Mobility is one of our biggest assets as humans but sometimes we get that taken from us, either temporarily or permanently, by an injury, an illness, a life-changing procedure, or old age. How a bedridden person uses the bathroom can often pose a serious challenge for them and their caregivers. A bedside commode bedside commodes can help give people who are recovering from medical conditions, or those suffering mobility issues due to aging a dignified way to respond to the call of nature, with or without the assistance of their caregivers.
A bedside commode is a game-changer for anyone who can't get to the toilet or bathroom safely. A medical practitioner may very well recommend one to a person with limited mobility or risk hurting themselves if they attempt to use a regular toilet seat.
A bedside commode is built with an accessible removable bucket, allowing you to easily release the bucket from the bedside commode chair. After freeing the removable bucket from the commode chair, pick it up carefully and pour away the content down a standard toilet. You should then wash it clean thoroughly before reattaching the bucket to the commode chair. You can also place the commode chair over a standard toilet to form an elevated toilet seat or use them as a standalone portable toilet near the bed, as is so often the case.
I think most people would think of bedside commodes as the kind of product that can be useful, but I know everyone would rather not ever have to use them or recommend one to someone they know. Let’s just agree it’s not the most thrilling product to shop for online.
The reality is there are many toilet bedside commodes on the market and we must still make the best choice regardless. There’s a remarkable depth of options when it comes to bedside commodes, with over a dozen different manufacturers putting their best foot forward.
We rounded up the best ones after paying attention to important features like weight capacity, height adjustable seat, padded seat, splash guard, and even drop arm commode. Scroll down to discover our list of the best bedside commode
How We Confirmed
A Bedside commode is not the everyday product you go online to shop for, which makes it a lot harder to make the right choice that best fits a particular situation or circumstance. Expert recommendations are worth gold when shopping for such needs-related products, as do experience.
Experts would recommend one with a sturdy toilet frame, height adjustable seat, durable, maintainable, durable, and portable. While most customers agree most of those things are desirable qualities a bedside commode should possess, not everyone would agree a commode chair needs wheelers (some do).
So, we evaluated every commode from the users' perspective before putting the list together. These allow us to cater to various situations and budgets with our picks.
Why We Love It
As portable bedside commodes go, it doesn’t get better than Drive Medical Steel Bedside Commode Chair. The Drive Medical foldable toilet chair can be used as a bedside toilet seat for old adults and individuals recovering from a medical procedure that limits their mobility. It can also be used as a drop arm commode or a toilet safety frame.
The toilet seat is padded with a durable plastic snap-on seat and grey powder-coated lid which can support a weight of up to 350 lbs which is more than enough for most adults. The steel welded construction increase the strength and durability of this portable toilet unit.
When it comes to the experience of using the Drive Medical Steel Bedside Commode, there’s hardly any low point. It is reliable going by thousands of reviews, very easy to use, and highly maintainable. The fact that you can use this unit as a standalone bedside commode, an elevated toilet seat, and a simple over-the-toilet frame speaks to its incredible versatility. And oh, you can fold it up and travel with the entire unit if you need to travel. It is essentially as portable as portable toilets come.
It is one of the most popular bedside commodes, if not the most popular on Amazon at the moment, with more than 25K reviews and over 4.6-star ratings. The Drive Medical Steel Bedside Commode does everything you need from a portable toilet with ease, elegance, and efficiency.
What We Noticed
The Drive Medical Steel Bedside Commode is essentially a versatile 3-in-1 model that can be easily positioned over a standard toilet, as a standalone portable bedside commode, or as a shower chair.
The whole frame is foldable. The steel legs fold up for extra convenience and transportation. The toilet seat can carry an adult with a weight of up to 350 pounds. You can achieve the ideal sitting posture by adjusting the seat height via built-in push pins. The padded seat and cover lid install seamlessly without any input from your end.
The construction can simply be called what it is: quality. The frame is made from durable powder-coated steel, strong enough to support 350 pounds of weight. The drop arm bedside commode provides a supportive armrest for added convenience.
The bedside commode bucket is equipped with a convenient carry handle and protective pail cover making the unit easy to handle and easy to pour waste over the toilet. Using commode liners enables even quicker cleanups.
Why We Love It
We knew we needed a discrete bedside commode to add to the list, so we ran through some options. No doubt there are a lot of great alternatives out there, but the Medline Elements Bedside Commode is so inconspicuous as a standard bedside commode that it is actually unbelievable. Unless you bend low to actually see the commode bucket, one would mistake this unit for a regular drop armchair.
Everything about the design of Medline Elements' convenience disposal unit is genius. The Medline product features a premium dark bronze finish, which is a welcome alternative to the predictable white look of a standard bedside commode.
The seat design contains a regular removable commode bucket, but it’s enclosed within a plastic frame and muted colors that pass it up as the seat of a normal chair in the bedroom. The flat lid fully covers the padded toilet seat surface, when everything is closed up, I bet you won’t be able to tell there's convenient storage inside.
It also has every other must-have for a bedside commode – impressive weight capacity, quality construction, adjustable seat height, and carry handle and pail cover for easy handling. Last but not the least, everything is laced up with microban antimicrobial protection which keeps the growth of odors and bacteria at arm's length.
