It’s no wonder the toilet has all these bad connotations in the human mind. There are the things you do with a toilet, the germs you associate with it, the images you have of public restrooms, the fact that you have to clean it, all these details leave the toilet somewhat … contaminated.
What’s the worst bathroom stain of all? It is the stain of smell; After years and years of use to dispose of your own garbage, something is bound to give. Maybe it’s the toilet bowl itself? Or is it the tiles, the walls, the sink, the drain, or the bathtub? Pray it’s not the septic tank, because that will really suck.
So your toilet and bathroom don’t exactly smell like flowers, or smell like flowers … the carrion flower variety, that is. What should you do?
Try to identify the odorless smell, of course. Smells like humidity? Rancid? Does the smell smell like urine? Faeces? Or sewer? Or does it smell like something has died somewhere in your bathroom? You will need to try to locate the scent as well. Do you smell it everywhere in the room or only in certain places, like near the toilet or near the sink? Have a smelly laundry hamper in the bathroom that stinks the whole room? Identify the source of the odor and then continue from there.
Basic elimination of toilet odors
* If you smell an unpleasant odor in your bathroom and you need to cover it up quickly, just light a wooden match in the middle of that room. Lighting a match produces sulfur dioxide. This chemical is so strong that it hides most other odors from the nose for a short period of time.
* Obviously, the easiest way to make your bathroom smell better is to simply open the windows and let in fresh air. Unless the temperature is below freezing, that is, or it is raining. If you can’t get fresh air in, there are many other methods available.
* You probably need something stronger than soapy water to get rid of toilet odors. Specifically, white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide counteracts the natural oil in bath foam. Just get 1 liter (or quart) of white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide (peroxide can cause discoloration), ΒΌ teaspoon. baking soda, 1 tsp. dish detergent (also removes grease) and mix them together. This vinegar / peroxide solution will dissolve and remove odor-causing grime rather than just spreading it out.
* Lighting a candle … even an unscented one … in your bathroom can eliminate odors. Or, if you don’t want to create a potential fire hazard because you have children or pets, place a candle that has a strong fragrance in your bathroom. It will just cover up odors rather than remove them, but at least that room in your house will smell better for a while.
* Ammonia is also a very useful cleaning agent to remove the salty smell from the toilet. Clean your toilet with ammonia once, especially outside. However, do not let the ammonia get near the bleach.
* Baking soda is a good odor absorber. Put a generous amount of baking soda in an uncovered container (the size of the container depends on the size of the bath) and leave it for several days. Remove the baking soda and replace it with a new batch and leave it for a couple of days. Keep replacing the baking soda until the odorless smell has been removed.
* Hydrochloric acid is also recommended. For very stubborn odors only, this caustic chemical is very powerful and can combat smelly stains for up to forty years. But be very careful in its use and do not leave it for longer than the instructions say as it can corrode the porcelain itself, causing roughness on the surface that will make the toilet stain even faster and smell even worse on the future.
* Get a sack of charcoal to absorb the bad smell; Charcoal is used not only to filter water and other things, but it is also used to absorb odors, just like baking soda. If you see charcoal in an odor removal product, it will likely be successful in removing the odors.
* Disinfect the walls, ceiling, floor and all accessories; Many people forget to clean them, but these areas have likely built up a lot of odorous odor from all those years of use. Do yourself a favor and put your shower curtains and carpet in the washing machine, scrub the tiles, and clean the tub and porcelain sink with a good dose of ammonia, just to make sure the toilet smell goes away.
Maybe the odorless smell is in the grout on the floor tiles. If that’s the case, then a strong chlorine bleach bath will work. A little bleach in the container overnight can also help. Turn on the fan to remove the bleach smell.
* Clean your toilet. Speaking of the toilet bowl, maybe a more detailed method of cleaning it is needed. Use generous amounts of cleaning or sanitizing agent and a bowl brush to really scrub the porcelain. Then let the solution sit for a minute before the inevitable flush. Regardless of the chemicals you use, remember to respect the instructions given and follow them exactly; in particular; never mix chemicals, as this can be extremely dangerous. Make sure there is sufficient ventilation while you work, and ideally wear eye and skin protection.
Advanced removal of toilet odors
Assuming your bathroom is clean, i.e. the toilet is scrubbed and sanitized, no mold or mildew is present, the shower curtain / door is free of soap residue, the shower / tub has been scrubbed, the floor is tile has been swept and mopped, or the carpet is dry and spill-free, and there is still something unpleasant in the air, then it’s time to investigate the problem.
* Septic ulcer. Do you have a septic tank? The smell is a warning that there is a problem with the septic system. Sometimes the sewer can be clogged and needs to be checked, which is why the smell still lingers. This bathroom smell can spell big trouble if it is not remedied as soon as possible.
If your home is connected to a city sewer system, you will need to contact a plumber or the city to verify and identify the exact cause. If you live in a rural setting and your wastewater is handled by a septic tank, then you will only need to call a plumber. Sewage odors in your bathroom drains can mean there is a problem in the system. That is, the sewage may be receding and not being depleted as it should.
Another thing to check is the exhaust pipe which may also be clogged. This is a big problem to solve. If you are renting, let your landlord know before the septic tank begins to recede. Now it smells!
* Wax, remove wax. This is another common problem that can make your bathroom smell like it’s never been flushed, even after flushing. If the wax ring that seals the toilet base to the sewer pipe has become poor, it can allow gases and odors to enter the room from the pipe.
It may also be that the toilet is not seated properly when installed; as such it may require a new wax gasket underneath. Call a plumber and see if they can find the problem. Or do it yourself by replacing the ring and then restarting your toilet; the problem should be over by then.
* Check the board. There is a gasket at the connection with the bowl and the pipe leading to the outside. In Wales, for example, there is also the joint between the ground and the bowl. Anyone could get hurt.
Check the level of water entering the water tank; Maybe the flush is on and the lack of water is emptying the trap at the S curve. Try filling the container halfway with clean water and put some food stain in the water tank, then rinse.
Check the level of the dye in the container; you should see the color clearly. If not, your toilet is getting too flushed. If that’s the case, find someone who can repair your type of toilet. Water must remain in the container after a flush to act as a seal against sewer gas, even with the low flush type.
Products to eliminate toilet odor
* Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner (with bleach) cleans and sanitizes with the power of Clorox Bleach. The sanitizing formula dissolves dirt and grime, while killing 99.9% of bacteria and other germs, including cold and flu viruses. Powerful cling action removes stains while deodorizing with a fresh, clean scent. In particular, it removes stubborn stains to clean and polish the toilet bowl and deodorizes the toilet by killing odor-causing bacteria.
* Lime-A-Way Toilet Cleaner has been specifically formulated with extremely strong limescale-fighting ingredients to remove stubborn and unattractive calcium deposits that form on your bowl. These ingredients are biodegradable and organic, safe for the environment and for your septic system. Lime-A-Way also contains very powerful hydrochloric acid, which is its main cleaning ingredient and is extremely resistant to odor-causing germs, dirt, and toilet waste.
