How to get stool smell off of your hands?

Specializes in Home Health.
How to get stool smell off of your hands?

I just started working my first job as an LPN for a Home Health Agency. I have one client who I take care of in the mornings before I go to my full time office job. This client has paralysis and requires a bowel program each morning in which I have to stimulate the rectum manually, administer enemas and digitally remove stool.

I obviously have gloves on when doing this, and I've washed my hands a zillion times. I have also used 4 different types of hand sanitizer--so I KNOW my hands are clean. But my fingers STILL smell like stool! How do I get this off of my hands? I really don't think its in just lingering in my nose because my other hand does not smell like this and I can only smell it when I bring "the fingers" to my nose.

Any advice from seasoned nurses????

What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)

Members are discussing methods to remove stool odor from their hands after cleaning patients, with suggestions including using shaving cream, vinegar, baking soda and peroxide paste, and enzyme-based odor removers. There is also discussion about the effectiveness of double gloving, the potential risks of using shaving cream for peri-care, and the surprising permeability of gloves to odors. Some users share personal experiences and tips for managing unpleasant smells in healthcare settings.

42 Answers

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Minted toothpaste works every time. Wash first cold then hot and rub with toothpaste, rinse.

Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

An old trick. First wash your hands in cold water then hot. It works.

Specializes in School Nursing.

After washing thoroughly, then apply a scented hand cream. Hope it helps

I use lemon juice.

Sounds weird but I use a metal spoon when I chop garlic when cooking at home. If you run your hands under water and rub your hands all over with the metal, it reacts with it and removes the smell. Maybe it would work with stool lol

Gotta love nursing! ? one of our awesome perks lol

Specializes in Geriatrics.

ok, this is tried and true, I even use it on pt's after a BM. Shaving Cream, doesn't have to be scented, just wash hands with shaving cream first, rinse then use soap & water. Works every time!

Buy salt...keep it in your bag...work up a paste with a little water.

Gets raw fish odor off..should work for stool.

gentlegiver said:
ok, this is tried and true, I even use it on pt's after a BM. Shaving Cream, doesn't have to be scented, just wash hands with shaving cream first, rinse then use soap & water. Works every time!

Ah gentle, I was just going to post about the shaving cream.

Works like a dream.

Some of our aides use it during pericare.

Leslie

Specializes in Health Information Management.

Can't say I've had to deal with stool in a professional setting, but as a mom, I recommend washing with a strong citrus or lavender oil content to the soap. Both seem to cut the poo scent with one wash - two if I'm up to my elbows!

CrazierThanYou said:
Interesting. When I worked as a CNA years ago, I saw shaving cream being used for peri care every day.

A while back, I retook the CNA class and I mentioned it to my instructor. She said that regular shaving cream is nothing but soap in foam form...

I saw a very experienced coworker use the big can of Barbasol on a guy for peri care once and she asked me, "You've never seen this before??"

Nope. And I ain't gonna start doing it now.

Vicks VapoRub

I don't know if I spelled this right.

Some odors are so bad they just soak into everything in the vicinity.

Folks, Folks, I have it! Eureka! This is absolutely foolproof for removing the stool smell from your own skin (hands)- Not for patient.

There is an enzyme based odor remover on the market for pets. I don't know if we can say the brand name here but let's just say the WHITE bottle is a "miracle" of "nature."

Without getting into too much detail let's just say I had a TP malfunction and kept getting a whif even after multiple washings. I poured some of the enzyme odor remover into my hands ( it is alcohol based and has a very pleasant citrus aroma) rubbed it in with great friction. Let it air dry for short time, then rinsed with cool water.

Smell was ABSOLUTELY GONE. GONE.

Good luck,

Lasz.

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