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Would some of you mind sharing what products you use to get clean, fresh laundry (clothing, bedding) when dealing with incontinence??? Also, which personal wipes have you found to work best for you? Thanks!!!! Cindy

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I add vinegar in with detergent as well as Borax in the wash for chuck pads, sheets and blankets. I use vinegar mixed with liquid fabric softer to wipe down hard surfaces. My loved one removes chuck and disposable pads in the middle of the night and hangs them on bedside commode, bed frame and recliner.
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Reply to Lyfwithagingma
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Ps - add on
so we use incontinence pants disposable - whatever your budget allows and inside them an incontinence pad
the pad can be removed at each cleaning - helps contain the urine and therefore less washing
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Reply to Jenny10
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Hi!
For laundry, white vinegar,if the items are safe with that.
For Whites,sheets,etc, use bleach,or ammonia. Or one if the fragrance free products listed in earlier posts on this feed.
For Incontinence products:
1.) (Unique WELLNESS Adult Diapers)
They are very absorbent and last up to or a little more about eight hours.
They are INCONTEK design that pulls moisture away from skin. Same design as is used in the NASA pull ups for astronaut mission travels.

2.)SCRUBBZ Rinse free Bath Sponges. soap and shampoo infused large body sponges. (25 pack) On Amazon. Com.

3.)MCKESSON Aloe Vesta Bath and Body wash.
It comes in various sizes and container
Styles. (Local chain ,medical supply stores) (Amazon).

4.) MCKESSON Perineal and skin cleanser.
Comes in One Gallon containers.
(medical supply stores and Amazon.com)

Hope this is helpful. God Bless.
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Reply to John2000
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I use OxiClean stain/odour remover + Tide Free & Gentle detergent. I use the extra heavy wash setting and let the clothes sit in the hot water for a half an hour before I put the lid down and start the cycle. I was getting discouraged every week when the cleans would smell again after the dryer cycle even on delicates. I just read here that polyester re-smells in heat, so today, I hang the polyester up and let them air dry. I am looking forward to seeing the results. Thanks,
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Reply to StacieS
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I use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer in all the washes and it has been a life saver. No smells or germs. A professional caregiver suggested on day 1 to me. I also use Free and Sensitive Tide liquid laundry detergent. Doesn't irritate dad's skin.
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Reply to intellichick
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Zero Odor laundry detergent.
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Reply to SRADES64
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Add ordinary cheap white vinegar to the wash/ it’s a
powerful cleaning agent to neutralize stubborn urine odors.
wet wipes - just get a cheap washing up bowl and soak them in that
squeeze out and hold in cheap kitchen towels ( so the towels are only to help you hold the wipes not to wash with - add a squirt of shower gel - maybe half cup of disinfectant and you’ll get away with using what you currently use / dry using large soft tissues you use for face / pat dry and get the dr to prescribe barrier cream to prevent and sores ( private areas) with soft large hanky tissues
best wishes
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Reply to Jenny10
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I spray organic with Oxiclean MaxForce. And add bleach to wash also. I'm not worried about fading fabrics at this point. Dude wipes are the best. For bed baths or even regular baths try EasiCleanse Disposable Washcloths. Self-sudsing, no rinse. Use just a little water for the sudsing or you will rinse out the soap. These are far softer than washcloths.
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Reply to maryq1954
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Add 1/4 cup of Odo-ban to the wash cycle to really remove incontinence odors. If you use an extra rinse cycle, it will remove any traces of the Odo-ban smell (if you find it to be too strong).
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Reply to Sheila23
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Hi Cindy.
I like Walmart's incontinence products. The Assurance Wipes are perfect. Also the Assurance underpads. Even the Assurance brand diapers are pretty decent and economical.
I have a metal frame hospital bed with a waterproof covered foam mattress. Every day, I get my husband out of bed, strip the fitted sheet and use a few of the Wipes along with some Lysol cleaner diluted in a spray bottle to wipe down the mattress, the head and footboard, and the side rails, then remake the bed with a fresh clean sheet, and I layer a couple washable underpads with a disposable pad on top.
I've gone through a lot of blankets and find that stocking up on large throw blankets or light weight twin size blankets is best. They are easier to wash and to store than big, heavy blankets.
For laundry, I discovered Charlie's Soap 10 years ago, and it is still my favorite.
When I don't have Charlie's Soap, I like to use Dawn dishsoap - just a tablespoon or so, along with roughly a quarter cup of vinegar OR small amount of bleach, depending on whether I am washing dark colors or white. Urine soaked items need a pre-wash to get most of the urine out before really washing, or it takes 2 to 3 times through the wash to get smells out. If you are able to hang items outside in the sun, that will freshen and kill odors. Then, I fluff them briefly in the dryer to soften and shake out any dust or pollen.
I just want to say, Tide and some of the other big brand names can really fight the odors, but my husband is allergic to Tide, so I don't use it.
When my husband is out of bed, he is in an electric Lift Recliner, with a vinyl type upholstery. I place two disposable pads on the chair, tucked into the crease between the seat and the back. When I get him out of the chair, I use my Lysol cleaning spray and Assurance Wipes to wipe down the chair and the hand control.
A fun fact; The assurance wipes also fit on a swiffer mop head and do a great job of picking up dust and debris from hard floors.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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JoAnn29 May 13, 2026
I think Tide is good for oders too.
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1/2 cup of borax in the bottom of the tub, and Lysol makes a liquid deodorizer that you put into the fabric softener tray.
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Reply to ElizabethY
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I know that a cup of white vinegar in the wash will help with getting the sheets white and fresh.
If that doesn't completely get out the stains, use a cup of peroxide in the next wash.
Also, I recently found out that 100% lemon OIL, the essential oil, will pull out even older stains. But, you should be ready when applying it to the material, to be ready to wash said item immediately.
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Reply to MTNester1
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My dad has almost constant UTIs and other infectious stuff. So I use disinfecting bleach (who knew that bleaches have different strengths?) on all his laundry, and Tide Hygenic Clean detergent, and the hottest water the items can take. I only buy him the track suits in that sports material now, and it all bleaches without damage. I only buy white sheets now, and for the colorful ones that are left, and blankets, I just let them turn colors or get spotted. I’m pretty OCD about this kind of stuff, so I also put the washer on the self clean cycle with bleach whenever I am done with all his wash.

If he has something that just can’t take the bleach, I pre soak in Clorox laundry disinfectant and water before laundering.
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Reply to Hope21
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I always did a vinegar and water soak. My Mom wore polyester pants. Its very hard to get the smell out. I also recommend not drying polyester in a dryer. Seems to bring up up the smell.

I used Huggie Baby Wipes. They are bigger and thicker than ordinary wipes. If you or person your caring for has an OTC (over the counter) card, they are free.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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BurntCaregiver May 12, 2026
JoAnn

That is true abour putting polyester in the dryer. It does make whatever smells in the fabric even worse. I noticed if there's some kind of stain on the fabric from food or whatever, even when stain remover has been used to get it out, if you put it in the dryer the stain returns.
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Bleach whenever possible for laundry and a product called 'Pooph' for laundry. There's also a stain remover spray one.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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Since nobody has answered you yet I'm going to suggest you search the site as I know these topics have been covered in the past. (it's the magnifying glass icon up by your avatar)
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