Potty-training is a bitter-sweet process of life. It increases moms’ stress-levels and bribery skills (Boo!) although it is also a celebration of the money saved from buying less diapers. It also means the first step towards your little one achieving independence and control over their bodily functions.  Hooray! 

Every learning process has its failures, and that’s actually the only way little children learn. They need to know what it feels like to be unpleasantly soggy and squishy in their undies if they are going to learn to appreciate what it feels like to be pleasantly comfortable and dry.

Although the process of potty-training is fraught with these occasional to frequent accidents, I just really try not to have any accident land up happening either on the carpet or couch.

Unfortunately, they do somehow land up on carpets and couches. It just happens.

I am going to share with you a fantastically easy and effective cleaning method to soak up all the bad stuff and neutralize the odour. And the key ingredients are most probably in your kitchen cupboard!

I have used this method on expensive carpets, couches, car seats – you name it!

The Super Easy Way to Clean Potty-Training Accidents:

1. Soak up as much of the accident as possible with an old towel by applying a lot of your weight onto the towel. If it is soiled, carefully pick up as much as you can with a wet wipe and dispose of it.
2.  Wipe the general area with a wet-wipe to capture any remnants. Dependent upon the severity of the accident and how long it was left on the area, I would also suggest scrubbing with some water and washing machine soap and then soaking it up with a towel until the mark is gone. (If it’s a minor accident, I skip this step!)
3. Now, generously sprinkle bicarbonate of soda and table salt over the area and leave it to draw all the moisture and odours out of the fabric.
4. If possible, get some exposure to sunlight. If it’s a couch, move outside in the hot sun or close to a window in the sun rays for a couple of hours or even the whole day. If the accident is bad, it may need some extra sun power. (If it’s a minor accident, I skip this step!)
5. Leave the salt and bicarb on the area for 24 hours.
6. Once 24 hours are up, vacuum up the salt and bicarb and also do a smell-test.
7. If there is still any dampness or odour, repeat steps 3 to 6.

On one occasion, there was a pretty heavy accident made on a brand new mattress. It even got through the mattress protector. I was so distraught and thought the mattress would never be the same again. Thankfully, I discovered bicarb and salt and it made it smell brand new!

I have used this method on expensive carpets, couches, car seats – you name it. I actually just had a potty-training accident this past week and it’s worked so brilliantly I just had to share it. Hope this method may help you too!

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My thoughts are with all you mommies out there potty-training at this time…

Remember that you mean the world to your child. Remember to be patient. Remember that this too shall pass. And remember, because you just keep trying, you are a wonderful mother.