30 seconds with Larry Douglas, the ‘Ultimate’ cleaners

Crime scenes. Unattended deaths. Meth labs.

Somebody has to clean them up, and Larry and Amber Douglas have made it their business.

Usually, their work is unseen, but in April they were featured in Ultimate Cleaners on TLC.

We caught up with Larry Douglas about cleaning up on TV.

How did the producers pick you?

They found us through an internet search. They interviewed me over the phone for an hour and then they decided to shoot some film. We did that Memorial Day weekend 2009. Memorial Day weekend 2010, we shot another case for (the network), after which they picked us up for the two shows that we shot this past November and December.

How long have you owned Xtreme Cleaners?

Since 2003 in New England and 2008 in Louisiana.

What kind of feedback did you get after the episodes aired?

We had a big response nationwide from families needing our services. Some can pay; others cannot. We are hoping that we can help them all because we may be their last resort.

What drew you to this type of work?

I worked as a police officer and witnessed the trauma that suicides left on the survivors of this type of incident. I wanted to help these families out in their time of need.

How did you get started?

With my background as a police officer, an Occupational Safety and Health Administrator outreach trainer and (hazardous materials) instructor, and I had just finished my master’s degree in business management. I decided to come up with a solution for these types of situations and developed a company.

What are the worst kinds of messes and/or infestations you’ve encountered?

Ones that have gone for several days (or weeks) and there are numerous maggots, insects, rodents, or where there are pets and pet droppings. But the worst is decomposing bodies that have gone undiscovered for a long time.

Any tips for readers putting off tackling a major cleanup?

The sooner you tackle the situation the better. If you wait until everything rots, insects and rodent populations will increase. It becomes a snowball effect, and the pile keeps growing.

What’s it like working with your spouse?

It’s been great—working with my wife is awesome! I feel guilty sometimes because it doesn’t seem like a job. It is so rewarding to be helping people every day. She and I complement each other’s skill sets.

Learn more about their work at xtremecleaners.com.