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How do you keep the house from smelling like #2 when the commode can't be dumped for many hours? What do you use in the bowl--water? kitty litter & bag? bag & absorbent pad? I don't want to use anything toxic but need to get rid of the horrible #2 odor!

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A commode that can't be dumped sounds like a bedside commode. Why can't it be dumped for hours? Letting poop sit in that thing is what's making your house smell. Dump it out, use a separate toilet brush just for the bucket, and clean it with vinegar and water, or splash a little bleach in there (just a smidge, you don't want a bleach smell everwhere). You can also use commercial products on it like Scrubbing Bubbles or Comet. Make sure the sheets aren't the source of the smell, or the trash. I'm obsessed with candles. My caregiving days ended last year but I still use candles everyday. I find they're more effective than potpourri or liquid stuff. Once you begin to burn candles that smell gets into everything and when I come home after not being here for 12 hours I can still smell the yummy candles from the night before. Yankee candles are the best but they're also the most expensive however I treat myself now and then. Little Glade candles are great and inexpensive and Walgreen's "beads" candles are good too.
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You get the enzyme odor eating stuff they sell at RV supply stores for the RV toilets. Actually works pretty good. You also dump, triple rinse and spray Febreze into the clean container. Plastics are very odor retaining, so get the bucket to retain the febreze odor.
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While exhausting, I simply made certain I dumped then cleaned the little bucket after each use....that is something that would reek no matter who used it...the febreze pam suggested is excellent as well....and the candles...I love candles...they help freshes the air even when their not being burned.....and while not an issue in this question I am so happy now that I have pulled the carpet from the area where Mom's bed is ...the only carpet in the house was in the den, she had a couple of "accident" and no matter how often I cleaned with my power scrubbing carpet cleaning machine, I just could not get it to the level of freshness I needed. Also, once the accidents occurred I noticed one of my cats used the same area once or twice...the carpet had to go...have mercy...so much easier now and so fresh...easy to mop...I walk in the door and it smells heavenly....
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That is the reason we had the carpet in here as we were afraid Mama would fall and knew a fall onto carpet would be better than the tile underneath...Now that Mama is totally bedfast and absolutely unable to get up, she is not at risk from falling...hence I finally pulled it. I totally understand not pulling if you have a senior who could fall....
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My sister bought a product called "Poo Pourri". Nice clean odor.
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If the commode cannot be emptied for hours I assume it is because the patient in unattended. Apparently he is able to transfer to the commode by himself, so is there a way to facilitate him transferring to the flush able toilet instead.
Looking to fix the problem at the root, frankly a more hygenic solution. Additionally covering odorr does not really work, one always fades first.
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Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions! The bedside commode isn't emptied quite as often during the overnight hours, and it's just so stinky. Pam, I think I'm going to try the "Poo Pourri" (funny!) product you mentioned to keep it a bit fresher until it's emptied.
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Not sure why it can't be dumped for hours. If the reason for this is because you work or are away from home for another important reason, you can always look into obtaining some in home services to check on your client. Call the Area Agency on Aging or Bureau of Senior Services for programs that would provide in home help. There is a product called Nilodor, it only takes a few drops. I live in the country and have used it to battle skunk odors. I think it's a very good product. My grandmother would put some Lysol into the potty chair, but I find the nilodor works better. Hope my suggestion helps.
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Poo-pourri works better than anything I've ever heard of or tried to eliminate bm odors in the air. We used it during clinicals. It was a life saver.
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Use chlorox bowl cleaner for commodes. It is wonderful! We keep a bit of water and a splash of the cleaner in the commode bucket, always. Before and after use.
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