Causes of Bathroom Odors:The bathroom in your house, for a variety of reasons, is host to large numbers of germs ad bacteria. It is not just the toilet that causes germs and odor. Virtually everything you do in a bathroom releases substances which are a haven for odor causing bacteria.
- Use of toilet
- Shaving
- Brushing Hair
- Brushing Teeth
- Changing Clothes
- Showering/bathing
Even the constant washing heightens the risk for mold and mildew.
How to Eliminate Bathroom Odors:- Flush the toilet after every use.
- Do not use the toilet as a garbage can. Used diapers, sanitary napkins, and plastic bags should not be flushed down the toilet.
- Clean the toilet bowl inside and out at least once a week.
- Immediately unclog the toilet when there is a clog. Do not allow the clog to stand.
- Make sure your toilet releases enough water to flush. Don't hesitate to flush twice.
- Pour bleach into the toilet bowl after you have cleaned it, but do not mix bleach with muriatic acid. This chemical combination can do serious damage to your lungs.
- If your toilet is used unusually frequently, consider a rim deodorizer. Hung from the rim of the toilet, a rim deodorizer releases a small amount of borax or bleach every time the toilet is flushed. Blue water in the toilet bowl indicates the deodorizer has been recently applied.
- Add a small amount (1/4 cup/60 ml) of vinegar to the toilet bowl and allow to stand overnight. Flush the next morning to remove toilet odors.
- Alternatively, add a small amount (1 tablespoon/15 ml) of detergent with a small amount (also 1 tablespoon/15 ml) of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Allow to stand overnight and flush the next morning to remove toilet odors.
- If your toilet bowl needs heavy-duty cleansing, clean the bowl by your regular method and then flush to remove debris. Following label instructions, apply muriatic acid to the bowl and under the rim. Wearing gloves, scrub the toilet and under the rim with a toilet brush. Wash the exterior of the toilet bowl (but not the seat) with more muriatic acid. Then flush to remove the muriatic acid from the interior of the bowl and wash the outside of the bowl with cool water to remove all traces of the acid.
- Fix leaks. Overweight users of the toilet or improper seating of the toilet itself will result in leaks which provide moisture for molds and bacteria. Make sure your toilet is properly installed, and, if necessary, get leaks at the bottom of the bowl sealed.
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