One of the most embarrassing things is knowing you will be having guests over within 2 hours aaaaaaand…..
You realize that your bathroom smells, well, not – so – fabulous.
How to make a bathroom smell good shouldn’t be rocket science. But I will admit that I had NO idea what to do about my bathroom’s odor at first either.
Thankfully, I figured out the BEST tips on how to make a bathroom smell good and fresh
Every.
Single.
Day.
(I mean, if you’re anyone like me, you probably spend a good portion of your time sitting on your porcelain throne scrolling through Pinterest and TikTok *cough cough*)
Don’t worry, no judgments in this corner of this internet. 😉
But seriously, our bathrooms deserve just as much lovin’ and carin’ like the rest of the home.
First thing’s first…. I don’t start any project without a checklist to keep everything in check!
Click Here to grab your bathroom cleaning checklist BEFORE you even think about spraying a bunch of bathroom air freshener. That won’t tackle the WHY behind the unpleasant smells in your bathroom and you’ll just be left with the odor coming back later on.
And those are NOT the kinds of ~ vibes ~ we want in 2020’s, sis.
Let’s get right into it!
So, Why Does My Bathroom Smell?
I remember when I was having issues with the bathroom odor, it was actually due to a multitude of issues and I learned that there are many reasons why your bathroom may smell unpleasant.
Two of the most common reasons for a smelly bathroom are poor ventilation and buildup of mold and mildew.
The latter occurs for many reasons – including poor ventilation – but it is something that can be treated AND prevented in the future with the right tools and knowledge.
And the truth of the matter is that mold and mildew are actually extremely hazardous to our health!
According to this article by the Rhode Island Department of Health, mold can cause anything from headaches to rashes and even respiratory problems. Some types of mold even release toxins! YIKES
The article explains a few ways to help prevent mold buildup in your bathroom, which will help with the stinky smell if that is what is causing the issue.
Some other culprits for a smelly bathroom include:
- Your shower curtain
- Toilet bowl
- Towels / Hand towels
- Expired products
And more!
Caring for your bathroom doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming though.
Here’s How to Make Bathrooms Smell Good
Alright alright, you’re probably dying to know just how it is that I make my bathroom smell good AND fresh everyday. Here are 23 ways YOU can achieve this too!
Toilet Bowl Smells
One of the reasons your bathroom may smell bad is because of your toilet bowl.
I know, I know –
It’s the last place you want to focus on cleaning but it really does make all the difference!
Especially if you have a house full of family or guests over often.
Nobody wants to use a smelly toilet and certainly not one that isn’t properly flushed. *shudders*
Here are a few tips on how to clean a toilet bowl and keep it smelling fresh.
1. Fabuloso Toilet Hack!
Yes! Tik Tok made it happen!
If you don’t know what I mean, Fabuloso is the star on #cleantok.
There’s a very popular hack called the Fabuloso Toilet hack. All you do is get your favorite Fabuloso scent bottle, us a knife to cut a slit at the bottom and turn it upside down in your toilet tank!
Every time you flush you get a a bit of Fabuloso to clean your toilet bowl and release a nice smell!
2. Toilet Perfume
The idea of perfume for toilets may seem a bit, well, weird, but if you want to know how to make your bathroom smell good after pooping, you’ve got to keep an open mind.
Poo Pourri is probably the most well-known brand in the toilet perfume world.
They come in a huge variety of scents to choose from and work great!
I especially ** love ** this set, that comes with a few different scents because I get to pick and choose between them depending on how I would like my bathroom to smell.
3. Toilet Cleaning Products + Wand
You can’t give your toilet a proper cleaning without having the right products to help tackle all the germs and odors.
The Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner and their wand product help me get the job done!
Plus, you know it’s disinfecting the area and ensuring no more germs are lurking.
4. Clean The Toilet Bowl Regularly
Okay, this one should be a no-brainer, but most people don’t actually know how often you should be cleaning your toilet.
Did you know you should be disinfecting & cleaning your toilet bowl AT LEAST once a week and your shower AT LEAST every two weeks???
I mean, your bathroom is literally the perfect environment for illnesses, like E. coli, to become a problem, states NBC News in this interview with microbiologist Jason Tetro, and cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk.
