A small amount of water, and ideally a deodoriser or a commode liner, is what goes in a bedside commode bucket before use. This simple step controls odour, reduces splash, and makes cleaning after use much easier, for you and for anyone helping with care.
Here is everything you need to know about preparing a commode bucket the right way.
In this article
- Why adding something to the bucket actually matters
- Your three best options
- What NOT to put in a commode bucket
Why adding something to the bucket actually matters
A dry, empty bucket might seem like the logical starting point, but it actually makes odour and mess harder to manage. Taking 30 seconds to prepare the bucket before first use pays off every single time it is used after that.
Odour control from the first use
When waste lands in a dry bucket, odour spreads into the room immediately. Even a shallow layer of water acts as a seal, trapping odour beneath the surface. Add a deodoriser drop and that barrier becomes much more effective. For anyone with a sensitive sense of smell, or for shared living spaces, this small step makes a real difference to comfort and dignity.
Splash reduction and easier cleaning
A cushion of water at the bottom of the bucket softens the impact when the bucket is used. This reduces splash, which protects the user and keeps the bucket itself cleaner. When it comes time to empty and rinse the bucket, waste that has been sitting in water rinses away far more easily than waste that has dried onto a hard plastic surface.
Your three best options
Every situation is a little different, so it helps to know your options. Here are the three approaches that work best, in order from simplest to most thorough.
Option 1: a small amount of water (simplest)
Pour around 5 cm of water into the bucket before use. That is enough to create the odour-trapping layer without making the bucket heavy or difficult to empty. This is the no-fuss baseline that most people start with, and for many households it is all that is needed.
Option 2: water with a deodoriser or disinfectant
For a stronger result, add a commode deodoriser tablet or a few drops of a TGA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant to the water. Enzymatic deodoriser tablets are designed specifically for this purpose and are gentle on the bucket. A hospital-grade disinfectant registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will also neutralise bacteria and odour effectively. Check the label to confirm it is suitable for use with bodily waste before adding.
A few drops of essential oil (lavender or eucalyptus work well) can serve as a simple odour mask in warmer weather.
Option 3: a commode liner with a gel sachet (cleanest)
Disposable commode liners are single-use bags that sit inside the bucket and collect waste directly. Most come with a gel sachet that solidifies liquid waste on contact, making the whole package easy and hygienic to dispose of in a regular bin. This is the cleanest option available because the bucket itself never comes into contact with waste at all. It also removes the need to empty and rinse the bucket after each use, which is a significant benefit for carers and for anyone living alone.
Liners are available to fit most standard commode buckets. Look for liners rated for at least 500 ml capacity with a puncture-resistant base.
What NOT to put in a commode bucket
Knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to add. A couple of common mistakes can turn a simple hygiene step into a hazard.
Avoid full-strength bleach
Never pour full-strength bleach into the commode bucket before use. When bleach mixes with urine, it can release chlorine gas, which is harmful to breathe and particularly dangerous in a small, enclosed room. Bleach also risks splashing onto the user's skin during use, causing irritation. If you want to disinfect the bucket between uses, use a TGA-registered disinfectant applied after the bucket has been emptied and rinsed, not while it is in use.
Avoid overfilling
More water is not better here. If the bucket is too full before use, it becomes heavy when you carry it to empty, and the risk of spills increases significantly. Stick to around 5 cm of water. If you are using a liner with a gel sachet, you do not need to add water at all.
Key takeaways
- Add about 5 cm of water to a commode bucket before use to control odour and make cleaning easier.
- A deodoriser tablet or a few drops of TGA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant in the water lifts hygiene further.
- Disposable commode liners with gel sachets are the most hygienic option and remove the need to rinse the bucket after each use.
- Never add full-strength bleach to a bucket that is in use: it can react with urine and release harmful gas.
- Keep the water level to about 5 cm so the bucket stays easy to carry and empty.
A little preparation before first use goes a long way toward making a bedside commode more comfortable and dignified for whoever is using it. Whether you choose plain water, a deodoriser tablet, or a disposable liner comes down to your situation and how much cleaning you want to manage between uses. All three options work well when applied correctly.
If you are setting up a bedside commode for the first time, our bedside commodes collection includes a range of models suited to home care and aged care environments, and our team is happy to help you find the right fit.