It’s common for people with Alzheimer’s disease to experience bladder-control challenges. They may forget how to respond to the urge to urinate, not recognize or locate the nearest bathroom, refuse to use the toilet, or have an additional health condition that contributes to accidents, like a urinary tract infection (UTI) or Parkinson’s disease.

Disposable diapers and pads help to absorb most of the urine, but leaks do happen. Urine-soaked clothing and bedding can have a strong, unpleasant, and irritating ammonia odor that’s difficult to remove with regular detergent.

Everyone deserves to live in a fresh, clean environment. We’ll help you find the best laundry detergent for removing urine smells, so you and your loved one can feel more comfortable and breathe a little easier.

Start With White Vinegar and Baking Soda

White vinegar and baking soda are popular odor eliminators among myALZteam members:

• “I use white vinegar with all of my laundry!”
• “I use baking soda in the washing machine.”
• “I agree, white vinegar in the rinse kills the odour.”
• “White vinegar is the best to use. … I put at least 1 cup vinegar in with Arm & Hammer odor detergent.”
• “I have found that baking soda or white vinegar in the wash cycle really helps cut that pee smell.”
• “I know soaking clothes in about 1 cup vinegar to a gallon of water overnight then washing as usual will help with the odor.”
• “For the bed, spray with vinegar diluted with water.”

Fresh urine is typically acidic, but it becomes alkaline as it dries. Alkaline substances neutralize when combined with acids (and vice versa). White vinegar works better on dried urine stains because it’s acidic, and baking soda works better on fresh stains because it’s alkaline.

One myALZteam member’s approach aims to cover all possibilities: “Try washing it through once with one cup of vinegar. When the washer​ has stopped, toss in a half cup of baking soda.”

Look for Enzyme Cleaners

Enzyme-based cleaners — also called enzymatic cleaners — contain natural proteins to break down stains and odors at the source. Different enzymes target different types of waste. For example, an enzyme called urease breaks down some of the strong-smelling compounds in urine. Protease tackles a broader range of bodily fluids, including urine, blood, and feces.

Several myALZteam members have found success using Persil laundry detergent, which contains multiple enzymes that target a variety of stains, including those from urine.

• “I used to pre-treat with an Oxy product, but recently I started just throwing the soiled linens in the laundry to see what happens. I was pleased to see that they came out perfectly, even the white. I use Persil laundry detergent.”
• “Persil laundry detergent is excellent.”
• “I use Persil laundry detergent along with Clorox for colors. I use one capful of each together in one laundry load. It works wonderful!”

Add Some Fabric Softener

Some myALZteam members swear by fabric softener (also called conditioner) for removing urine smells:

• “I do her washing properly using detergent and conditioner and it smells so fresh and clean. I would suggest removing the smell of urine by doing a hot wash with conditioner.”
• “I do a wash without fabric conditioner, then an extra rinse with conditioner. That seems to help.”
• “I also use the Downy fabric softener with the yellow lid. It works!”

Fabric softener works by hiding the odor rather than dissolving the urine, so consider using it in combination with vinegar, baking soda, or an enzyme detergent for best results.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with Alzheimer’s.

Have you found an effective way to eliminate urine odors from laundry? What cleaning products and techniques work best for you? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.