6. Looking after the home

Key points

There are many products to help with protecting beds and furniture.
Special products can help clean pee or poo from furniture, mattresses or carpets.
Avoiding bad smells can be difficult, but there are ways of reducing the problem.

Protecting the home can be difficult. This section gives some ideas on how to protect beds, chairs, carpets and the rest of the home and how to dispose of waste. Some of the ideas cost money and some others are more time consuming. What works best for the person you’re caring for will depend on your situation.

“I have to say I sat on the bed at 5am crying my eyes out with my iPad and I looked up what to do with a wet mattress.”

Wife

Protection

Think about getting a waterproof mattress or protector sooner rather than later. It is not possible to know when the first episode of night-time incontinence might happen or when a product might leak. A mattress topper can be used on top of the mattress protector if it feels hot or sweaty, but will need washing if there is leakage.

There are also a wide range of washable or disposable pads available for chairs and beds. These products are not used to manage incontinence by themselves, but instead they protect items from leaks. There are pros and cons for different types. Have a look at www.continenceproductadvisor.org for more details.

Things to note:

Disposable pads are light and convenient but are expensive over time. They are plastic-backed and can get hot and sweaty causing skin problems for some people. They can move out of place easily.
Washable pads are usually larger, heavier and thicker than disposables. They come in different colours, patterns and sizes, for example they can be made to fit double beds. Many have a non-slip backing, helping them to stay in place. Downsides are the initial cost and the need to wash and dry.

Washable pad

Disposable pad

Washable chair pad

There are also waterproof protectors for duvets and pillows. Carpet protector sprays might be useful for protecting carpets against stains (check manufacturer guidance). Some people choose to replace carpet with more easily washable floorings. If you decide to do this, check whether the new flooring is non-slip when wet. Carpet tiles can work well as they can be easily and cheaply changed.

Cleaning

However much you try to protect the home, it is likely that pee or poo might need to be cleaned from furniture or carpets. There is information on helping to clean the person that you care for in section 5 and this section is for cleaning the home.

It’s good to be prepared so that you can cope with accidents when they happen. Useful things to have include disposable bags/nappy sacks, rubber gloves, disposable or washable cloths, washing up liquid, old towels, odour elimination spray, washing powder, bicarbonate of soda, an old washing up bowl and enzyme cleaner (they break down the molecules in pee or poo and are often sold for pet stains).

This information is for guidance only and manufacturer instructions should be followed to avoid any damage to carpets or furniture.

To remove pee from chairs, mattresses or carpets

Use old towels to soak up as much as possible.
Use an ‘enzyme cleaner’ or a vinegar/water solution to lightly wash the area (don’t soak).
Apply a thin layer of baking soda (it’s cheaper to buy a big container of baking soda for cleaning rather than a small pot for cooking) on to the surface and leave on for a few hours to absorb the moisture and smell. Vacuum off using the upholstery attachment. Repeat if necessary. Use an odour neutralising spray if needed and leave mattresses to air for as long as possible.

To remove poo from chairs, mattresses or carpets

Get a disposable bag/nappy sack. Use disposable cloths or paper towels to gently remove as much as possible. If it is diarrhoea, then use a flat surface (for example, piece of cardboard) to lightly scrape off as much as possible.
Use diluted washing up liquid to gently wash. Blot with paper towels to remove moisture and remaining faeces.
Try an ‘enzyme cleaner’ if there is still a stain. Apply a thin layer of baking soda on to the surface and leave on for a few hours to absorb the moisture and smell. Vacuum off using the upholstery attachment. Repeat if necessary.
Use an odour neutralising spray if needed.

“The disposable versions are not pleasant to sleep on. Whereas a fabric version that has built in stuff actually makes it more normal.”

Daughter

Managing Smell

Keeping bad smells away can be difficult, but there are things that can help.

Try to keep the person and their clothing clean by using the most suitable and best-fitting products (see Continence Products, section 4).
Dispose of used products to your outside bin and out of the house as quickly as possible.
Protect bed and furniture with washable or disposable covers.
Clean up any leakage as much as possible. Use an ‘enzyme cleaner’, baking soda and odour neutralising spray when needed.
Air the home every day.
A UV torch can be used to find dried urine that is otherwise hard to see.
‘Wet’ vacuum cleaners can be used on some carpets, mattresses and furniture.

“When I visit I go through the wardrobe. I go through everything until I find the source of the smell [used pads] and I can get rid of it.”

Daughter

“We only had a little bin and so I had to apply to the Council and get a bigger bin.”

Wife

Disposing of products

Continence products are often bulky and smelly, making them difficult to put in household rubbish that is only collected every couple of weeks. Many councils provide a second bin (often for a fee). Some councils class continence products as clinical waste and provide separate collections. You might need to speak to your healthcare professional to access this service.

Some “Nappy Disposal systems” are suitable for adult products. These systems wrap and seal each product keeping them out of the normal bin. Bins can be quite heavy to empty. Biodegradable bags are available to buy online or in shops.

“I put a paste of sodium bicarbonate over the whole area. We hoovered all the sodium bicarbonate off and couldn’t believe it had got rid of the smell, it was brilliant.”

Wife

Sometimes a person with dementia might forget why they are using a product or be embarrassed. If this happens, they might dispose of products in the ‘wrong’ place (for example, in a laundry basket or drawer) or try to hide used products. This can be difficult, particularly if the person lives by themselves. This can be a hard problem to solve.

Carers have suggested:

Putting a bin where the person gets changed.
Putting a note by the bin as a reminder.
Having a plastic laundry basket with a lid if the person puts pads in the laundry.
Telling any homecare workers where pads might be.

Continence product disposal bin