This article explains how it is possible to use plastic sheets from hardware stores to protect the bed from incontinence for a person of any age. It works with children, adolescents, adults who have to recover from an operation or elderly people.
Steps
Step 1. Go to a hardware store such as Obi, Brico or Leroy Merlin and buy a roll of plastic sheets
They are sold in different thicknesses and sizes, black or clear. The most commonly used thickness is 6 mil, although 4, 3 and 2 mil thicknesses can be found. Some people complain about how traditional plastic mattress beams tend to break, and since hardware store plastic is very durable, it should last a long time. Plastic sheets are measured in thousandths of an inch, or "mil". The higher the mil value, the thicker and more durable the plastic will be. 6 mil plastic is the best choice for this purpose because when the person gets into bed and gets into position it will cause some wear to the plastic but as 6 mil is a very strong thickness it will last longer than thin plastic. The only disadvantage of using this material for the protection of the mattress is that it causes a creak when the person moves in the bed. However, creaking can be minimized by covering the plastic with mattress pads, as described below. The advantage of using 6 mil plastic is that, being thicker, it will last longer and less likely to wear out.
Step 2. Once you have the roll of plastic, you will need a utility knife or a pair of scissors to cut it
Step 3. When you cover the bed with plastic, place it directly on top of the mattress base
Cut the plastic so that it covers the mattress from top to bottom. Also make sure that it is long enough on the sides of the mattress and touches the floor, so that you can push it under the bed, thus preventing it from moving or coming out of its seat. Do not cover the corners of the mattress with the plastic sheet because, when you place the sheets and mattress protector on top of the plastic, they will be more likely to slip and come out of their seat.
Step 4. You will need to consider the size of the bed and cut the plastic to fit the mattress size
Step 5. After covering the mattress base, place a mattress pad on the plastic, then cover it with the bedspread
Run your hand over the bedspread to check how much noise the plastic makes. If you think that a single cushion is enough to make the child, adolescent or adult suffering from incontinence sleep without problems, you are done. Ask who will be using the bed if the creaking is excessive, and if so, place another cushion on top of the plastic to decrease the noise. Special bearings are sold for around € 20. There are two types of pads: waterproof and not. You can buy a waterproof cushion to add additional protection, but it is not necessary, since the plastic covering the base of the mattress will still be sufficient.
Step 6. In addition to using plastic as a crossbar, you can use it for various housework, as a cover for clothes when painting, to cover external materials such as firewood and mulch, for renovation projects and for many other things
Step 7. Check the plastic periodically to check for wear
While this type of plastic is very durable, it is still advisable to check it from time to time, just to be on the safe side. If you notice holes or tears, you have two options. You can use waterproof tape to cover the hole or tear, or you can replace the plastic with another piece. At the hardware stores mentioned above you shouldn't have a problem finding waterproof duct tape (or other types of tape) to use for this purpose. Make sure the tape is waterproof or, when the person wets the bed, the urine will pass through the plastic, ruining the mattress. This is another advantage of using a plastic roll: you can simply cut another sheet to cover the bed with, or you can always fix the plastic, while with a plastic crossbar you would have to buy another one, online or in a shop. Alternatively, you can cut several plastic sheets from the roll and alternate them. You can, for example, cut 4 sheets to use over the course of the month. At the end of the first week you can apply the second sheet, at the end of the second the third, etc. Rotating the sheets will reduce their overall wear.
Step 8. Place the plastic on the bed for some time and try to understand what the person who will use it thinks about it
If she can't get used to the new sensation, you can always buy vinyl sheets at a fabric store. This option is described in the next step.
Step 9. As mentioned earlier, another possibility for a homemade waterproof crossbar are the vinyl sheets that are sold in most DIY stores, usually available in different thicknesses
The vinyl can be clear or frosted. I have personally used a 3mm frosted vinyl sheet as a crossbar and, so far, it has worked flawlessly. This plastic will also creak, so you'll need to cover it to make it less noisy. Several online fabric stores sell vinyl sheets. They are also available on Amazon.
Step 10. Even if the bed will be covered in plastic, it is still advisable to get the affected person to sleep with a nappy, be it pant nappies, regular sanitary pads accompanied by plastic shorts, or larger ones that fasten with strips. adhesive
There are different types of adult diapers on the market: you can search online to examine the different types sold and try to figure out which is the most suitable for your family's needs.
If the person finds pant-type diapers too uncomfortable to wear in the hottest periods of the year, such as spring and summer, it is advisable to use normal disposable pads. The plastic of the bed is not designed to be the main form of protection, but must be considered as an additional protection in case the urine escapes the first protection, the diaper. If liquids leak out of the nappy, you will need to wash both the mattress cover and the protective pads. You will also need to rinse the plastic sheet and let it dry. To do this, use an ordinary clothesline
Advice
- It may be difficult to sleep if the topper slips out of place due to plastic. If it is a problem you can buy mattress straps and position them in order to keep it in place. It should keep him from slipping. These straps are also for sale on Amazon.
- Some people have had problems with classic sleepers, because they tended to wear out or tear. Plastic sheets are an excellent alternative to traditional sleepers. This type of coating is very durable and should last for a long time. Another advantage of buying a whole roll is the ability to cut different sizes of plastic. There are several benefits associated with this purchase: you can cut several plastic sheets to use to cover the mattress (when one sheet is to dry after being washed, you can always cover the bed using another) and, moreover, it is always useful have plastic sheets handy, because they can be useful for the various reasons described below.
- Some people use different types of waterproof sheets to protect the mattress: shower curtains, tablecloths, but also many other types of plastic. Vicki Lansky in her book "Practical Parenting Tips" explains how to use plastic trash bags by placing them under the bed and, in another book, tells how any type of plastic can be used as a crossbar.. Starting from this assumption, it is quite logical to also try the plastic sheets of hardware stores. In another book, it is also explained how this type of paper can protect people suffering from asthma from allergenic agents that could aggravate their conditions.
- In addition to serving to protect the mattress, this type of material can have several functions. It can be used to cover outdoor materials such as firewood, lumber, mulch, plants in winter and garden furniture; you can use it as a protective canvas for masonry work; it can be used as an anti-weed barrier to be placed under the mulch in a flower bed, but also to rake the leaves, as a protection when doing restoration work, as an insulating barrier and for many other purposes. From this point of view, even if by chance the person concerned finds the creaking of plastic annoying and wants to use another type of material, it would still not be necessary to throw away the plastic roll because it is possible to use it for many other reasons.
