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JLynn01 Asked August 2023

Does anyone else have experience with reusable incontinence products aka cloth diapers?

After the good affordable brand that fit my husband stopped making small size we tried several other disposable diapers and all that breathable hype just meant urine soaked thru everything. My husband won't say anything until it's a puddle situation so it was throw everything out every change. And that got really expensive so we've been experimenting with washable snap diapers with inserts and folded flat baby diapers for extra boost. He says they're more comfortable and I'm happy to not be throwing out tons of cash every month. Given his small size it helps a lot having adjustable snaps that hold everything together in front much better. With disposable products all the tabs would be in center at his belly button and more than once he had front of diaper just come undone. Of course it was expensive to build up a bit of a stash so I'm not running mini laundry loads all the time. Now we've got enough that used dry diapers smell a bit before laundry day.


 


Just wondering if anyone else has tried this route? Lots of information online about doing this for babies, not so much with adults that obviously have larger everything which bulks up the entire ordeal.

Llamalover47 Sep 2023
JLynn01: My mother, a urine incontinent woman, used underpants with a sewn in pad, which really were ineffective.
JLynn01 Sep 2023
I'm not surprised. We're using ones that have snap waterproof covers and adding flat baby diapers around microfiber cleaning cloths for a booster pad. If it wasn't for the diy booster and waterproof layer I don't think it would work for someone using it to catch everything. For some reason diaper cloth around microfiber helps liquids to not squish out when he rolls around. Sometimes if I'm lucky we've only got to change booster layer and waterproof cover gets used a bit longer.
KPWCSC Sep 2023
As far as washable bed pads, Fusion is the best brand I’ve ever found. Be sure to watch the videos. My husband and I both like these better than the quilted and definitely better than disposable pads.

https://www.mipinc.com/products/categories/underpads/patient-care-underpads/fusion®-underpads.html?classid=75

As far as disposable briefs, Tranquility brand is the best I’ve ever found and you can even order samples to see how they fit. We use the overnight pull-ups 24/7 along with the fusion bed pad at night and I rarely need to wash more than the pad. He does sleep on his back and at least when he is asleep he rarely changes position. I’ve also used the “booster pads” inside his pull-up.

https://tranquilityproducts.com/product-search/

Depending on where you live, if you haven’t already, you may want to keep a disposable supply in hand for emergencies. We are in the hurricane season right now and if we lose power they would come in handy.

I use a washable “pet protector cover” for our LR sofa and chair to protect our furniture and then use a plaid waterproof pad on top of that on his chair.

I too am interested in how others have found effective types and ways to use washable incontinence supplies.
JLynn01 Sep 2023
I've still got the leftovers of various things we've used. I was thinking more of if we both got the stomach flu again. That was an intense few hours of lots of changes.

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Animallovers Sep 2023
Thank you for sharing your method! My mother is still at the absorbent washable underwear along with a disposable pad and she has objected to more. Her caretakers do end up doing laundry daily and I have also stocked up on enough for her to go through 3-4 a day. (Thank you for reminding me that I need to order more…)
We also use the washable pads on chairs and bed and even have a bag of supplies for going places like restaurants which includes a change of both underwear and pants as well as pads for the seat. We have a lot of smelly laundry as well! I have found some sprays that can be applied to reduce or eliminate the odor when needed. There are products out there for human urine which seem to work well and we also use on the couches when she manages to sit without the pads at home. I have also resorted to the pet urine sprays which can also work. If you can manage the smell more intense but not constant you can also seal the wet items in a container that seal well, I use a trash bag that I can tie shut when my mother is in a hotel. (Yes, we have a more expansive bag for hotel stays including the bed pads so even a weekend away multiplies the load)
I hope my mother is as open to upgrading to diapers someday as your husband!

cxmoody Sep 2023
Maybe try baking soda in the diaper pail, instead of vinegar?


Also, a pre-rinse before the regular washing cycle? Then, the diapers aren't being washed along with so much urine.

againx100 Aug 2023
Maybe just do the wash sooner rather than later

cxmoody Aug 2023
I am a bit of a cloth diaper for babies evangelist. My daughter was just our next generation to use them.

She used Bum Genius. Lots of info there.

They have adult cloth diapers for small adults.

https://www.bumgenius.com/collections/big-bigger
JLynn01 Aug 2023
Know anything that helps with smelling between washing? I'm also assuming that it not being summer with temps over 100° will help eventually. I've been soaking with a lil vinegar, rinse then hang dry outside where I have a huge dry tote until I've got enough for a load.

I'm stepping up on rinsing after having headaches last week. I think it's partly his liver failure sometimes urine smell is really not good because of his system not working right and we're in a bad stretch. I'll check out the link.

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