Best Ways To Eliminate Odors in the Bathroom

Do you ever feel as if your bathroom isn’t as fresh as it should be? There could be a few underlying instances this might happen, and we have several tips that will get rid of that issue once and for all.

The First Steps

Identify The Culprit

The main thing you need to do is figure out where the smell is coming from in order to figure out what’s causing it. Next, does the odor smell stale, with a mild sting to it? Most musty odors are the effect of fungus and mold, which mostly found in wet areas. The bathroom is a breeding ground for fungus because there is always an abundance of water. The problem is most bathrooms are not adequately vented to let all of the moisture evaporate.
Now if the odor is strong and smells like bad eggs, it could be a sign of light sulfur fumes. This is a very common cause of a septic issue related to the plumbing in your toilet.

Addressing the Smells

So, you have figured out the cause of the smell, now it’s time to address the issue at hand! The best place to start is with maximizing ventilation. You’ll want to open all the windows and let the fresh from outside in. Also turn on ceiling fans and exhaust fans if you have them. This will decrease the effects of the stinks while you work. You’ll want to avoid using any scented products such as air fresheners or candles because this will just mask the problem.

Ways to Remove Foul Odors

1. Essential Oils

Using essential oils can produce a great natural aroma in your bathrooms. These natural oils often called “essential” because they smell like the “essence” of the plant or herb they are derived from. You may not know that these oils are used to make perfumes, soap, flavoring, and even incenses. In most markets, household scent diffusers use essential oils as their main active ingredient. The good news is there are many identified essential oils out there, so you’ll have plenty of great scents to choose from.

2. Baking Soda

The power of baking soda is that it actually absorbs odors. To use it, fill a bowl or mason jar with baking soda and leave it open in the bathroom. The natural neutralizing characteristic of the baking soda will absorb and repeal the gross smell you want to get rid of. In doing this though, you’ll want to make sure that you throw out and replace the baking soda about once a month. This will keep the odor fighting power of the baking soda in strong supply.

3. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees or “gum trees”, are natural growing and indigenous to Australia. The special leaves of Eucalyptus trees have a peculiar, refreshing smell similar to pine or mint. This very identifiable scent comes from the oils within the leaves, which can be extracted. Eucalyptus leaves haver a very high concentration of oil in their leaves. This is one of the reasons why they smell great naturally even before being extracted, and hanging it in your bathroom is an affordable, low-maintenance way to make your bathroom odor free.

Removing Odor From a Toilet

Things Needed:

• Toothbrush
• Baking Soda
• Lemon Juice
• White Vinegar
• Measuring Cup
• Washcloth
• Medium Sized Bowl

1: Use lemon from a juice or concentrate bottle and power a couple tablespoons into a bowl.

2: Next add some baking soda to mix and create a paste like consistency.

3: Now smear the paste along with areas that you suspect have a strong odor, or areas with noticeable buildup including the seat, bottom of the toilet where it meets the floor, back of the toilet, tank, and underneath the side of the stool area and allow the paste to sit for at least 15 minutes.

4: Then remove the cover of the toilet tank and add a 1/2 cup of vinegar to the water in the tank. Let the vinegar to sit for at least 15 minutes. The mold and bacteria causing the smell in your bathroom can actually penetrate the tank of the toilet, so it is important not to skip over this.

5: You’ll also want to wash or buy a new shower curtain. It’s common for shower curtains or any cloth material to hold in the stink of certain smells over time. Also mildew that might be in areas of your shower curtain can add to the smell if not washed away ever so often.

6: After you’ve waited 15 minutes you can flush the toilet to cycle the vinegar mixture out of the tank. You’ll want to flush 2-3 times, then add in another 1/2 cup of vinegar and allow to sit while you are finish cleaning. If you see build up along the tank walls you’ll need to scrub down the tank and make sure to wear a pair of rubber gloves.

7: With a toothbrush, pour vinegar over it, then scrub at the areas where the baking soda & the lemon paste is around the toilet. Make sure and scrub all of the areas well with the toothbrush, then pour small amounts of the vinegar over the paste and wipe it away with a damp washcloth. If you see water stains along the edge of the toilet, a product like CLR is a good cleaner that’s made to dissolve lime and deposits.

8: After you’re done with step 7, flush the toilet another 2-3 times to once again flush out the vinegar in the tank.

In some instances you may find the odor persists. Another common culprit is a leaking wax seal. Sometimes this can cause a buildup of waste and urine to remain hidden under the base of the toilet. That may require removing the toilet and resetting the toilet with a new wax ring.

There is always a solution to your bathroom problems — Next time if your candles, air fresheners, or sprays don’t work out, try this or parts of this solution instead. If these don’t work, don’t give up! You should never have to learn to live with bothersome plumbing problems!

South End Plumbing specializes toilet repair, so remember, we are just a click away. We also specialize in leak detection – give us a call! South End Plumbing is one of the only companies that will give you a free estimate. Call us at 704-919-1722 or fill out the form online to schedule a visit.