Hello all,
My wife is suffering from incontinence for the last 2 years. She is really worried about her condition because we are staying alone and I used to clean up the room every day. I used to clean the room and the mattress regularly. In order to prevent odor, I use the vinegar solution. Due to the regular use of vinegar, our floor and the mattress has vinegar stains. She dislikes the smell of vinegar and is worried about making the room unclean. How can I remove the vinegar stains from the mattress and floor?? It will be really helpful If you suggest few tips based on your cleaning experience. Also, I would like to know if there is any technique to prevent bed wetting. I thought of getting her a diaper, but she once used it and told that she's not feeling comfortable with it. So what shall I do to make her feel better?? Is there any effective treatment that can help her recover from this situation?? Any suggestions regarding this are greatly welcomed.
When I was nursing my 3rd child he would spit up enough to soak the bed & I really hate changing sheets at 3:00 A.M. - so we started do as they do in hospitals here - so take another sheet [flannelette is best] fold in 3 lengthwise then place across the bed parallel to the pillows from the pillows down & it should go to about the knee area - tuck in well - so with use of pad & sheet you may actually only need to change that instead of whole bed each day - hope this helps
I used to use the waterproof pads on top of my bed (I would cut off the sides) to protect my bedding, and a pad on the mattress also.
My daughter used a product for her incontinent dog that is MADE for dissolving the "smell" agents in urine. She'd make up a spray bottle and mix it kind of stronger than called for. Used it on carpets and floors when the dog "missed" the pad (which is always) Also she used it for potty training kids who have accidents. Spray it on pretty well, let it sit for a few minutes and blot it until it's almost dry. There's an enzyme in this that really kills the smell.
Honestly? The bed should just be replaced, if possible. And read some posts about the layering of pads in the bed making process so when there are the inevitable accidents, the clean up is quick and no smell remains.
Mother wears a very thin undergarment that absorbs amazing amounts of liquid. You cannot see it under her clothes. At bedtime she puts an extra pad in with the undergarment. Just be sure the wet pads, underpants, etc., go straight out to the trash. Just like a baby diaper, they will smell bad very quickly.
Open windows and get fresh air in as much as possible. Trying to "cover" bad smells just adds to the funk.
No doubt your wife has friends who have this same issue. It's so common.
As far as your floors---have a professional come in. Maybe they can refinish the floors or give you a sealant for them. I have wood floors throughout my upstairs and nothing can get through them. It's the carpet that's a smell-holder. Have that cleaned with the pet enzyme solution. Vinegar will discolor after repeated uses--as you've found.
Good Luck!!
Try getting somebody to take your mattress out into the sun for a day or two to get rid of the smell. You might consider spraying it with pine-sol before you do.
And if you can't do anything else, use pine-sol instead of vinegar.
Here are some other tips. I googled "eliminate urine smell from elderly" to find it. There were lots of other hits.
http://www.ehow.com/how_7433349_rid-smell-elderly-person_s-clothing.html
I think the first step is to keep trying incontinent briefs until you find one that is comfortable for her. Try every brand and different styles and sizes. Obviously these garments may not be perfect, but wetting the bed is far from perfect, too!
Then, get a waterproof mattress cover. In fact, get two, so when one is in the wash, you'll have a fresh one to put on. The best way to treat a mattress is to keep it clean. Mattress covers do that. Covers go into the washing machine and therefore can much more easily and thoroughly be cleaned than a mattress.
Have you consulted with a doctor about the incontinence? A specialist? There are things that can be done for certain kinds of incontinence. It is certainly worth pursuing a medical solution.