Best Practices for Using Odor Eliminator Drops

How do you use the odor eliminator drops? Can you squirt the drops in the bag after you empty it every time or just once when you put a new bag on?

Hi AL77.  I put the odor eliminator drops in my colostomy pouch when I first put it on and usually after emptying it.  Works for me.

I love the M9 drops by Hollister. I use them when I'm out, about a squirt each time I empty.

You can also put in a couple of drops of liquid antibacterial dish soap followed by some water and actually wash your bag, even sealing it up and laying it down to clean the bag near the top.

If you get a pancaking issue, you can do the same, gently massaging the area and letting the soapy water do its thing.

Odor is caused by the bacterial digestive enzymes from your intestines producing gas and odor as a byproduct.

Kill the bacteria and you kill the gas and odor.

Even leave a drop afterwards with a little water to mix with future output so it doesn't smell the next time you dump.

Unfortunately, these odor control products don't wash your bag; they only make contents slide to the bottom better and reduce the odor. Antibacterial dish soap does all three and is cheaper as well.

I keep a bottle in the shower to sanitize and clean the stoma area, another bottle near the toilet, and one near the bathroom sink. This way, I'm always killing that bacteria.

 

I went to an ostomy support group at a local hospital near where I live. They gave out free product samples. I got a bottle of Convatev lubricating deodorant. It smells good, very clean scent. I’ll try it on my next bag change.

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I started with the Hollister one until my supplier had issues keeping it in stock. I tried the Coloplast Brava lubricating deodorant and fell in love with the smell.

The Hollister ones were in packets, so I use that portion size when squirting it from the Brava bottle into the pouch. Oddly, I only put it in once while using my open-end pouch. I guess it's a habit from when I used a closed pouch.

Oh yea, good thing about antibacterial dish soap is you'll likely never run out of the stuff as you can get it locally and even bulk up so you'll have plenty on hand.

Problem solved. 😊 

I do it when I put on a new bag, but the only reason I only do it then is because I get a limited amount each month and would run out very quickly if I did it every time I emptied. I would love to be able to do it every time though. I don't have too much of an odor issue though as I have a ileostomy and often have liquid output which has no or little odor. 

Oh, one more thing.

Only two drops of the antibacterial dish soap when washing, any more begins to irritate the stoma. Followed by a couple (or more if needed) fresh water rinses. I keep a couple of water bottles next to the toilet.

Interesting topic.

My 2 cents worth for us ileos is that depending on how fast you are dumping... hourly specifically, you are wasting your time trying to keep the bag clean. Perhaps a good cleaning before bedtime or first thing in the morning would ease your mind?

Bottom line is doing a cleaning is a waste of time since output is constant. At least for me. That's my take.

The m9 is used when I am going out and I keep the little bottle in my pocket since I'd likely be at someone's house or a restaurant loo eventually.

Using it daily will control odor. And be expensive unless you are using some hacks mentioned above. Good hacks too.

Whatever helps.

It's really your nose. Your feeling. No one smells your bag, but you. And of course, until you empty it wherever that location is.

Your partial hanging out intestine (stoma) is used to

a bacterial environment. It gets over it. So what?

I would love to rinse out my bag when emptying it, but I tried that once in the very beginning and it leaked. My nurse told me that the warm water likely melted through the barrier ring and caused some adhesive to loosen. Does this ever happen to you? My leak may have started before I put the water in and didn't know it, or it could just be that the appliance was close to needing to be changed.

I change my two bags together every other day, but if I'm out more frequently, then daily with a colostomy but not a urostomy! I have been 3 days with both if low output.

I rinse my colostomy every time I drain it and fill a two-liter bottle with lukewarm water, not too hot, and fill it up until nearly full. I roll back the drain pouch a couple of times and whoosh the water up and down and round and round, and drain, then do it 3/4 times until the backwash drain water is clean.

Another big game changer is to use Coloplast XL Brava tape extenders, which are wide horseshoe-shaped extra support for your flanges. I use two either side from 6 o'clock center back on either side to stop leaks.

Put extenders on your bag first, lay it sticky side up, warm up your skin first with a hair dryer, then run it around your bag and skin again, and it will stick like "shit to a hot blanket." Also, spray skin with Soberderm after cleaning the stoma for better adhesion and to protect your skin from chafing and infections.

Go well and stay well 😊

Need to try this.

I normally never use anti-bac anything. Hate the smell.

I rinse my bag/pouch multiple times a day with cool water. My barrier ring does absorb, but I have so many supplies I don't worry about changing everything out every 2 - 3 days. Sweat equates to the breakdown of a barrier ring as well. I love it when everything is clean.

Hollister, "Adapt," lubricating/deodorant.

I use it with every change, every rinse. It's the best stuff I have found, although it kind of smells like plastic. Better than poo!

 

Never tried side up!

Always used them sticky side on skin. Don't really use them much, only when I am worried about a breach while out.

I try and eliminate as much adhesive next to my skin as possible. All these products make me itch.

We use it every time we empty my husband's bag.

First used Hollister & M-9. It worked well. Switched to Covatec & M-9; leaks out of their seal. Green crap stains. Switched to the lubricating gel. It's thick & clear. Stays in the bag & no stains. Poop slides out faster.

I find that the water "discovers" the leak in advance.  The stool, being thicker will wait till you are asleep and then pop!  I like the idea of antibacterial soaps.  Just a drop or two.