The bad smells that tend to form in the bathroom with normal use are a fairly common source of embarrassment and you definitely want to fix it. You may also notice an unpleasant musty smell when it is not cleaned with proper techniques. In any case, there are many ways to refresh the environment. You can try several to eliminate bad smells, change your cleaning habits, and make small changes to your bathroom use.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Eliminate Bad Smells
Step 1. Ventilate the bathroom
If you want to remedy embarrassing smells, the key is to let it air properly. Simple drafts can help reduce bad odors. If you have a fan, turn it on after using the bathroom, otherwise open the window to let the air in.
Do not let it ventilate only after using the toilet. Turn on the fan or open the window even after a shower. Moisture can cause mold and bad odors
Step 2. Better to use a product to eliminate bad smells than a room freshener
Many keep a refreshing spray on the back of the toilet and spray it after using the bathroom. If you have this habit, invest in a product designed to eliminate bad smells.
- Room fresheners cover unpleasant odors, but do not eliminate them. Consequently, once the effect of the product has disappeared, the smell returns. If the latter is strong, it can even overpower the spray.
- Products that eliminate bad odors act by neutralizing them. They cover them with greater speed and effectiveness. Look for one in the supermarket. There is a wide variety of them on the market, so it may be necessary to experiment before you find the one that works best for you. Read some reviews online to get an idea of which products are most effective in eliminating bad odors.
Step 3. Consider Room Purifiers
If the air circulation in your bathroom is rather poor, a special odor eliminator may not be effective on its own. Look for an air purifier, a plug-in device that promotes increased air circulation and removes odor-causing bacteria. You can buy it at the supermarket or order it online. Prices vary. The higher quality ones can cost as much as 250 euros, but it is useless to spend a lot if you intend to use it in a small bathroom. You can buy a smaller and cheaper one for 25-50 euros.
Step 4. Try desiccant products
It is possible that the problem is not only due to normal bathroom use, but also to mold. In this case, invest in a desiccant, a dry substance designed to absorb water. Among the most common is silica gel, often available in sachets.
- You can use a synthetic desiccant, such as silica gel, as long as you apply the powder to an area out of the reach of children and pets. If ingested, desiccants can be toxic. You can also keep them in a small plastic container with a pierced cap.
- Plants are natural desiccants. Fern or lily can help remove unwanted odors from the bathroom and freshen it up.
Step 5. Make a home air freshener, which may be more effective than commercial sprays
If odor eliminating products don't work, try making one yourself.
- To make an air freshener, mix 3 parts water, 1 vodka, 10-20 drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or eucalyptus. Essential oils are available in herbal medicine. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and leave it at the back of the toilet. Spray it as needed.
- If the solution leaves a strong smell of alcohol, try mixing 2 glasses of water with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 10 drops of an essential oil. Pour it into a spray bottle and leave it at the back of the toilet. Use it when needed.
Method 2 of 3: Clean the Bathroom
Step 1. Use baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar
Sometimes the outer surface of the pot needs a good cleaning, in order to remove the bad smells that have set. A solution of baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar will work fine. Often these ingredients are effective in fighting bad odors.
- Make a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and baking soda. Fresh juice is the best. Mix the ingredients until you have a batter consistency substance.
- Sprinkle the mixture on the bottom of the jar and seat with a damp cloth. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
- Pour some vinegar into a spray bottle. After 10-15 minutes, spray it on the mixture. Let it bubble for a few seconds, then remove it with a cloth.
Step 2. Use essential oils when cleaning:
they have a powerful and pleasant smell. When you have problems with bad smells in the bathroom, pour a few drops of essential oil into a spray bottle that you have filled with isopropyl alcohol. Use the solution to clean areas such as the sink and toilet. Some essential oils, such as cedarwood, have antifungal properties that help neutralize and remove unwanted odors.
Step 3. Clean the cistern
If it is not cleaned regularly, it can retain an unpleasant urine odor. Many neglect it when disinfecting the bathroom. It can be easily sanitized with white vinegar.
