This topic is about finding effective ways to clean the flange (or wafer) of a two-piece colostomy system, especially when dealing with thick colostomy output. The person sharing their experience typically keeps the flange on for 5 to 7 days, but finds that stool often gets packed around the flange opening and beneath the coupling ring. They currently use toilet paper for cleaning, but it's not quite doing the job. They're thinking about creating a device that could clip onto the flange and use water to rinse it clean, and they're curious if something like this already exists.

Here are some helpful suggestions and insights:

1. Hand-held shower rinse:
- Remove the pouch and step into the shower. Use a hand-held shower head set to a gentle spray to rinse the wafer, flange, and stoma.
- After rinsing, you can re-attach the same pouch or use a "pancake stoma cap," which is a small, flat cap for short-term wear.
- Keep the tub drain open so that stool and water can flow straight down without causing a clog. This method is both cost-effective and clean.

2. In-bag water swish for two-piece systems:
- After emptying the pouch, pour room-temperature water into it, close it, and swish the water around to loosen any residue. Then, empty it into a toilet lined with toilet paper to prevent splash-back.
- Repeat this process as needed before re-attaching or replacing the pouch.

3. Pre-emptive lubrication:
- Apply a small amount of oil on the flange before use. This can make the clean-up process quicker and easier later on.

4. Gentle water will not compromise the seal:
- Light rinsing won't create leak paths. In fact, corrosive stool is more damaging to barriers than plain water.
- If you're concerned about water pressure, consider using a small hand-pump spray bottle instead of a shower head.

5. Alternative approach: colostomy irrigation:
- Regular irrigation can eliminate the need for daily pouch wear, which can greatly reduce or even remove the need for flange cleaning altogether.