Several toddlers wet their beds – it’s a natural part of growing up. However, their bed bears the brunt of these nocturnal adventures and must be kept clean to prevent infections and odors.
We present 4 tips to clean the bed after every accident:
#1 Blot the wet patch and clean it.
The moment the wetting happens, get your child out of bed and strip the bed of its bed linen. Use a cotton duster to blot the fluid as much as you can from the mattress. Use some plain water on the wet patch and add some baking soda to it. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes till the soda looks dry. Now vacuum off the baking soda. If there is a smell or stain, mix a solution of equal parts vinegar and plain water with one tablespoon of clothing detergent. Spray the solution on the stain and dab in a blotting motion with a cloth – do not rub or it will spread. Allow the patch to dry or use a hairdryer on it before making the bed again.
#2 Use a waterproof mattress protector.
The mattress often takes a beating when there are repeated incidents of bed wetting. The liquid seeps into the bedsheets and mattress. But while the bedsheets can be washed and the smell and stain completely removed, you cannot wash your mattress as easily. It needs a barrier from the fluid, and a waterproof mattress protector is just the thing the bed needs. The mattress protector is available in either a flat or fitted form. It has a fabric top layer so that the bed doesn’t overheat your child’s skin. Underneath this layer is a waterproof polyurethane layer that repels the liquid and prevents it from reaching the mattress. We suggest buying two of these so you will have a spare every time you need to wash the mattress protector. It doesn’t need washing with every accident, but once in two weeks is recommended.
#3 Wash the sheets at once.
Your child’s bed will most probably have kids’ bedsheets on it. They are easy to clean but they must be washed as soon as possible after bedwetting has occurred. Do strip the bed of all bed linen at once. Take the bedsheets off for a wash. Never allow the liquid to dry on the sheet and reuse it before washing – this will leave odors and stains behind, and it is unhygienic for your child, too. No special washing techniques are required for soiled bedsheets – the usual spin in the washing machine with your usual detergent will do. However, if you think there is a lingering smell, then wash the sheet using a vinegar and water (1:1) solution in the last cycle. Vinegar is great for removing smells and stains, and it offers a mild germicidal action, too.
#4 Have the mattress professionally cleaned every three months.
Since you cannot clean your mattress by yourself, apart from instantly blotting up any spills and hoping for the best, you must trust professionals to do the job for you. Hire a professional cleaning team that will do both surface and deep cleaning for the mattress. Insist on them using herbal products wherever possible since the mattress is used by your young child. The team uses wet vacuuming to remove fluids and other impurities that have seeped inside, apart from soaping and dry vacuuming the top to remove all traces of dust, dust mites and other surface impurities. Get the mattress cleaned once every three months to keep it clean and hygienic for years.
