A Bucket, a Mop, and a Sledgehammer | Criminal Podcast
- Aug 19, 2026
- 19:12
- Full Episode
After a crime occurs, or when someone dies, the police aren’t responsible for cleaning up. That’s not their job. The coroner takes the body, the police conduct their investigation, and then everyone leaves. But the blood, and the rubber gloves, and the uneaten food in the refrigerator are all left behind. Sandra Pankhurst didn’t like imagining that. So she decided to clean it up. She became a crime scene cleaner.
To learn more about Sandra’s story, you can read The Trauma Cleaner, by Sarah Krasnostein. (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250101204)
Criminal is a show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Hosted by Phoebe Judge. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Join Criminal Plus on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, listener chat rooms, behind-the-scenes content, and more membership perks. https://www.patreon.com/Criminal
Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://pod.link/809264944
Say hello on Twitter (https://twitter.com/criminalshow) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/criminal_podcast) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thisiscriminal) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@criminal_podcast)
Sign up for our occasional newsletter, which includes a note from Phoebe, behind-the-scenes photos, and things our team has been enjoying lately. https://thisiscriminal.com/newsletter
We also make the podcasts This is Love (https://pod.link/1337100398) and Phoebe Reads a Mystery (https://pod.link/1503921457).
Artwork by Julienne Alexander: http://www.yssrs.com/. Check out our online shop: https://shop.thisiscriminal.com/
Episode 124 originally published October 11, 2019. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-124-a-bucket-a-mop-and-a-sledgehammer-10-11-2019
Music in this episode: “City Lights” by Chad Crouch “To Overflow (Original Music for Criminal)” by Blue Dot Sessions “Dim” by Chad Crouch “Gambrel” by Blue Dot Sessions “Plaster Combo” by Blue Dot Sessions “Low Light Switch” by Blue Dot Sessions
Brief Summary
Sandra Pankhurst discusses her journey as a trauma cleaner and the emotional challenges of her work in Australia.
Key points
- The First Cleanup. Sandra's first job involved a hoarding situation that took 72 hours to clean up.
- Empathy in Trauma Cleaning. Sandra emphasizes the importance of empathy in her line of work.
- Sandra Pankhurst's Journey. Sandra Pankhurst found her calling in trauma cleaning, helping families cope with loss.
Episode highlights
- The First CleanupSandra's first job involved a hoarding situation that took 72 hours to clean up.“It was a rat-infested filthy den of iniquity.”7:17Aug 19, 2026
- Empathy in Trauma CleaningSandra emphasizes the importance of empathy in her line of work.“It takes a special kind of person to handle blood and to do it with empathy.”9:41Aug 19, 2026
- Sandra Pankhurst's JourneySandra Pankhurst found her calling in trauma cleaning, helping families cope with loss.“It's our job to sort of make sure that their mental health is looked after as well.”16:51Aug 19, 2026
