Dear Home Ec 101:
My daughter shredded her diaper before I knew she was awake. There are diaper crystals everywhere! The room smells like pee, can I vacuum it? I never knew a diaper had that much stuff.
Horrified in Helena
Heather says:
Ay yi yi, there is nothing like body fluids to start a day out right. Kids can be such stinkers. The vacuum would not be my first choice, those crystals are damp and a large quantity may damage your machine.
I would gather all of the bedding and rugs and take them to an area that can be swept clean. Shake them carefully before washing, as you do not want these thirsty crystals in your drain line. Sweep up the crystals and dispose in the trashcan.
If you have a shop vac, go ahead and clean up the carpet. Otherwise, I would carefully sweep up as much of the mess as possible before vacuuming. Empty your vacuum whether it’s a bag or bagless, to avoid continually scenting the room with urine.
Spray an odor neutralizer, like Kids N Pets 
lightly over the area. This will hold you over until you find time to steam clean the carpet.
Good luck and next time strap that sucker on with duct tape.
Submit your household questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.
The Kids and Pet stuff does work exceptionally well.
Crystals? Shredded?!? Who knew! Some of who might have kids in the coming years could use a lesson from Home Ec 101 on how to change a diaper!
i have a 4 and 2 year old… both whom do this ( the 4 year old stopped… till i roomed her and her sister together… go figure) the problem is not ONLY is it shreded diaper.. which btw those little gel bits dont like being picked up till dry.. so if you can set a fan in the room and open a window and shut a door for a few hours first.. do it! my kids have gotten into the habit of making "wonderful" artwork with their diaper fillings…. even fresh poop is hard to clean off walls.. let alone those that you " dont know there awake" for and you come up and its half dry and not lifting off your latex painted walls ( latex… yes…. i hate it… but i rent….)