What We Noticed
At first glance, we make out the Medline Elements Bedside Commode as a unified design with style and discreetness in mind. It has a contoured, flat seat cover that completely conceals the padded seat and the removable bucket from unsuspecting eyes.
When not in use, the large flat seat cover discreetly conceals the commode. The long elongated seat opening ensures roomy comfort when in use, either as a portable commode toilet or a raised seat over the toilet in a bathroom. splash guard is also included for over-the-toilet use to protect the user from spills.
While a lot of thought and effort went into designing a commode that promotes dignity for the user, comfort, and peace of mind for the user are never relegated to the background either. The design and construction are so innovative that every part of the drop arm commode is adjustable for customized comfort and added safety. You can adjust the height of the seat, drop armrests, and backrest by simply pushing buttons and turning knobs.
Medline Elements Bedside commode is infused with Microban Technology which inhibits the growth of stains and odors from bacteria. Overall the Medline Elements may be a premium option, but it does offer premium style, comfort, and convenience.
Why We Love It
This is the second unit from Drive Medical on our list of the best bedside commode, this bariatric bedside commode may not look like anything out of the ordinary, but for bariatric who need bariatric models, this should be a perfect match. The weight limit is the property every patient is on the lookout for, and you’ll be glad to know this one supports up to 650 pounds. So bariatric patients can feel confident and safe about sitting on this unit from Drive Medical.
Despite being a bariatric model, there is not much difference from what you enjoy from other types of bedside commodes on the market. The drop arms and backrest are well-constructed and suitably positioned for the best comfort.
The frame of the commode is made from durable steel, and the unit can be assembled without any tools following three simple steps enumerated by the manufacturer. The height of the seat is adjustable so that you can bring your center of gravity low to the ground for added stability. An extra large pail is also included, which has a carry handle, lid, and splash shield.
The backrest of this unit can be completely removed if it makes you uncomfortable, or makes it difficult to fit the unit around your existing toilet.
What We Noticed
The Drive Medical Bariatric foldable commode is also a versatile 3-in-1 unit that can be used as a bedside commode for older adults, individuals recovering from medical surgery, or a toilet safety frame.
The adjustable bedside toilet is constructed with handles is constructed with a durable frame and includes several leg adjustment features operated by the push of a button designed to accommodate several heights. The unit is durable and sturdy enough to support a weight of 650 pounds. The seat and cover lid are made from durable plastic
The assembly is very straightforward and can be done in three easy steps without any dedicated tools. The unit easily folds up for easy storage, transportation, and maintenance.
Best Bedside Commode FAQs
We have reviewed several types of commodes on the market, now, it’s time to answer some of the most important questions that can help get the best out of your selection.
What is a 3-in-1 bedside commode?
A 3-in-1 standard bedside commode functions as a toilet riser or raised toilet, an over-the-toilet safety frame, and as a bedside commode that can be used in any room when mobility presents an issue.
How to care for a bedside commode?
To clean a bedside commode, remove the bucket and dispose of its content in a standard, flushable toilet. Then, clean the commode bucket and frame with regular, non-abrasive cleaning products like mild detergent and water. To make your job easier, put some water into the bucket both before and after use. This will make emptying and cleaning easier.
You can refer to the manufacturer’s care instructions for detergents that can cause damage to the bucket or frame. Bleach, for instance, is known to cause cracking and discoloration of the commode bucket.
Can bedside commodes be used over a traditional toilet?
Using a commode over a traditional toilet is one of the benefits that come with the 3-in-1 bedside commode. When the bucket has been removed, place them over a toilet to serve as toilet safety frames, with the drop armrest offering safety and stability. You can also use them over a toilet as toilet raisers to improve hygiene during toileting
How to keep a bedside commode from tipping?
The best way to stop a bedside commode from tipping is to ensure the user is as close to the seat as possible, with the back of their knees touching the frame, with both hands on the armrests, applying equal pressure on both sides to prevent tipping in any direction.
Should a bedside commode be used as a shower chair?
Some 3in1 commodes are constructed to be able to serve as shower chairs in the bathroom. The commode without the bucket certainly offers enough comfort with the drop arm and backrest to serve as a convenient bathroom chair, especially for the elderly. However, if the commode is constructed with steel, it may corrode easily and quickly when subjected to such levels of moisture usually present in bathrooms.
How often should a commode be cleaned?
Because of the high risk of catching an infection or disease if left unclean, a commode should be cleaned after every episode of toileting, always. Also, cleaning should be done following standard commode cleaning practices.
How to get rid of commode odors?
To get rid of commode odors which are not always indicative of poor hygiene, treating the bucket and frame with white vinegar and baking soda in equal parts represents a cost-effective solution to ridding commodes of odors.
Create a mixture of both substances and pour it on the bucket and frame. Allow sitting for some hours. Use the brush to scrub slowly but firmly. Rinse and flush properly and allow to dry.
Our Confirmed Catch
Shopping with our list essentially mean you’re buying some of the most cost-effective, durable, feature-packed, best-reviewed, and highly-rated commode chairs on the market. Picking one or the other really makes no difference in the quality of service you would enjoy. But getting the right one for you involves picking the one that solves your particular challenges.
Still hard to make up your mind? The versatility of the 3-in-1 covers virtually all the basics. No hard feelings about going for the safest choice.