Bathrooms aren't exactly known for smelling fantastic. But is it possible to prevent odors from lingering in your bathroom? Well, one option is to just never use it, but that seems a bit impractical.
Instead, you could try new cleaning techniques. And if that's still not enough, there are always sprays and other odor-eliminating options. The list below includes tips for both cleaning away the smell and for keeping it away longer.
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1. Deep clean toilet siphons
Toilet siphons are often overlooked. Deep cleaning toilet siphons will help save you time and money in the long run as it helps keep your toilet cleaner. This regime will also help mitigate smells. Get the full tutorial here.
Toilet siphons are often overlooked. Deep cleaning toilet siphons will help save you time and money in the long run as it helps keep your toilet cleaner. This regime will also help mitigate smells. Get the full tutorial here.
2. Remove the toilet seat
One of the main reasons your bathroom might smell bad is the lingering odor of urine. To get rid of this, you're going to have to clean places you don't normally think about. For instance, when you're cleaning your toilet, remove the seat. You'll be amazed (and disgusted) at the stains you'll find. But once you've scrubbed them away, you'll notice a definite improvement in the smell of the bathroom.
One of the main reasons your bathroom might smell bad is the lingering odor of urine. To get rid of this, you're going to have to clean places you don't normally think about. For instance, when you're cleaning your toilet, remove the seat. You'll be amazed (and disgusted) at the stains you'll find. But once you've scrubbed them away, you'll notice a definite improvement in the smell of the bathroom.
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3. Remove that urine smell
If the odor of urine is starting to take over your bathroom, then it's probably time for a deep clean. One of the best ways to do this is to make a thick paste from lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best) and baking soda. Rub the paste over any part of the toilet that has stains or buildup and let it set for 15 minutes. To remove the paste, pour vinegar onto a toothbrush (one you plan to never use again, obviously), scrub over the paste and wipe everything down with a cloth or paper towels. See how this works via the tutorial here.
If the odor of urine is starting to take over your bathroom, then it's probably time for a deep clean. One of the best ways to do this is to make a thick paste from lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best) and baking soda. Rub the paste over any part of the toilet that has stains or buildup and let it set for 15 minutes. To remove the paste, pour vinegar onto a toothbrush (one you plan to never use again, obviously), scrub over the paste and wipe everything down with a cloth or paper towels. See how this works via the tutorial here.
4. Lemon Pine-Sol (h/t Smart School House)
After you've finished scrubbing the toilet, you probably rinse off the toilet brush and stick it back in its holder. And then you might start to notice a faint odor near your toilet. That would be the toilet bowl brush. Pour a little lemon Pine-Sol into the toilet brush holder (while the brush is in there) to help get rid of germs and odor. This will also make the brush a more effective cleaning agent next time you need to use it.
After you've finished scrubbing the toilet, you probably rinse off the toilet brush and stick it back in its holder. And then you might start to notice a faint odor near your toilet. That would be the toilet bowl brush. Pour a little lemon Pine-Sol into the toilet brush holder (while the brush is in there) to help get rid of germs and odor. This will also make the brush a more effective cleaning agent next time you need to use it.
5. DIY Febreeze
Forget buying the store version. Make your own air freshener with the help of the video below and have your home smelling amazing for days. Get the full tutorial here.
Forget buying the store version. Make your own air freshener with the help of the video below and have your home smelling amazing for days. Get the full tutorial here.
6. Homemade spray (h/t The Rising Spoon)
Sometimes there's no specific reason for an odor other than the fact that bathrooms just tend to stink sometimes. When this is the case, just give the room a quick spritz with a spray made from purification essential oil, witch hazel and purified water. If you need to take care of a particularly strong smell, add a little peppermint essential oil to the mixture.
Sometimes there's no specific reason for an odor other than the fact that bathrooms just tend to stink sometimes. When this is the case, just give the room a quick spritz with a spray made from purification essential oil, witch hazel and purified water. If you need to take care of a particularly strong smell, add a little peppermint essential oil to the mixture.
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7. Wash towels
Even if you wash towels regularly, they still smell a little musty sometimes. Rather than buy a new set of towels, throw the ones you already own into the washing machine again. But this time, wash them in hot water with chlorine bleach. Instead of fabric softener, add half a cup of distilled vinegar to get rid of the old smell and prevent new buildup from forming. Finally, dry towels either outside or on the hottest setting of the dryer.
Even if you wash towels regularly, they still smell a little musty sometimes. Rather than buy a new set of towels, throw the ones you already own into the washing machine again. But this time, wash them in hot water with chlorine bleach. Instead of fabric softener, add half a cup of distilled vinegar to get rid of the old smell and prevent new buildup from forming. Finally, dry towels either outside or on the hottest setting of the dryer.
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8. Odor-eliminating discs
Some smells require a more long-term solution. You need something that will act as a constant air freshener but without releasing chemicals into your home. If this applies to you, try homemade odor-eliminating discs. You just need 1/2 cup of baking soda, spring water and your favorite essential oil. Mix the ingredients into a paste, pour them into mini cupcake tins (or whatever containers you have) and allow them to dry for 24 hours. You can put the finished product in the bottom of a trash can or in a small dish on the bathroom counter and the rest can be stored in the freezer.
Some smells require a more long-term solution. You need something that will act as a constant air freshener but without releasing chemicals into your home. If this applies to you, try homemade odor-eliminating discs. You just need 1/2 cup of baking soda, spring water and your favorite essential oil. Mix the ingredients into a paste, pour them into mini cupcake tins (or whatever containers you have) and allow them to dry for 24 hours. You can put the finished product in the bottom of a trash can or in a small dish on the bathroom counter and the rest can be stored in the freezer.
9. Clean the walls
If you've tried everything else and still can't get rid of those last dregs of odor in your bathroom, it's time to go where most cleaning products have never gone before: the wall behind the toilet. (If you don't think this area seems like a trap for urine order, then you've probably never shared a bathroom with a guy.) You can use pretty much anything to clean the wall, but vinegar is the most effective way to kill germs and remove strong odors.
If you've tried everything else and still can't get rid of those last dregs of odor in your bathroom, it's time to go where most cleaning products have never gone before: the wall behind the toilet. (If you don't think this area seems like a trap for urine order, then you've probably never shared a bathroom with a guy.) You can use pretty much anything to clean the wall, but vinegar is the most effective way to kill germs and remove strong odors.
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