What's a good way to clean a leg bag?

Men's health
1

I want to hear some good ways to clean a leg bag? ****

2

Hi Mark
I used to put some antibacterial handwash into the bag and shake it and rinse.
I then learnt that you can put a valve cut from an old bag onto the catheter and do away with the bag altogether. Just have to open up the valve into a toilet about 5 times a day PROVIDED you are physically able to do that.
I now use intermittant catheterisation which has solved all my problems. I use it 4 or 5 times a day and only up once at night.
Good luck
GREG

3

Re what Greg said, you can also get Flip-flo valves from Bard - which are the same thing. As he makes clear, you must be physically capable of opening and closing them (they can be very stiff) and also mentally capable of remembering to use it. I guess this is why they’re not offered routinely (in the UK at least).
If you’re up to cleaning out leg bags you probably are capable! I assume your leg bags have got a valve attached otherwise they’d be a nightmare to clean out - or is this your problem? A friend of mine washed out her husband’s leg bags by rinsing through with mild bleach as soon as she’d emptied them and hanging in the shower to drip-dry (very decorative!).
I suggest you clean them very often as you don’t want bugs from the bag (they’ll grow in there) to make their way back to you.
How long do you keep your catheter in for? Do you do regular washouts? The bugs will form colonies around the catheter tip so washouts help to keep it open (thus preventing blockages). Do you take plenty of Vit C to help you and your urine fight off bugs? Also, do you take cranberry juice to help prevent the bugs from sticking to the bladder wall?