laundry advice

Becles

Do you rinse the stuff first or just put it in the machine?

With soiled baby clothes, I found giving them a good rinse in the sink by hand to get the thick of the soiling or urine out made them come clean first time and there were no smells in the machine. I don't know if that will help with the smells you have or not, but it's worth a try.

It's not a pleasant job I know and I wouldn't like to have to do it either.

Hope she feels better soon.

hardpressed

I'm surprised the hospital aren't providing her with their own nightdresses which can then go to their own laundry. They shouldn't be expecting you to take home and wash badly soiled clothing.especially if she has urine infections.

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

If I was in your situation I would be asking the hospital why she isn't padded. It must be terribly uncomfortable for your gran to be wet. If she has a water infection then she wont be able to hold it for very long and maybe this is the problem. It seems cruel that your Gran is living like this in ahospital of all places. She doesn't have to be classed as incontinent to be padded in these circumstances, poor lady. You have the right to request a meeting with the ward staff about her progress which you can air your concerns at, they will also keep you informed as to the progress of the infection this way and what they are doing to help her get better.

Geenie

As an ex nurse of the SRN variety, I am appalled that your Nan is getting into this state in the first place! As already stated, she should be getting pads and inco sheets to help with incontinence. Her urine and stools will be particularly strong and pungent if she is not drinking enough with an infection, and this is down to the nursing staff to ensure she is doing so at regular intervals and helped if necessary! As to her dignity constantly in this state....

Elderly patients become confused and forgetful when dealing with infections, and it is the nurses that have to make sure they have regular intakes of fluids. Medication, which I assume she is on adds even more to the problem and their confusion, so it is the duty of the staff to help her drink. Are they doing this? Check if she has a fluid chart and they are actually fulfilling what her intake should be!

Your poor Nan, and what a wonderful grandchild you are for dealing with this. I would suggest soaking in a large bowl first with some strong biological stuff and very hot water, chuck the fluid down the toilet and then put the clothes in your washing machine on the hottest cycle.


Best of luck to you and your Nan, and don't be afraid to ask questions and complain at the hospital if you feel it necessary.

kj*daisy

LAvender oil helped with the smell when I was washing nappies - it sorts of neutralises it.

minimoneysaver

I would suggest asking around on here and find out who to make a complaint to. I am very sure that someone on here will help you to put a letter together to send to the hospital.
I hope that you nan gets better soon. Congratulations to you for being such a kind, caring person.

LondonDiva

Contact the ward sister and then PALS if you are still unclear / unhappy.

It sounds as though she hasn't had a continence assessment and that this needs to be implemented asap. once the assessment has been carried out, they will also need to make sure that she's changed regularly.

LilMissEmmylou

soda crystals can help if you chuck them in with your wash. Also if your washing is starting to get a bit stinky - worth having a bash at cleaning out the filter and doing a service wash

Savvy_Sue

I absolutely agree that things shouldn't be getting into this state to begin with. Definitely take LondonDiva's advice: if the ward sister doesn't get this problem sorted then PALS is the Patient Advice and Liaison Service - you might see their details up around the hospital, if not phone and ask the switchboard to put your through. Every hospital must have one! And they allow you to try and get something 'sorted' so that things can be improved, especially for future patients, without making a formal complaint. Not that I would rule THAT out!

As for the actual problem, you've already had quite a lot of useful advice, but now

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Hawthorn

I used to work in a care home, and this was a common problem. I agree, she needs some form of incontinence pad. This will take a lot of work out of it, for sure.
In the interim, you need to sluice. Rubber gloves, wooden scrubbing brush and hot water. Use a bucket kept for this purpose, and empty the contents down the lavatory. It helps if you have a shower attachment too.
Soak then, in hot bleachy water, before washing in Bio powder (rinse first)
The bleach will kill the elastic in the pants eventually, but you shouldn't have a pongy washer - this was never an issue at the care home.
Make sure to clean/disinfect the brush after each use.
If you have coloured items, same procedure but with disinfectant rather than bleach.
Hope this helps