I have a 16 year old foster son and the walls in his room are stained with I want to assume is spit. Do I need to use anything special to clean the bodily fluids from the walls?
By hookemhorns from Austin, TX
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Depends. Does he have any illnesses or exposures that would be considered a pathogen? What type of surface are the walls? Painted? Paneling? At the very least, I would wear disposable non latex gloves and use at least vinegar water (vinegar is a natural disinfectant).
Number one, your foster son would be doing the cleaning. You aren't his maid. He is supposed to be learning from you, as well as being cared for.
A cleaner containing a little ammonia, like windex, or home made windex.
We used to use it to clean bird droppings off the front door of the store
where I worked. Ammonia is good for any body proteins, like dried egg on a plate, etc. Not full strength, just a capful or two in sudsy water or windex.
However many dish detergents say don't use with bleach, so I wouldn't use with ammonia either, unless you have real soap.
Given that he's a foster son, does he have more than usual problems? You might want to give him the solution, and gloves, and throw away all when done. Who knows what it is.
I say make him figure it out. And clean it up and apologize to you for being a pig! It is now your job to change him into and adult quickly any way you can.
Just want to suggest to you that it might not be "spit" that is on his wall.
A cleaning product used especially for body fluids should probably be used. Read labels, ask at the pharmacy, or ask your family doctor what should be used.
HE should do the cleaning. Make him wear gloves, and those clear safety-goggles. Make this a big deal! If he has to the clean walls, baseboards and floors in his room, wash the bed linens, remake his bed. It will make an impression on him.
And every time there is something on the walls. It will be time to clean again.
He might be using a "smokeless" tobacco product, and this is what he is spitting on the walls.
Just because he is a foster child doesn't allow him to do things that you wouldn't allow other family members to do. He should follow the rules that other family members follow. If you have not established any " Rules of the House," now is the time to do so. Kids complain about following rules, but rules are necessary in life.
Good luck with that! I would have him clean the walls, definitely! Non-latex gloves, safety glasses, lots of rags, and a bucket of lysol-spiked warm water... He grimed the walls, he washes the walls. Then, perhaps involve his in choosing a new color for the walls? If he helps paint, maybe he will be invested in keeping things nicer? A thought anyway.
I would also talk to your family doctor or the school counselor about this. It's not normal behavior (especially if this isn't from one episode) and they might have some insights for you. And everyone else - have some compassion. this might be this kid's 25th or 30th "home" in his life. I might be at the wallspitting stage myself if that were me!
The best cleaner for any body fluid is diluted bleach with water. Wear rubber gloves, and use old towels to wipe down the walls, then let them air dry.
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