How to Clean a Bedside Commode
A bedside commode is an important item to have when a loved one is unable to use a normal bathroom. Typically made of materials that are easy to clean and sanitize, they need upkeep several times a day. The bottom bowl slides out for ease in emptying and cleaning.
Things You Will Need
- Gloves
- White vinegar
- Scrub brush
- Bucket
- Towel
- Disinfectant spray
Tip
Drugs.com offers a great tutorial on the proper use and assisting procedure for bedside commodes. (Res. 1.)
Warning
Wear gloves when cleaning a commode. Keep area well ventilated from vinegar fumes. Be mindful of hot water. It can cause serious burns.
Most bedside commode units will fit into an average shower stall for convenient washing. A little vinegar and disinfectant cleaner will have a bedside commode ready for its next use in short order. Cleaning this type of device takes as little as 30 minutes.
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Put on your gloves and remove the bottom bowl. Dispose of the contents by emptying them into a toilet. Set the empty bowl in the shower stall.
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Place the bedside commode unit into the shower stall and set the shower on a hot water setting. Close the curtain and let the hot water beat down on the commode for five minutes. Shut the shower off and open the curtain.
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Mix ½ cup of white vinegar with two cups of water in a small bucket. Use a small cleaning brush to scrub the entire surface of the commode and bowl. Turn the shower back on to rinse the items.
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Pull the bedside commode out of the shower stall and wipe it dry with a towel. Use a disinfectant spray on the surfaces. Reinstall the bowl and place the commode in position at the bedside for the next use. (Ref. 1.)
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Tips: Drugs.com offers a great tutorial on the proper use and assisting procedure for bedside commodes. (Res. 1.)
Writer Bio
Ellie Kuykendall has been writing and editing professionally since 1997. Her travel and insurance articles have appeared in national magazines. She's contributed to four books and is currently writing her own book. She received a bachelor's degree from University of San Francisco.
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