You can easily eliminate unpleasant odors in these humid and often foul-smelling spaces by following the tips mentioned in this article from Saed News. Never let bad smells invade your bathroom and toilet.
How to Keep Your Bathroom and Toilet Smelling Fresh
Regularly Clean the Space from Contaminants
Check Plumbing, Equipment, and Bathroom Surfaces
Ensure Proper Ventilation in the Bathroom and Toilet
Clean the Grout Between Tiles
Make a Cleaning Bomb
Use Essential Oils
Keep the Toilet Brush Clean
One of the common challenges people face is the unpleasant smell in home bathrooms and toilets. A bathroom freshener is one of the practical ways to solve this issue.
A persistent bad odor is often associated with bathrooms. In the past, bathrooms were built in courtyards or separated from living areas, bedrooms, and kitchens. Before the rise of apartment living, home toilets had separate entrances to keep unpleasant smells away. However, in modern homes, bathrooms are often connected to other living spaces, making it easier for odors to spread.
Since these spaces are usually damp, bad odors are common. This is unpleasant and can become a serious problem. Fortunately, preventing and eliminating unpleasant smells is simple, and there's no excuse for neglecting it.
By following a few simple tricks, you can keep your bathroom and toilet smelling fresh.
The first step to a fresh-smelling bathroom or toilet is cleanliness. No matter how many air fresheners you use, a dirty space will still smell bad. Bathrooms, due to constant exposure to moisture, can quickly develop an unpleasant odor. Dirty toilets are especially difficult to freshen up.
Regular cleaning is crucial. If you keep your bathroom and toilet clean, you won’t need air fresheners as much. Ideally, clean these spaces at least once a week.
Clogs, standing water, or sewage buildup in any part of the bathroom can cause bad smells. Inspect whether the odor is coming from a specific area. Sometimes, dirty water or debris may accumulate in faucets or pipes, causing a bad smell. You may need to replace certain fixtures.
Additionally, damaged bathroom materials can lead to trapped dirt and foul odors. Repair worn-out surfaces like cracked tiles to prevent odor buildup.
Proper ventilation is essential for a fresh-smelling bathroom. Windows or exhaust fans help circulate air and reduce bad smells.
A well-ventilated space will quickly replace bad odors with fresh air. If your bathroom has an exhaust fan, turn it on immediately after use. Windows are the best option since they allow bad air to escape while bringing in fresh air.
If you have a ventilation system, use it regularly. Open your bathroom windows daily to let fresh air in and eliminate damp and musty odors.
Humidity from hot showers promotes mold and bacteria growth, so keeping the air dry is crucial.
Over time, mold accumulates in the grout between tiles, leading to a musty smell. Grout absorbs liquids like urine, making the bathroom smell worse over time. Deep-cleaning and repairing moldy grout is a great way to keep your bathroom fresh.
Another way to keep your bathroom and toilet fresh is by making a DIY cleaning bomb using baking soda, water, and citric acid.
Baking soda absorbs and eliminates odors.
Citric acid acts as a powerful antimicrobial agent.
You can also place a small jar of baking soda in the bathroom as a natural deodorizer. Baking soda neutralizes odors and kills bacteria due to its pH properties.
Add a few drops of essential oil inside the toilet paper roll. Every time someone uses the toilet, a fresh scent will be released. You’ll be surprised at how quickly this simple trick makes a difference!
Toilet brushes can harbor bacteria and bad smells. Fill the toilet brush holder with your favorite cleaner and let the brush soak between uses. This is an easy way to keep your bathroom smelling fresh.
If your bathroom has a musty smell, your towels might be the culprit. Cotton towels absorb moisture and odors, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
To refresh your towels and bathroom:
Wash towels in hot water.
During the second rinse cycle, add one cup of vinegar.
Vinegar eliminates bacteria and bad odors while keeping towels soft and fresh.
Instead of buying expensive air fresheners, you can make natural alternatives at home.
DIY Air Freshener Recipe 1:
3 cups water
1 tablespoon alcohol
20 drops of essential oils (lavender, orange, or eucalyptus)
Mix the ingredients and pour them into a spray bottle. Keep the bottle near your toilet or bathroom for convenient use. Essential oils are available at herbal shops.
If you dislike the smell of alcohol, try this alternative:
DIY Air Freshener Recipe 2:
2 cups water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
10 drops of orange or eucalyptus oil
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use it whenever needed.
Activated charcoal is an excellent moisture absorber. Since humidity is a major cause of bathroom odors, charcoal helps eliminate the problem at its source. It also absorbs harmful chemicals from the air.
To reuse activated charcoal, place it under sunlight to dry, then return it to the bathroom for continued odor absorption.
Fragrant plants and flowers are highly effective in combating bad smells. If your bathroom has a window, place aromatic plants like lavender or mint near it. You can also put dried lavender in a jar as a decorative air freshener.
Lemon is a powerful natural cleaner and air freshener. It removes water stains, soap scum, and rust while leaving a fresh scent.
Two Ways to Use Lemon in the Bathroom:
Lemon Slices: Place slices near smelly areas to neutralize odors.
Lemon Spray: Mix:
½ cup lemon juice
2 cups hot water
⅛ cup fresh lemon juice
Pour into a spray bottle and use after cleaning the bathroom.
Keeping your bathroom and toilet fresh doesn’t have to be expensive. Many natural and affordable solutions can eliminate bad smells.
What other methods do you use to keep your bathroom smelling fresh?
