I've been the sole caregiver 24/7 for my 80-year-old mother, for the past 10 years. She has many significant health problems and dementia. My question is this: I empty her commode bucket 1-2 times a day (both urine and poo) and take out her wastebasket of used Depends, but the smell when I'm doing this is making me absolutely sick to my stomach. I am at the end of my rope and have been for a long time. Does anyone have any ideas for the smell while I'm cleaning up? I always add a little bleach to the new water.
Baking soda helps absorb odors and can be sprinkled into the bottom of trash cans.
Activated charcoal also works to remove odors.
The suggestion to encourage your mother to drink more water is wise and may help your mother in other ways. Dehydration can cause the body to absorb toxins normally flushed out in sweat and urine. This can lead to mental confusion and aches and pains, among other more serious things....
Also ,with your house Issue.I had a cat for a short time that used various parts of my house as his personal pee-palace so I ,on the advice of a friend, bought an "Ionizer" which uses some kind of static charge to eradicate the smell molecules...I might be way off base on my description but I can confirm that for my purposes this little Fan-driven machine works well.They are a little pricey but even the small ones are well worth the investment I feel.I hope these suggestions help you and I encourage you.
sincerely Bill
As far as the house reeking I have cans with lids for All used diapers and poopy packages go right out to the garbage immediately.
The strongest smelling urine of the day is first thing in the morning. If she gets up by herself it’s my mission first thing to get her wet bed pads in the can and take her soiled gown straightaway to the laundry.
I keep potty pads on the furniture that I change as soon as they are soiled and I don’t let her argue with me about whether her clothes got wet. I just tell her that I can smell it and she needs to change. Again: that’s when I assert my authority, THATS MY JOB! I COULD BE ARRESTED!
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