How to Clean a Stoma and an Ostomy Bag: A Gentle Step-by-Step Guide

What you need to clean a stoma

Cleaning a stoma is gentler and simpler than most people expect. You are not disinfecting a wound; you are washing the lining of your bowel, which heals itself and only needs warm water.

Gather everything before you take the old pouch off, so you never have to go looking with the stoma uncovered. Tick things off as you lay them out:

• Warm water, in a small bowl or from the tap
• Soft, lint-free dry wipes, non-woven gauze or plain paper towels
• A small towel and a disposal bag
• Adhesive remover spray or wipes, if you use them
• Measuring guide, scissors and your new pouch or barrier
• Seal ring, stoma powder or barrier wipes, only if your nurse recommended them
• A mirror, if your stoma is hard to see

How to clean your stoma, step by step

The best time is before breakfast, when most stomas are quieter. Many people like to do it at the end of a shower, too.

1. Wash your hands

   Soap and warm water for 20 seconds, then dry them well.

2. Remove the old pouch

   Empty it first if needed. Peel the barrier off from the top down, pressing the skin away from it; adhesive remover makes this painless.

3. Be ready for output

   Stomas can work at any moment. Keep a folded dry wipe or gauze over the stoma while you get set up.

4. Wipe the stoma

   With a soft wipe dipped in warm water, clean gently around and over the stoma. A little mucus or a few spots of blood are normal.

5. Clean the skin around it

   Wipe away any output and adhesive residue from the surrounding skin, working outwards. Rinse off soap if you used any.

6. Pat completely dry

   Dab with a dry wipe or towel, then give it a minute in the air. A hair dryer on the cool setting helps on humid days.

7. Take a look

   Check the stoma is pink to red and moist, and the skin looks like the rest of your belly. Measure the stoma if it's still changing size.

8. Apply the new pouch

   Cut the opening about 1/8 inch (2 to 3 mm) bigger than the stoma, press it on and hold for 30 to 60 seconds. Wash your hands again.

Is it normal for a stoma to bleed after cleaning?

Yes, a few spots are normal. The stoma surface has lots of tiny blood vessels and no pain nerves, so it can bleed slightly when wiped, and it should stop within minutes. Read our guide to stoma bleeding for what's normal and the signs that need a call.

For the full routine of changing different pouching systems, see our ostomy pouch change guide; if you have a colostomy, our colostomy care guide puts cleaning into a simple daily routine.

Cleaning the skin around your stoma

Healthy skin under the barrier is the secret to a pouch that doesn't leak. A few details make all the difference:

• Adhesive residue: a little left on the skin is fine. If it builds up, use an adhesive remover and wipe it away rather than scrubbing.
• Hair: trim it with clippers or a guarded razor, shaving away from the stoma, so the barrier sticks and pulling it off doesn't hurt.
• Sweat: on hot days or after exercise, make sure the skin is really dry before applying a new barrier.
• Raw or weepy patches: your nurse may suggest "crusting": dust a little stoma powder on the raw area, brush off the excess, dab over it with a no-sting barrier wipe, let it dry and repeat once or twice. It gives the barrier a dry surface to stick to.

If the skin stays red or sore despite good cleaning, the fit usually needs adjusting. Our skin care around your stoma hub walks through the common causes and fixes.

How to clean an ostomy bag

Drainable pouches (colostomy or ileostomy)

After you empty a drainable pouch, the only part that needs cleaning is the outlet. Wipe the end inside and out with toilet paper or a moist, unscented wipe, check there's nothing left on the closure, then fold or clip it shut. A clean outlet is also the best way to stop odor. A few drops of pouch lubricant help output slide down next time, so there's less to wipe.

Should you rinse out your ostomy bag?

Usually, no. Rinsing the inside of the pouch isn't necessary, and most manufacturers advise against it: water can work its way under the barrier, loosen the seal and shorten how long the pouch lasts. If thick output makes emptying hard, try pouch lubricant first. If your stoma nurse has taught you to rinse, use only a little lukewarm water and keep it well away from the barrier.

Closed pouches

Closed pouches aren't cleaned or reused. Peel the pouch off, wrap it in a disposal bag and put it in the trash. Never flush it.

Urostomy pouches and night drainage bags

Wipe the tap of a urostomy pouch after draining it. Many night drainage bags are single-use; if yours is reusable, drain it each morning, rinse it as the manufacturer describes, hang it to dry and replace it as often as recommended, often weekly.

Cleaning on the go

A small kit means a leak or a change away from home is a five-minute job. Keep it in your bag, your car and your desk drawer:

• two pre-cut pouches or barriers, and a few dry wipes;
• unscented wet wipes without lotion, for your hands and the outlet;
• a few disposal bags and a small pack of tissues;
• hand sanitizer, for your hands only, never the stoma;
• a spare pair of underwear, just in case.

In public restrooms, put toilet paper in the bowl before you empty, and sit back or kneel so the outlet points straight in. Accessible restrooms give you a sink and more space. Some US states have restroom access laws that let people with medical conditions use staff restrooms; carrying an ostomy or travel card can help.

Showering, bathing and swimming

Water won't get into your stoma, so you can shower or bathe with the pouch on, or take it off and shower without it on change days, which many people find the easiest way to clean. Keep soap and shower gel away from the skin around the stoma, or rinse it off well, and dry thoroughly before the new barrier goes on.

If you shower with the pouch on, cover the filter with the sticker from the box so it stays dry, and pat the barrier dry afterwards. Swimming is fine once you've healed: empty the pouch first, and high-waisted swimwear will hold it close. Our guide to swimming with a stoma has more tips.

Washing your ostomy belt, wraps and underwear

Your garments sit close to the pouch all day, so they need washing often, and gently, to keep their stretch and hold.

• Hand-wash in lukewarm water, or use a cold, delicate machine cycle with the piece inside a mesh laundry bag.
• Close any Velcro before washing so it doesn't snag other fabrics.
• Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent. Skip fabric softener and bleach, which weaken the fibers and the stretch.
• Air-dry flat or hanging, out of strong direct sun; if you use a dryer, choose low heat or air only. Don't iron.
• Rotate two or three pieces, so there's always a clean one ready.

Our ostomy bag cover care guide goes into fabric care in more detail.

Common stoma cleaning mistakes

• Myth"The stoma needs disinfecting."RealityIt doesn't. Warm water is enough, and antiseptics can damage the stoma and the skin around it.
• Myth"Baby wipes are gentle enough."RealityMany contain lotions or oils that stop the barrier sticking. Use plain water, or wipes made for ostomy care.
• Myth"Moisturizer will stop my skin getting sore."RealityUnder the barrier it causes leaks, and leaks cause sore skin. Keep creams off unless your nurse prescribes one.
• Myth"Rinsing the bag keeps it fresh."RealityIt can loosen the seal. Wipe the outlet clean instead and empty regularly.
• Myth"A little bleeding means I did it wrong."RealityA few spots are normal. The stoma bleeds easily, and it should stop within minutes.

Cleaning a stoma and ostomy bag: FAQs