how to reduce the smell?

[Tookie]

Prior to posting this question l have tried doing a search in the various forums that l beleive may cover this topic - I basically want to know what you as nurses do to reduce the urine and other smells that are associated with living long term in a facility - and or in an acute setting

I would be interested in your management of the linen, carpet or other continence aids etc.

Where l currently work we have a system of reducing the associated smells of urine and feaces that can be common in aged care settings and nursing homes.

We would like to research and evaulate other systems that people use to reduce any smells

I was wondering if any of you in this forum have any site you can recommend to read about methods of reducing the smells associated with this problem.

Thanking you in advance

Sandra

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

My first semester of nursing school I did clinicals in a posh LTC facility. NO SMELL. They took care of the problem the way you would at home: check the client often, change their linens as needed (sometimes bed changes were several times daily) and wash everything right away. There were NO LINEN CARTS for stuff to sit around in and smell. Washing machines/dryers were on every unit and ran almost constantly (at least during the day while I was there). The facility looked and smelled clean and the clients had great skin care since they received so much attention.

[kittyw]

originally posted by badbird

first bag all the soiled linen and clothing and get it off the unit. good old soap and water with mouthwash works wonders. i found that often times the patients hair stinks so bad, i have shampooed hair with a combo of shaving cream and rinsed with mouth wash, they sure do smell better after and feel better too.

i've heard mouthwash in the water works ... but does it irritate their skin?

[prmenrs, RN]

I read something recently--if a foley bag is smelly, add 10cc of H2O2--or you just change it, also.

I'd be willing to bet that if you have a nursing school lobrary that has OLD nsg texts, there might be a hint or 2 in them.

For stinky stoma bags, you can try putting some vanilla extract on a cotton ball.

[RyanRN]

"------Well, there was no identifyable C-Diff runny stool smell. I was disappointed :-( ----" -

So sorry you were disappointed Mario, ewwwwww!!! LOL. Hate to disagree but you will, in time my friend, be able to smell that smell and disinguish it from all others. Just like the ever-pleasant, hard not to notice GI BLEEDER.

We have this little machine where I work, it plugs in next to the patients beds who smell up the unit. It emits almost no odor yet somehow works to eliminate the distastefuls aromas that abound.

I'll check out the name of it and be back with it asap.

[deespoohbear]

We actually had a skunk spray the outside of the ER doors one morning. Man, did that stink. :eek: Our small county hospital stunk for a couple of days. Yuck.

I really have a hard time with some of the air freshners that our used in our facility. With my asthma sometimes it can be overpowering. I like the idea of the vinegar and water in a spritzer bottle. Vinegar is good stuff!! I am suprised the hospitals haven't tried that method since it would be cheaper.

Doesn't administration always go the cheap route?:)

[Tookie]

Thank you again for all your contirbutions - purplemania where you worked certainly sounded quite an interesting approach - do you know if they still do this this way?

Thanks again Tookie

[kittyw]

Speaking of odor ... I have 4 cats in my apt and since I've gotten these ionic air filters there's been no cat litter box smell in my place. They work wonders, are silent, & take up very little space (now I have the bigger units in my apt but they make some smaller ones for smaller spaces -- imagine that! )

[night owl]

That white vinegar is also good if your pet has an accident on the carpet...Takes away any odors that are left behind.

[OrthoNutter]

Originally posted by kittyw

I've heard (but haven't tried it) that putting mouthwash in the bath water cuts the urine smell.

Maybe but would you want to put your bits in it??? I know what that stuff does to my mouth....lol

[nursegoodguy]

Be sure all soiled linens etc are bagged in the room before they are taken through the hall.

Keep all soiled linen carts emptied and off the hall.

Fresh air is nice, (I have never worked in a facility that allowed windows open though r/t airconditioning) We have some very nice citrus smelling sprays and wow do they ever work!

Have mattresses cleaned with a diluted bleach solution, or whatever your faciltiy uses, and turned weekly. The most important factor, make sure everyone is inserviced on how to keep odors down and carry through with it!

[yazisizzit, ASN, RN]

What do I do about bad smells?

Well, as a respectable male Nurse. I shower from head to toe...

...once a week!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I know that placing saucers with vinegar in them around a room will remove smoke odor from a room. Put in the washer vinegar will take odors from clothes.

In the newspaper, Heloise, often has hints about vinegar.

The mouthwash in the basin would only be like 60cc in 5 gallons of water.