My mom is incontinent and lives in a senior residence/independent living situation. We are getting constant complaints from the facility that people can smell urine in the hallway. We have tried everything to deal with this... a metal trashcan to hold the soiled diapers, taking the trash out every day, thick garbage bags, washing clothes every day, The problem is that I can't smell it because I'm used to it, so I don't know if anything I'm trying is working. And I can't figure out where it comes from. Any suggestions for solving a problem you can't smell??
Dad has an outside hallway trash chute which is easy for him to get to, and we are trying for him to take that plastic bag immediately to the chute. I have cats, so I know how used cat litter can smell sitting the garage waiting for the next trash pickup.
I think the only way for my Dad [or your Mom] to change their thinking is if we mention that during the social hours or dinning, that other won't want to be sitting near them. If one can smell the odor in the hall, then the other residents can also smell the odor on Dad [or your Mom] if for a fact it is coming from their apartment.
I found 20-Mule Team Borox added to the wash really helps :) I got that suggestion from others here on this forum. Thanks all.
I would think the facility would e responsible for maintaining --cleaning public areas
We use plain vinegar to clean and deodorizer and while wet baking soda cures smell
The biggest problem is her ability to take the garbage out. Where she is now, they pick up garbage from outside the door three nights a week. Other than that, there is no dumpster, garbage room, garbage chute or something else that is accessible to residents or visitors. Only employees can access the dumpster. I've been told that other people deal with this by hiring daily caregivers from their agency that take out the garbage as part of their work. We have a private caregiver. Plus, no matter how well sealed, a garbage bag containing 2-3 days worth of depends is going to smell while it sits in the hallway.
Personally, I think this is insane! Has anyone else run into such a thing?
Humid days are THE worse, or when our elders decide 82 degrees is perfect for the thermostat. I will need to buy several cans of Lysol spray and soak the powder room rug in my parents house [it's now vacant] due to what smells like many a mishap had happened. Why on earth the builder put wall-to-wall rug in the powder room is beyond imagination. I plan to sell the house "as is" but I want the buyers to at least get past the front door.