What's the best way to control odor from urinary incontinence?
Answers
Start by checking to make sure that her diapers or incontinence briefs fit her well and aren't leaking. Where does she put the used diapers or briefs after they're soiled? If she hasn't yet bought one, you should recommend that she buy a special bin for soiled diapers, like the one you would use for a baby's diapers; this keeps odor from seeping out.
You should also check to see if your mother has had accidents. Vinegar and water with a little elbow grease can lift the smell out of upholstered furniture or bedding. Clean her carpets or get them professionally cleaned. Find out, too, if she's letting soiled laundry sit around. She should also use a covered clothes hamper.
If she's willing, your mother can take an oral supplement that reduces or eliminates odor by deodorizing urine. It's called chlorophyllin copper complex and it's probably available at your local health food store. But check first with your mother's doctor to find out if it's safe for her. Anyone taking blood thinners or antibiotics, or anyone with kidney failure, shouldn't take it.the odor problem is coming from my 90 year old incontinent, dad. It's impossible to keep him dry. He has alzheimers and has no control. A fresh pullup can get soiled within minutes. He is in a skilled nursing facility. He's still mobile with a walker. The administrator of the facility has told me about my father's odor. I reminded her "that smelly old man is my dad". Any solutions?????
My moms house also had an odor from disposing of soiled products in just any bag she found around the house, especially the ones you get from the grocery stores. I found a product called Heaven Scent Hygiene Bags and they are lightly scented blue bags that did the job for her. No more odors in her house! We found a store locally that carries the product but I originally ordered them online. Hope this helps.
Warning! the chlorophyllin copper complex nearly killed my 90 year old father. The adverse effect of chlorophyllin is severe diahrea. Within a week he was completely dehydrated and nearly unconscious. FYI, it did solve the odor problem but at what cost. The elderly are fraile and their systems are easily upset by medications. If you try the chlorophyllin be sure to monitor for the adverse effect.
I keep a Lavender diffuser on top of the wardrobe where no one can get into it. everyone comments on how mom's room always smells nice.
Try dousing surfaces with sanitizer, such as Lysol. It really does work. NeutraAir is even better because the scent is not as astringent.
Foul odor can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Older people that wear briefs are at a much greater risk for UTIs than younger ones because of incontinence, immobility, urinary retention and sometimes renal failure. Confusion, fever, lower abdominal pain and frequent and burning on urination can also be signs. A doctor can do a simple check of the urine to test for this. I work in an ER and this is a very common source of infection in elderly people. These are also the ones that have the really foul smelling urine, you can smell it from a mile away. It can't hurt to check
My mom was just at the E.R. and I had them check for UTI because of the foul odor and sure enough she did have a UTI and will start meds tomorrow for it. Thank God.
My cousin with Alzhiemer's has become incontinent. I just discovered a wet bed, I'm using a spray of 1part white vinegar and 1part water. Blot the spot with paper towels then spray, wait two minutes, if odor is still there spray again. Place bowls of baking soda in the room to absorb odors. I also have a Diaper Champ diaper bucket I got off Craigslist in the bathroom to dispose of soiled "nappies". Diaper Champ uses ordinary kitchen trash bags and once the nappy is in there is no odor. I also do not use depends, they don't hold enough fluid and are more expensive because you have to change them more often. I use Molicare they have various sizes and even one for over night. You can find them here http://www.adultdiapers.org/moaddi.html. Price goes up at the end of December. I have used this company for years for various friends and relatives. You can call them if you have a problem with an order and they always help. The owner when I started was disabled and was trying to get us low cost supplies. Another supplier, has the pullups for about the same price, shipping included both places. http://www.cheapchux.com/momoforexuse.html Hope this helps.
It helps to use an incontinence product that has built-in odor control. My favorite product is the Prevail Adult Pull-up. I have been buying them at www.totalhomecaresupplies where I can get a big box sent with no charge for shipping. It looks like 17 other people wrote a review for Prevail Pull-Ups on this website and the average rating is 4.7 out of 5 stars, so this makes me feel great that I am not alone.
Hope this helps! Gina
My husband has recently had knee replacement surgery. He uses a urinal and empties it in the toilet. The bathroom now has that incontinence smell coming from the toilet and the sink. What should I do?
My father is incontinent completely and lives with me. He has very thin legs and even a small depends is not small enough for his legs. So he leaks all the time. I have his mattress well covered with a full GOOD mattress pad, then a fabric waterproof shower curtain over that. I have 4 of the washable smaller mattress pads, two on top of each other on each side of the bed. In between the top sheet and mattress I have another fabric shower curtain doubled in half and diaper pinned to the blanket above. This saves me 4-5 loads of laundry a day down to one or two. After I remove the soiled sheets, I empty his hamper and wipe it with bleach and then rinse. I have a diaper genie for the soiled depends which works well but still needs the odd wiping down with bleach, I spray it into the bag before I tie it off for the next fill up after emptying. In the bottom of the pail I have a plastic butter dish (and under the bed) with holes poked in the top a long with one of those glad car fresheners you hang. I change out the baking soda once a month. Seems like a lot of work but in the long run it saves a ton of cleaning and spraying and it WORKS. Good Luck!!
Urine smell is offensive and literally makes you avoid the area. Vinegar and baking soda home remedies get old pretty fast. I use OdorBully it makes all the waste especially urine disappear no odor no scents nothing and it cleans the commode and area around the catheter bag. Its very affordable like $12 for a gallon shipping was free I got it at odorbully.com
LaneR - so sorry to hear that that is so rude and unnecessary what they said about your dad. i am using some good products from brollysheets.co.uk such as the mattress protectors and the pads with wings, but also glad for the tip regarding odour.
