My almost two-year-old and I have spent a lot of time in the bathroom these past few months... It’s potty training time! Over the past six months, my toddler has gone from showing zero interest in using the toilet to now letting me know, it’s time to go! It’s been an adventure, that’s for sure. Inevitably, with potty training comes accidents and messes on a daily basis. If you don’t have a solid cleanup method down, these accidents can seriously try your patience and can also put a damper on your child’s potty training progress. Not one part of my house (or my car, for that matter) has come through our potty training endeavor unscathed. My daughter has peed on our gorgeous living room rug, the sofa, my bed, my white sheets, all over the bathroom floor, the backseat of my car, her car seat, her mattress... you get the gist. I know with time it will get better, but in the meantime, I’m proud to say that even with all of these accidents, the house doesn’t reek of toddler pee. While I can’t give you a magical spell to make potty training happen instantly, use my suggestions to keep your home clean, even when your kid has twelve potty training accidents a day. Here’s how I get it done:
Pee Stains on Linens
It’s no secret that potty training inevitably leads to more laundry. Accidents happen! Remember those white sheets I mentioned before? They’ve been peed on at least four times at this point. By now, I’ve got the cleanup routine down: As soon as an accident on the bed happens, I grab paper towels to soak up the urine, then I quickly peel off the sheets and mattress protector, and get them into the washer. Along with my regular laundry detergent, I use Vital Oxide to disinfect and remove discoloration from my linens. I set my washer on the hottest setting and add 1⁄2 to 1 cup of Vital Oxide (depending on the size of the load). Vital Oxide kills 99.999% of bacteria, and is also a powerhouse stain remover and odor eliminator. Unlike bleach, Vital Oxide will not discolor fabric, nor will it leave behind any kind of bleach odor; Vital Oxide’s powerful formula is fragrance-free. As well as being effective against urine stains and odors, Vital Oxide works wonders against poo stains.
Soiled Car Seat & Car Upholstery
When it comes to car seats, there are safety protocols to follow. Always be sure to follow the instructions for your car seat model. If you aren’t sure, call the hotline for your particular car seat brand. Generally, best practices would be to avoid putting the material from a car seat into the washing machine. So, how are you supposed to clean up after your potty training kiddo when a mess happens in the car seat? Here’s what I do: Rather than removing the fabric from the car seat (which can be dangerous), I spot clean the soiled area with warm water and paper towels (or baby wipes if I’m on the go!), spray the area liberally with Vital Oxide, and let it air dry. It’s a simple process and it’s effective. Vital Oxide is safe to use around kids, and gives an extra cleaning boost – eradicating stubborn stains and that yucky peed-on stench that can otherwise linger. I’ve kept a travel-sized bottle of Vital Oxide in the diaper bag since my daughter was born, to disinfect on the go, and it’s definitely come in handy during this messy phase.The method for cleaning up messes out of car upholstery is just about the same as cleaning up the car seat fabric. Simply spot clean the area with warm water and paper towels, spray liberally with Vital Oxide, and let it air dry. It couldn’t be easier!
Urine Smell Around the Toilet
While the toilet may be quite large compared to my tiny tot, she somehow manages to pee all over it and even all around it. Can you say catastro-pee?! Luckily, I’ve learned that I don’t have to deal with a smelly toilet while my toddler learns to use the potty like a big kid. My new daily bathroom cleaning ritual goes a little like this: I wipe down the toilet (including the seat and around the base) with wet paper towels to remove any urine residue, and spray the whole toilet and area around it with Vital Oxide and let it air dry. That’s it! I’ve also started mopping the floors with diluted Vital Oxide to keep the germ load down and to eradicate funky odors.
Potty Training Messes on Rugs & Furniture
When my husband and I first moved into our current home, I spent a little bit too much money on our living room rug. While it’s not anything like The Dude’s Persian rug in The Big Lebowski, our rug really ties the room together. It’s really held up well for the past two-and-a-half years. And then, there was the big incident a few weeks ago. She was fresh out of the bath, and my husband was chasing after her with a towel, and she ran into the living room and peed all over the middle of the rug. Thank goodness for Vital Oxide, otherwise I would’ve had to go ask Mr. Lebowski for a new rug. Only kidding! Jokes aside, Vital Oxide is my go-to for any accident on rugs and furniture. Simply blot up the mess with paper towels and then saturate the area with Vital Oxide and let it dry. You can use a fan to speed up the process if necessary. As well as urine, Vital Oxide destroys odors and stains left behind by feces and vomit.
Final Thoughts
Potty training can take a while, and accidents happen! Remember that it’s all a part of the process. Children are still learning, and they have accidents – especially when the urge comes on suddenly. While potty training can be frustrating for parents, having an easy and effective way to clean up accidents will make the process so much smoother for everyone. Think of it as an adventure! Remember to keep it positive and stay supportive as your little one takes this big stride towards independence.
