| The most important thing about cleaning away | | | | to blot the area until it as dry as possible. |
| after potty accidents is that you don't see | | | | Don't rub as that will only destroy the |
| it as only your responsibility, involve your | | | | fibres and embed the stain deeper in the |
| child as much as possible. This way they | | | | pile. Once again use your spray bottle of |
| will be able to see for themselves the | | | | water to rinse the area and then blot again |
| consequences of their actions. This isn't | | | | to remove any remaining liquid. |
| about punishing them but rather showing them | | | | |
| how to take responsibility for themselves, | | | | A few drops of tea tree oil is not only a |
| which after all is the point of training them | | | | great antiseptic but is also a good way to |
| to use the potty. So don't just take care of | | | | mask any lingering odors. Alternatively if |
| the cleaning because it's faster and simpler | | | | you don't like the aroma of tea tree you can |
| if you do it, instead teach them what to do | | | | buy a commercial smell remover which will do |
| and let them play a part in fixing things. | | | | the same thing. |
| How much they will be able to do obviously | | | | |
| depends on how old they are so you will need | | | | Cleaning up after a bowel accident |
| to decide for yourself what you feel is an | | | | |
| appropriate task to give them. However, you | | | | On hard floors follow the same process as for |
| might be amazed at what they can take care of | | | | cleaning urine. However, you may want to use |
| themselves given the right support and | | | | toilet paper to scoop up the majority of the |
| encouragement. | | | | damage and flush it down the toilet. Then |
| | | | use towels for the clean up as per above. |
| The other benefit of getting your child | | | | |
| involved in cleaning is that they learn that | | | | On carpet it is a little more difficult. But |
| they need to be responsible for any mess they | | | | once again use toilet paper to take away most |
| make. For example, it is never to early to | | | | of it. If the bowel movement is loose or |
| start teaching boys to wipe up any spills if | | | | runny then you will need to clean it up as |
| they happen to miss the bowl! | | | | best you can by using paper towels to gently |
| | | | blot the area and then reach for the foam |
| Cleaning up urine | | | | carpet cleaner and follow the directions on |
| | | | the can. If you'd prefer not to use |
| The main thing is to get to it as soon as | | | | chemicals where your children are likely to |
| possible to avoid any accidents, particularly | | | | play then you can try sponging the area using |
| if it is on a hard floor. Use paper towels | | | | a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. |
| to clean the area (paper towels are better | | | | |
| than toilet paper because they don't fall | | | | Of course, there are many stain removing |
| apart dropping any unhygienic scraps in their | | | | products around that can help with toileting |
| wake). Then spray water over the area and | | | | accidents but its better to stick with water |
| wipe once more (you might like to keep a | | | | if you are including your child in the |
| water bottle with a nozzle somewhere handy | | | | process and then either you or another adult |
| just for this purpose). | | | | can follow up with something to remove the |
| | | | odor. |
| If damage is on carpet, then use paper towels | | | | |