How do you get the urine smell out of the laundry?

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I have a bedwetter and an almost 3yo who still has accidents. I can't get the smell out. Funny, but I never had this trouble with cloth diapers, even though I washed them the same way I washed everything else. I never added bleach, or fabric softener, or even extra detergent. Didn't pre-soak them, either.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 06, 2001

Answers

You can try adding vinegar in the washing machine. Or a couple of drops of real Lavendar essential oil (EO) in either the wash or spin cycle. Lavendar EO is also a disenfectant so it will help kill any germs and leaves a wonderful smell!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 06, 2001.

Maybe baking soda?

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 06, 2001.

Hot water, Vinegar, pre-rinsing, and hanging out in the sun. I have a 7 yr old bedwetter. Her mattress got soiled, unknowingly to me, well the whole room ended up smelling, we left the mattress out in the sun for 2 days, sprinkled baking soda in the carpet, left a day, then vacummed and placed a bowl of vinegar in her room for a day. It helped!

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), October 06, 2001.

Another thought for you, I know you are busy with many children, so washing more laundry is probably not your idea of a fun time!! Although I kind of like getting out my old wringer and hanging it on the line on a nice sunny day... Anyways, have you ever thought to use the Pull-up type underwear. I used them with one of my daughters who was a bed-wetter. On nights she didn't wet we would just use that one again the next night. They are fairly inexpensive now with generic brands available and it is probably cheaper than washing a whole bed of linens or buying a new mattress. I didn't make a big issue of it, just tried to limit drinking towards evening, and had her go before bed. She eventually outgrew the wetting before she was five. One nice thing about the pull-ups was that she was just more comfortable not waking up in a wet, cold bed. It gets chilly at night here when the fire dies down a little, also she wasn't embarrassed in front of everyone having to change sheets everyday. They were definitely worth the $4-5 a month I spent.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 06, 2001.

When I was giving all that advice earlier it was for those thick training pants or cloth diapers, we can't afford the pullups right now. I put a very heavy piece or plastic on top of the mattress pad, it is noisy, but I've gone thru those bought plastic sheets like crazy they're not worth the pkg they come in. If they sweat on the plastic, I put a very heavy towel under the sheet. I need some new plastic pants now, and trying to find some soft plastic to make my own.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), October 06, 2001.


If you can soak the things in even plain water, right away, that helps considerably-if you don't have time to wash. I use 20 mule team Borax you can get it at the grocery- Its in the Laundry section.it does a great job, and dosn't affect septic fields. Theres instructions on the box.

-- Kelly in KY (kasderholm@yahoo.com), October 07, 2001.

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm going to try the vinegar first, since I have that on hand. Carol, we have used "night underwear", but they are expensive here. I have been trying to decide which is worth more, my time or my money. Since winter is coming and I won't be using the clothesline so much, I have seriously considered going back to the disposable underwear. You're right; my son likes them much better than waking up wet and having a bath every morning.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 07, 2001.

Sorry, that was Melissa who mentioned pull-ups!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 07, 2001.

Not too sound like a commercial but febreeze does wonders. My daughter likes to walk around without a diaper and wets and poohs on the floor. febreeze takes the smell out.

-- melinda (speciallady@countrylife.net), October 09, 2001.

Another interesting way to cover urine smell, is to get a skunk to spray it, you'll have never know it smelled any other way.

-- jillian (sweetunes483@yahoo.com), October 10, 2001.


My dear, sweet Jillian, shall I deny knowing you and your family with your off-the-wall sense of humour? And yet I was the one who introduced you to this site!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 10, 2001.

This may sound weird, but are your children drinking enough water during the day? This will really cut down the smell. Urine should be mostly clear--if not, you are beginning to dehydrate, even though you do not feel thirsty. The more concentrated the urine, the worse it smells. Hope this helps.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 16, 2002.

Urine My Heart, Urine My Soul (Rod Stewart, 1976)

-- Pippi (pippipeabody@rant.com), June 15, 2002.

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