Follow
Share
Read More
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
Hi, has she been tested for a UTI? These infections really make the urine strong. Just a thought. Good luck
Helpful Answer (8)
Report

I use a lot of vinegar around here. A cup or two of vinegar in the wash is often enough to eliminate the smells, and I clean floors and plastics with it as well. Basically vinegar = weak acid. So it breaks down stains and smells.  The vinegar smell usually goes away once it dries.  Mom's washer is one of those high efficiency ones that uses less water, so I find smaller loads helps the vinegar move more easily through the fabrics.  (Edit:  also I clean the washer itself once or twice a week, by running it empty with two cups of vinegar.)

Enzyme-based cleaners are better than vinegar, much safer than chemical cleaners, but not cheap. They are made of bacteria and enzyme digesters. Basically, they cause a chemical reaction that breaks down biological matter (like urine) into its chemical components, which releases the stains and smells.  When I worked in property maintenance, this is what we used to thoroughly clean a place after tenants with pets and/or young children.  (There is pretty much no other way to get the smell of cat pee out of a floor vent!)

I got my mom into the Depends pull-ups by appealing to her sense of shame, to be honest. It helps that she has to go for medical treatments 3x a week, because she does NOT want the embarrassment of going out in the world smelling like urine or feces. Having home support back me up on the smell factor was also very helpful in this "conversion."
Helpful Answer (15)
Report

20 Mule Team Borax. Put it in with detergent. Doesn’t hurt colors. My grandmother’s caregiver used it when my grandmother had that problem. I used it on cloth baby diapers.
Helpful Answer (13)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter