A pleasant-smelling toilet creates a clean and welcoming bathroom experience for you and your guests. Fortunately, you can use a variety of effective hacks that smell great and cost very little.
These methods utilize natural DIY cleaners and strategically placed odor-absorbing materials to neutralize unwanted smells. They require minimal maintenance and ensure your toilet smells fresh all day long.
1. Use a Diffuser
There’s nothing worse than a musty toilet, but the good news is that it can be prevented. The best way to keep your bathroom smelling nice is to prevent odors from building up in the first place by keeping it well-ventilated with exhaust fans or opening windows. Another great smell-fighting trick is using essential oils. This simple, natural solution can be used in a spray bottle or even a reed diffuser. Add a few drops of essential oil (try lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, or orange for a bright scent), and your bathroom will stay fresh and clean.
There are also a variety of different scents and fragrances to choose from, so you can find the perfect one for your bathroom. The key is to remember to replace the oils regularly. This will help your spray or reed diffuser last longer and keep it smelling fresh.
A scented soap can also help keep your bathroom smelling lovely. If you have a favorite bar of soap, wrap it in fabric or tulle and hang it from the shower head. This will give off a mild fragrance whenever the water is turned on. You can also use fragrant potpourri to give your bathroom a pleasant aroma.
If you have an old perfume bottle, Kropovinsky says that you can turn it into a DIY diffuser by adding a few reed sticks to soak up the oil and release its fragrance. Another option is to simply use a few sprigs of eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is a natural deodorizer and also offers anti-inflammatory properties.
Finally, if you want to keep it really easy and simple, add a few drops of fragrance oil to the center of your toilet paper roll. Then, each time you dispense the toilet paper, it will give off a fresh scent. This simple tip will help your toilet smell lovely for every use! Plus, it’s a cheap way to freshen up your bathroom without having to buy any special products. Just don’t forget to replenish the oils every month or so, and you’ll have a long-lasting, fresh, clean fragrance in your bathroom!
2. Clean the Flushing Bowl
The toilet is the most frequented spot in the bathroom, so it naturally collects lots of germs and odors. This makes it especially important to keep up with regular cleaning.
Many people forget about hard-to-reach places like the cracks around the base and under the toilet, where dirt can build up and linger for a while. Using a soft-bristled brush or even an old toothbrush can help you get into these tight spots. After cleaning, remember to disinfect surfaces with a sanitizing wipe or spray such as GH Seal Star Microban 24-Hour Sanitizing Spray, following the directions on the label. Make sure the cleaner stays wet for the recommended time to kill germs.
If you want your toilet to smell nice, regularly clean the flushing bowl. This will not only remove odors but it will also reduce the amount of gunk that builds up inside the toilet tank. You can purchase a commercial toilet bowl cleaner or make your own at home for pennies.
Another easy way to keep your toilet smelling fresh is to add cedar chips or potpourri to the toilet holder. This can be purchased at most craft, hardware, or grocery stores. You can also use pine needles, cinnamon sticks, or eucalyptus branches to create a fragrant potpourri. Just be sure to replace it every 30 days or so to maintain a consistent scent.
Finally, be sure to open the windows whenever possible. This will allow fresh, outdoor air to circulate and replace the stagnant, odor-filled indoor air that can cause unpleasant odors.
Some of the supposedly quick and easy odor-busting hacks making the rounds online may sound effective, but they can do more harm than good. For example, pouring fabric softener down the toilet to freshen it up may give it a pleasant fragrance, but it can clog your pipes.
A clean, pleasant-smelling toilet doesn’t just improve the appearance of your bathroom – it can also make for a more relaxing experience. Whether you’re using the bathroom for everyday bathing or as a spa-like retreat, a clean toilet can create a comfortable and inviting space.
3. Clean the Tank
If your toilet smells nice, then it’ll be a welcoming space for everyone who uses it. Unpleasant odors can ruin your bathroom experience, but there are several different methods you can use to make your toilet smell fresh and clean. Using proper ventilation, regular cleaning, and effective odor control products will help you achieve a pleasant-smelling bathroom.
Start by scrubbing the inside of the tank and the area around it with an all-purpose cleaner or vinegar. Scrub the rim and under the ledge of the bowl, too. Make sure you pay special attention to the channel where the toilet base meets the tank. It’s often a spot that’s difficult to reach and can hold a lot of gunk.
The next step is to add a scented product that will release a fresh scent every time the tank is flushed. A few drops of essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, or vanilla are great options) on a cotton ball will do the trick. Place the cotton ball in a decorative jar, or tie a few to a reed diffuser and set it near your toilet.
Another simple way to deodorize the bathroom is to put a few pieces of cedar chips in a decorative bowl or vase. You can find them at many hardware and craft stores or even at some grocery stores. The smell will permeate the room and be released with each flush. You can also make a sachet for the bottom of your trash bin to eliminate unwanted odors from that area.
One more thing you can do is replace your fabric softener with white distilled vinegar when washing towels. This will remove the musty odors that can develop over time, and it’s safe for your pipes.
You can also open a window to allow fresh air to circulate through the room, and remember to use your exhaust fan during and after each use of the toilet. These simple steps will improve air quality and remove unpleasant odors from the room, making your toilet smell nice every time you enter it.
4. Clean the Drain
There’s nothing worse than a musty drain, but fortunately, it’s also one of the easiest to fix. Over time, a sink, tub, or shower drain can develop an odor when the water in the P trap (which prevents sewer smells from backtracking into your home) evaporates. This happens more often in kitchen sinks, where grease and oil can congeal in the pipes, but it can happen in bathrooms as well, especially if hair or other grime collects on a regular basis.
To avoid this smell, try a simple bathroom cleaning hack: sprinkle baking soda around and over the drain once a week. The baking soda will absorb the odors and clog-causing gunk that’s built up, then be flushed away by a mixture of vinegar and hot water.
Alternatively, you can use a plastic drain snake to remove hair and gunk that’s coating the inside of your drain. Using a snake with a rag or sponge attached can help to protect your hands and ensure you don’t get any of the grime stuck underneath your nails.
If your bathroom odor persists, it could be a sign of a more serious plumbing problem. In this case, you may need to clean out the entire clogged pipe. To do this, remove the drain cover and pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. After waiting a few minutes, pour in a second cup of boiling water. If the odor persists, you may need to repeat this process more than once.
Another way to deodorize your bathroom is by sprinkling dried lavender or other fragrant herbs in and around the toilet. You can also place a small sachet of scented fabric softener under the toilet seat, which will release a light scent each time it’s flushed.
Keep in mind that a good ventilation system is key to keeping your bathroom smelling nice. This is because dampness can lead to mold and other unpleasant smells, which are difficult to eliminate once they’re established. Getting a fan in your bathroom and running it frequently can help eliminate these odors.