NOT being proactive in creating a cleaning routine for your bathroom can result in the buildup of mold and mildew (as I spoke about earlier in the post.)
5. Essential Oils + Diffuser
Okay, can we just brag about how chic this diffuser is though??
Not only do they create a lovely, decorative piece for your bathroom, they can make ANY bathroom smell divine.
I especially love the true lavender from this set of bathroom scents for diffusers.
6. Bathroom Deodorizer
Ever heard of deodorant for your bathroom?
This particular deodorizer is great for when you want to truly eliminate bathroom odors, not just mask them with lovely fragrances.
Many products on the market simply mask odors with fragrances or perfumes, but Zero Odor actually eliminates them forever!
And because it’s safe to use around children and pets, you can feel good about using it in any room of your home.
To use, simply spray in the air and on surfaces in any room to permanently eliminate odors and prevent odor build up. You may notice a temporary “tracer scent” when first spraying, but don’t worry – this quickly disappears and is just there to help you know where you’ve sprayed.
7. Bathroom Air Fresheners
Once I have completely eliminated the stinky smells, I do love to touch up on the smell of the bathroom with a bathroom air freshener.
The Glade plug-ins are convenient because all you have to do is just replace the cartridge once you see it’s empty and your bathroom is full of the scent of fresh linen.
It truly fills up my whole bathroom with this fresh scent and I love the fact that it is plugged into the wall, allowing me to better use my bathroom’s counter space and keep it less cluttered.
8. Bathroom Gel Beads
Cute decor. Divine smell.
Enough said 🙂
Isn’t this bathroom gel from Amazon look fresh and cute?
You can set it on the bathroom counter, by your toilet paper area or even on the floor by the toilet bowl!
9. Soak the Toilet Seat (Get a Removable Toilet Seat)
Did you know that urine likes to get stuck in the nooks and crannies of your toilet seat?
Yes, it’s a gross thought but the thought must be thought-ed!
Every two to three weeks take the time to remove the toilet seat and give it a proper bleach soak (1 part of bleach to 5 parts of water).
But what if your toilet seat doesn’t come off easily?
Well, get one that does! I have these removable toilet seats installed for both of my bathrooms and I love how EASY it is to take off the seat and clean them properly!
10. Bleach the Plunger & Brush Holder
On the topic of bleach – make sure you bleach your plunger and brush holder every month depending on how often you use these tools!
Many people seem to forget that the toilet cleaning products could be the culprits of a stinky toilet bowl or bathroom.
To do this, add 1/2 cup of bleach to the water of your laundry sink or bathtub and let the plunger and toilet wand/brush holder sit for at least 30 minutes. Then, dump it out and rinse the items until all the bleach is gone.
Wipe down the outside of the plunder and wand/holder with a clean cloth and let it air dry completely.
Shower Drain Smells Like Poop
This may be an awkward conversation to have, but the truth of the matter is that more people deal with this issue than you may think (no, you aren’t alone, haha).
A shower drain that smells like poop is most likely caused by a build-up of hair, soap scum, and dirt (yes, I know, yuck!)
When these things mix together, it creates an environment for bacteria to grow which then causes that not-so-pleasant odor.
But wait –
I’ve got some effective (and very simple) fixes for this issue too.
11. Install an Exhaust Fan (If You Don’t Already Have One)
Many underestimate the power of the exhaust fan. Not only does it help with ventilating the room of humidity, it helps with smells as well!
Many older homes don’t have an exhaust fan though!
You can definitely install one but if that’s not in your budget I have a fix for that (check out #16 in the list).
12. Open Some Doors and Windows
A bit of a *slap* on the forehead moment, but you’d be surprised how easily one forgets to simply open doors and windows and allow nature to just cleanse the air on its own.
It costs nothing and is still just as effective as many of the other methods.
I open my windows when I shower and in the mornings to air out my place.
13. Bathroom Deodorizer
(This bathroom deodorizer is THAT good that I just have to mention it a second time, haha)
This works great for deodorizing a smelly shower drain, so you aren’t limited to using it just for your toilet bowl smells.
14. It’s Your Shower Curtain
Uh, yeah, your shower curtain could very well be the culprit behind that smell of poop lingering in your bathroom.
