How to Clean Bed Pans

A bedpan is essentially a portable toilet, typically used by bedridden people. It allows a person confined to a bed to urinate or have a bowel movement. Bedpans are usually made of metal, glass or hard plastic, and are available in a standard design or a design specially created for patients with fractures. Drug Information Online recommends washing and disinfecting bedpans after each use to keep them germ-free. Sanitizing a bedpan is quick and easy.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Liquid soap
• Bleach
• Toilet brush
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands.

2. Empty the contents of the bedpan into a toilet and flush.

3. Fill the bedpan with hot tap water and liquid soap. Take the toilet brush and scrub the bedpan, making sure any waste is removed. Empty the soapy water into the toilet.

4. Rinse the bedpan with hot water to remove any remaining soap.

5. Using the cap of the bottle of bleach, pour about five full caps of bleach into the bedpan. Fill the bedpan with hot water and use the toilet brush to mix around the bleach and water. Empty the water into the toilet.

6. Dry the bedpan with paper towels or set it down to air-dry.

7. Remove the rubber gloves and wash your hands with soap and water.

References

• Bedpan Care Guide
• Caregiving: Bedpans