Bathrooms aren’t necessarily known for their sweet smell. But, nothing’s more unappealing than entering a bathroom to find that it is full of a particularly pungent, stinky odor. Bathrooms host some of our most unpleasant, but very necessary activities. For this reason, sometimes, bathrooms have a very distinctive, disagreeable smell that seems impossible to get rid of.
Before you resign yourself to plugging your nose every time you enter the room, try some of these effective tricks that will help keep your bathroom smelling fresh:
1. Neutralize Odors
Before you can add a fresh, new scent to your bathroom, eliminate the unpleasant odors that are already there. Otherwise, you’ll end up masking the smell, and you can be sure that the most sensitive noses will be able to detect the smell underneath.
One tactic is to leave a small dish of baking soda in the bathroom. This common kitchen item is also a powerful neutralizer, known for soaking up bad odors. Simply replace the dish every few weeks from a fresh supply.
Baking soda is also great for deep cleaning your toilet. Create a paste by mixing it with a bit of water and then scrub it into every nook and cranny. Then, let it sit for 10-20 minutes before wiping clean. This technique is a lifesaver, especially for families with young children.
Alternatively, place a small candle – either scented or unscented – in the bathroom. Lighting the candle while you’re using the bathroom can help stop bad odors in their tracks. While this might not technically qualify as neutralizing, lighting a match creates sulfur dioxide, which completely overpowers methyl mercaptan, an odor-causing compound commonly found in the bathroom. Don’t forget to blow out the candle before you leave the room.
2. Essential Oils
Do you wish your bathroom smelled like roses, a pine forest, or a bed of lavender? Essential oils are a natural product available in a multitude of scents, all of which will help improve the smell of your bathroom.
Use them in a diffuser or simply apply a few drops to several cotton balls that you place in a dish. With these oils, you can enjoy just the right amount of scent by adjusting how many drops are used. Just add fresh drops every few days.
3. Ventilation
Whether you open a window or turn on the ventilation fan, either trick will help make sure your bathroom smells fresh. Disagreeable odors will be swept out of the room and fresh air will enter, keeping your bathroom smelling pleasant.
4. Covered Trash Can
Sometimes, the trash can is the source of unpleasant smells. In addition to emptying it regularly, a covered model can help keep the smell contained. Opt for a small can with a pedal or flip lid so that it’s easy to use as well as effective for masking odors.
5. Regular Cleaning
No trick or strategy can replace good, old-fashioned cleaning. Depending on how much use your bathroom gets, clean it at least once a week and do a deep-clean once a month. Choose from conventional or more environmentally friendly cleaning supplies that will bust nasty smells and leave your bathroom sparkling clean. Don’t forget to try baking soda for excellent odor-elimination.
When you apply some of these tips, you’ll no longer need to plug your nose and suffer through your visit to the restroom. Instead, you and your guests will be treated to a fresh, clean smell.