Caring for a urinary catheter at home

Going home with a urinary catheter can feel daunting, but the care comes down to a few daily habits: clean hands, clean skin and tubing, a bag kept low, and plenty of water. This note walks through them and lists the signs that need a call.

Clean the skin once a day

Wash your hands. Gently clean the area where the catheter enters the body, and the upper legs and buttocks, with a warm soapy washcloth, once a day or more if needed.¹ For a woman, wipe front to back; for a man, from the tip downward.¹ Rinse, pat dry, and don’t use creams, powders or sprays near the catheter.¹

Clean the tubing twice a day

Wash the tubing with a soapy washcloth, starting at the end nearest the body and moving away. Never clean toward the body.¹ Dry it with a clean towel.¹

The bag

Keep the bag below the waist so urine flows away from the bladder.¹ Secure the tube to the inner thigh with a fastening device so it doesn’t pull.¹ Many people use a leg bag by day and a larger bag at night.¹ Keep the system connected as much as possible, and check for kinks if urine isn’t draining.¹

Drink enough

Drink plenty of water during the day to keep urine flowing.¹ Ask the provider whether showering is allowed.¹

When to call

Call for signs of infection: pain in the side or lower back, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, fever or chills, burning or pelvic pain, discharge where the catheter enters, or feeling unwell.¹ Call if the catheter seems blocked, urine leaks around it, the bag fills unusually fast, or there’s blood, grit or pain.¹

Help at home

A home health nurse can change catheters, teach the family how to care for one, and watch for infection.