- Open the cistern. Pour in half a cup of vinegar, then put on rubber gloves.
- Clean the sides of the cistern with a brush, then flush the toilet. Add more vinegar and repeat the process several times.
Step 4. Clean the bathroom regularly
This is enough to help eliminate bad smells. You should do this once a week. Sanitize the jar, lid and sides. Wash on the ground. Clean the tub, shower, and sink. You can use supermarket products or make a mixture of baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar. Regular cleaning prevents the formation of bad odors.
When cleaning, use good quality products specifically designed to eliminate bad odors. It is good to know what materials the sink, tub and tiles are made of, as certain detergents are more effective on certain surfaces
Step 5. Clean the exhaust pipes
If they are clogged, they often cause bad odors. When you notice that the water tends to rise, be sure to clear them. Once a month, you should also take steps to prevent this problem.
- Remove the cap and clean it of hair, dirt or other debris. You can use white vinegar and water.
- Cut the hook of a coat hanger and set it aside, pinch the rest of it, then slide it down the drain. You can use it to push the obstruction outward or to pull it out. If you can't, you can also use a plunger by pressing it 5 or 6 times.
- Let boiling water run down the drain for several minutes to get rid of dirt and debris that could cause odors.
- Once a month, mix half a cup of vinegar with half a cup of baking soda. Pour the solution down the drain to clean it, remove blockages, and neutralize any odors caused by the drain.
Step 6. Look for mold, a common cause of odor that can also lead to health problems
Try to periodically examine the bathroom for signs of mold.
- You may think that spotting mold is easy, but it often hides well. It can in fact be neglected, or mistaken for soot or dirt. For example, you may notice black spots on the bathroom ceiling. If they reappear and appear to expand after cleaning, you may have a mold problem.
- Look under the sink. Mold usually starts to form around the pipes under the sink, especially if water leaks sometimes occur.
- Recognize the symptoms of mold exposure. If you do not see it but observe some of the following symptoms, you may want to see a company for a professional inspection. Warning signs include wheezing, rashes, watery eyes, red or itchy eyes, and a runny nose.
Method 3 of 3: Making Changes
Step 1. Go over the grout around the tiles.
Grout is found between bathroom tiles, but it can also run on walls and contribute to the formation of bad odors. In fact, over time it becomes porous and absorbs unpleasant odors. If you are unable to freshen the bathroom by cleaning it regularly, remove the old grout with a scribing knife and replace it. It is a product available from the hardware store.
Step 2. After draining, close the jar lid
Sometimes small changes can have a huge impact. Whenever you go to the bathroom, remember to close the lid to prevent unpleasant odors from getting into the air.
Step 3. Take out the trash regularly
If you have a garbage can in the bathroom, empty it at least once a week. Any waste that is neglected can give off an increasingly unpleasant smell over time. Regularly taking out the trash can be very effective in combating the problem.
Step 4. Wash the textiles
Since the bathroom tends to be a humid environment, towels can quickly get moldy. If you keep them in the bathroom, wash them at least once a week to prevent bad odors from forming.
- To help remove bad odors, try pouring half a cup of white vinegar into the washing machine pan before doing laundry.
- Before putting the towels back in the bathroom, be sure to let them dry completely.
Step 5. Try to use surfaces that are resistant to odor or humidity
If you are having mold or odor problems while cleaning your bathroom carefully, maybe it's time to make a drastic decision. In fact, you could replace tubs, tiles, sinks, and so on with surfaces that are resistant to bad odors or humidity. It's expensive, but if you can afford it and the smells are a real problem, the investment will be worth it.
Warnings
- When cleaning, keep the bathroom well ventilated.
- If the odor is caused by mold, it may be necessary to do a particularly thorough inspection. For example, mold sometimes proliferates in drywall. If you try the methods in this article and odors persist, contact a company to examine the bathroom. Mold can be toxic and professional intervention may be required.
