are willing to try that.

nters, or should we send the entire structure to the great recycler in the sky, which, I hear, costs about $3,000?

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughtful replies. I have had good luck with alt.home.repair since the Usenet days, and my faith has been reinforced.

My second renter and I have already cleaned up the surfaces without realizi ng the danger of drugs, and there is a chance that the damage is not too gr eat. But I will send for a test kit now. I think my insurance broker, and p erhaps my lawyer, can give me ideas about the best over-all procedures, bef ore I jump into HazMat/Health Department mode.

I have rented out two mobile homes for 35 years, and tried to make nice pla ces for people to live, and over-all it has been a good experience. To take a massive hit because of two dumb kids would be sobering, but it is a slic e of life, and I was a dumb kid once too - just turned out luckier than som e.

With best regards,

Dwight Gibb