Many curtains consist of fabrics that are absorbent and what they end up absorbing isn’t only the water from your shower. They absorb smells, too!
Luckily, I’ve got a solution for that in my Pin here!
And if you’re in the market for a new shower curtain, feel free to check out both my vinyl and cotton recommendations.
Both have their pros and cons so make sure you look into proper care for each.
15. Good Ol’ Fashion Baking Soda + Vinegar
It’s a truth as old as time itself, but there is literal magic when it comes to baking soda and vinegar.
Not only is it great for cleaning a multitude of surfaces, it’s also probably one of the more environmentally-friendly options out there if you’re looking for something more along that route.
Musty Smell in the Bathroom
No one likes that lingering, musty smell in their bathroom.
There’s no other smell quite like it, and unfortunately, once you notice it, it’s pretty hard to un-smell it.
This smell is usually caused by a mold or mildew problem. Both of these can grow in any moist environment (which your bathroom definitely is!)
Try out these tips for tackling that very issue!
16. Get a Humidifier
Hands down this was the BEST thing that solved all my bad poopy smells in the bathroom!
See, we don’t have an exhaust fan in our bathroom. It’s a small house with a small bathroom and well, I don’t know know if there is room for one to tell you the truth.
But, there is room for a small apartment size dehumidifier! It works wonders I tell you!
17. Best Candles for Bathroom Odor
I am a sucker for candles (I can’t go to Target without stopping by the candle aisle every. single. time.)
If I haaaaaad to pick just one for tackling the musty smell in my bathroom, this candle from Chesapeake Bay is *** amazing *** and lasts FOREVER when you pair it with the other tips on this list for keeping you bathroom odors under control.
But, these candles are a close second:
18. Don’t Dry Towels in the Bathroom
We’re all familiar with that nasty, damp smell towels give off after a few days of hanging them on our towel hooks.
Instead of just hanging that damp towel on a hook in your bathroom, you can try:
- Throwing the towel in the dryer for about 30 minutes
- Drying it outside
- Or if neither of those are options, hang it up to dry where the towel can be spread open and NOT in a closed bathroom
19. Try Fabuloso!
I mentioned Fabuloso if you have a smelly toilet bowel, but you can use Fabuloso for your whole bathroom!
Use it to clean your shower stall, your bathroom counter, your bathroom floor and even your bathroom walls!
20. Incense Anyone?
If diffusers and essential oils aren’t your thing, you can always go for the trusty ol’ incense stick.
There are a ton of different scents to choose from so you’re bound to find one (or a few) that you love.
Not only do they make your bathroom smell great, but they also look pretty darn cool too. 😉
Just light ’em and let ’em burn!
Be sure to put them out when you’re done though, we don’t want any accidents.
21. Use a Dryer Sheet
Now listen –
You may think I’m cookoo but hear me out!
Simply slip a dryer sheet in the bathroom drawer or where you store your toilet paper and over time your bathroom will smell like the fresh sent of laundry!
I like the Downy Infusion sheets as they have a nice calming scent that’s perfect for your bathroom vibes.
22. Get a Dupray Steam Cleaner
This square little guy is TRULY a godsend!
I LITERALLY use it all the time for my kitchen floor and bathroom floor.
But wait – it does more!
It comes with special nozzles and the small Neat Lance and brass brush that’s perfect to scrub away mildew around your sink faucet and around the toilet base!
23. Try Plants
I could NOT possibly end a post about freshening up a bathroom of smells without adding in plants to the list.
Turning my bathroom into a freakin’ oasis? Yes, please!
I especially love hanging trailing plants in my bathroom, but feel free to browse around AND look for plants that do well in humidity while purifying your air.
Making Your Bathroom Smell Good All The Time
Alright, so there you have it, 23 hacks to make a bathroom smell good, fresh & oh-so divine!
I hope you try some of these hacks and tricks to help you have a great smelling bathroom.
Don’t forget to check out my other articles about cleaning your bathroom!
- 16 Bathroom Cleaning Hacks to Try Out
- Easy Daily, Weekly and Monthly Bathroom Cleaning Checklist
- 11 Mind Blowing Fabuloso Hacks that Actually Work
And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest!
