If you are a parent of a baby—or anyone who regularly takes care of a baby—sooner or later you’re bound to have it happen: the baby poops in the bathtub. Knowing how to clean the tub the right way is important for your baby’s health—and yours. Beyond its innate “ick” factor, feces—even from your little darling—carries pathogens that can lead to health problems like diarrhea, vomiting, or eye infections like pinkeye.

Seven Simple Clean Up Steps

Remain calm. This is a common, natural occurrence that sometimes happens as babies or young children relax in a soothing tub of warm water. Although being in the midst of a “Code Baby Ruth” can be distressing to even the most experienced parent, cleaning the bathtub after a rogue pooping incident is not difficult. Follow these steps to get the tub sparkling clean again.

1. Remove the child from the tub water. Give him/her a quick rinse under the shower or faucet, and thoroughly wash the child’s hands (and anything else that may end up in baby’s mouth) with soap and clean water. Wrap him or her in a comfy towel and place the child in a safe place, like a crib. If you are lucky enough to have a helper nearby, call for back-up!
2. Go fishing. If you have disposable gloves, this may be a good time to use them! Remove any solids from the water and flush them down the toilet.
3. Drain the bathtub and give it a quick rinse with clean, hot water.
4. Lather up. Apply your bathroom cleaner of choice to the inside of the tub and wipe it down with a sponge or cloth. There’s no need to scrub incessantly; just make sure that the cleaner is evenly distributed.
5. Rinse the tub well with clean water and allow it to air dry.
6. If the bowel movement was thin or watery in consistency, germs are more likely to be widespread. Use a disinfectant cleaner or a bleach and water solution (a cup of bleach to one gallon of water) as a final step. Spray or wipe on the disinfectant, let sit for five minutes, rinse, and allow tub to air dry.
7. Be sure to wash and disinfect any toys that were in the tub at the time of the incident before the next bathing session.

What if it Clogs the Drain?

When baby poops in bathtub, how to clean is only one concern. While your toilet is made to handle poop disposal, your bathtub drain is not. If solid or clumpy matter accidentally goes down the drain, it may cause a blockage. If this happens, hiring a plumber is the best solution. Home remedies are unlikely to be effective and certain ones—plunging for example—may end up spreading more nasty germs around your bathroom.

Mr. Rooter^® Plumbing Can Help with Bathtub Emergencies

Call (855) 591-0128 or reach out online to get help from the friendly professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. We offer upfront, flat rate pricing and prompt, courteous service to help you keep your drains clear and your faucets drip-free.