Strategies for freshening air in home with incontinent elder

[Anonymous]

Beyond Lysol, are there any tricks or products that anyone would recommend? Sorry if this is a dumb post but it's a serious issue for my parents!

[Anonymous]

I live with my dad....I understand the issue. I've had the windows open for the last 2 weeks. It's helping some but the smell is still there.

[Anonymous]

Make sure they have clean clothes daily and dirty laundry isn’t sitting around (add TB of Lysol to laundry), change bedding regularly (might need new bed or furniture if smells have permeated), daily baths or bed baths and regular wiping off with wet rag as needed, put down throw rugs under accident prone areas (might need to clean carpets), baking soda in heavy smell areas, get them a urinal or bedside toilet so they don’t have to walk to restroom. Ozium spray or essential oil spray better than Lysol for decreasing smell.

[Anonymous]

+1 re regular clothing changes/laundry/showering. My mom wasnt regularly showering due to fear of falling, so the smell was lingering. Then she got used to the smell so didnt realize how bad it was on clothes/furniture/etc.

[Anonymous]

Such a tough thing, I'm sorry.

There are little tubs or bags of charcoal based odor absorbers. They don't give off a fragrance but will absorb some of the funk. You can use them liberally and it will help. I buy them at the hardware store but there are tons of options on amazon also.

Also, try to eliminate fabric options (upholstered chairs had to go away during this period for us, the beloved recliner had to have skips w/ a sheet over them, etc...).

For cleaning, vinegar is helpful, as are baking soda/peroxide combinations.

[Anonymous]

Cover all fabric furniture and clean with a portable cleaning machine if it leaks, wash bedding and clothing regularly.

[Anonymous]

Home air purifier for room
Air freshener plugins
Enzyme laundry detergent
No carpets or rugs
Absorbent liner pads on beds, couches

Sorry it's hard, hang in there

[Anonymous]

You need to keep the person and their clothing clean and have tightly closed containers for soiled items. You need furniture that is non-absorbent and wiped down regularly. Get rid of floor coverings, which can be a fall risk anyway. As PP’s have suggested, odor observers, air purifying machines and ventilation can help. “Air fresheners” and perfumed products just make the stink smell worse. The goal is to prevent the odor problem in the first place.

This is a hard thing. It is labor and time intensive, and can be very wearing.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t use air fresheners or Lysol. It’s probably not good for the old persons lungs. And it’s just masking. It doesn’t actually cover up the smell or take the smell away. It just makes things worse by adding a sickly sweet smell to the urine smell.

My parents are both incontinent and their house does not smell bad. We keep windows cracked where possible. We also have a hepa air filter in every room. Their diapers are checked and changed a minimum of every two hours. Sheets are changed at least three times a week often more. We use tuck pads that are changed whenever wet and washed that day. Trash is taken out multiple times a day.

[Anonymous]

Window open

[Anonymous]

When you wash the soiled clothing/bedding make sure it is getting thoroughly rinsed (most washers have an "extra rinse" setting.) A lot of times, people will use too much detergent and if any detergent is still lingering in the clothing it will trap the odor with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you wash the soiled clothing/bedding make sure it is getting thoroughly rinsed (most washers have an "extra rinse" setting.) A lot of times, people will use too much detergent and if any detergent is still lingering in the clothing it will trap the odor with it.

NP here- also, use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer! This stuff takes the smell out. My mom uses it on my Dad's laundry and it works really well (on any washable item that needs it, also like sheets and towels).

My Dad is incontinent due to Parkinsons, and Mom uses that, plus chux pads in certain places like in the bed and where he sits. Also takes the used depends outside often. Their home never smells at all. Dad can still shower mostly independently (that helps also).

[Anonymous]

In addition to the suggestions above I would use the spray sold for pets accidents. I use this on all synthetic clothes that smell such as quick dry shirts. It helps the BO get released and washed away. Spray the items then wash with detergent and the Lysol laundry sanitizer.

This spray is also good for any fabric furniture.

Windows open!
Do not us scented air fresheners.