How to Get Rid of Bad Odors in the Bathroom

Bathrooms develop odors if not cleaned regularly.

Unpleasant odors in the bathroom area have many causes. Whether the odor is a temporary or an ongoing problem determines the method useful in getting rid of the smell. Keep your bathroom clean and fresh smelling by giving it a thorough cleaning each week with the appropriate cleaning products. Large families or a household with many guests may need to clean more often to control any lingering offensive odors.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton balls
• Vanilla extract
• Small bowls
• Baking soda
• Candle and holder
• Bathroom cleaning products
• Bucket
• Chlorine bleach
• Rubber gloves
• Sponge

Instructions

Temporary Odors

1. Saturate a cotton ball with vanilla extract. Place it in a small bowl or other container in your bathroom. This gives the small area a fresh, vanilla scent and helps to absorb offensive smells.

2. Set a small bowl of baking soda into the bathroom on a shelf or counter top. Baking soda is effective in absorbing and neutralizing odors. This is particularly helpful for those who are sensitive to perfumed air fresheners.

3. Light a small candle and set it and an appropriate holder on the back of the toilet area or a shelf. The candle scents the air as it melts, helping to disguise and eliminate the odor.

On-Going Odors

1. Inspect your sink, shower curtain, tub and shower areas for signs of mold and mildew. They can cause musty, unpleasant odors.

2. Clean the moldy areas well with your regular commercial or homemade cleaning products.

3. Rinse off any remaining cleaning product.

4. Add 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach to a gallon of water in a bucket.

5. Put on rubber gloves and dip a sponge into the bleach solution. Wring it out well.

6. Wipe down the moldy area with the damp sponge. Let the bleach solution remain on the area for 15 minutes.

7. Rinse the area well with clear water.

Tips & Warnings

• The high humidity in bathrooms provides the perfect conditions for mold and mildew growth. Running your exhaust fan during a steamy, hot shower or bath and for a few minutes afterward helps vent the moisture in the air outdoors.

• Empty the bathroom hamper on a regular basis. Sweaty, dirty clothes cause offensive odors to linger in the bathroom. Teach your family members to hang up wet towels instead of dumping them into the hamper. Damp towels can develop mold and offensive odors.

• Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or products containing ammonia. The combination gives off toxic fumes.

References

• Lennox: Unpleasant Odors
• Colorado State University Extension; Clean It - Dry It - Disinfect It: Mold and Mildew Control; Jane K. Frobose; February 2008