6 Bathroom Smell Hacks to Get Rid of Odors

Place an Air Freshener Nearby

Air fresheners are practical in a pinch, especially if the odor is strong. However, they aren't the healthiest way to take care of bathroom odors, though there are some natural air freshener options. Leave a spray bottle out in your bathroom in case someone feels they need it, but don't solely rely on it to diminish bathroom odors. Remember that only a short spray is necessary. There's no need to coat the walls and floor with air freshener. As an alternative to air fresheners, try a gel odor eliminator that won't spill or cause aerosol spray issues for sensitive noses.

Maintain Good Ventilation

All bathrooms require good ventilation, and getting fresh air moving around the space can make a big difference in how it smells.

Maintaining good ventilation involves two main factors: having a working vent fan and keeping the door (and window, if possible) open when the bathroom is not in use. A functioning vent fan draws moisture and odors out of the bathroom and into the outside air. Both factors improve air quality by removing bad odors, along with humidity from bathing that otherwise could create a musty smell.

Keep Towels Clean and Dry

One often overlooked cause of bad bathroom odors is a dirty or damp towel. When towels don't dry fast enough, they can begin to smell musty all of a sudden because of bad-smelling and fast-growing bacteria and fungi. And if towels haven't been washed in a while, this can speed up the growth process.

Hang your towels to dry—spread out with good airflow—after every use, and wash them at least once a week. (This includes hand towels and washcloths.) Use bleach or the hottest water you can to kill any germs that find their way into the fabric.

Light a Candle

The heat and smoke from a candle can help neutralize odors in the bathroom. And contrary to popular belief, unscented candles may work just as well as scented ones.

Candles, especially votive candles, are easy to place as small decor pieces somewhere in the bathroom. Have a lighter or matches handy, so you can light the candle whenever you feel it's necessary. But never leave a candle unattended. Snuff it out before you leave the room.

Clean Regularly

Sometimes bad smells just mean your bathroom is begging for a cleaning. Gunk that accumulates in the bath or shower, stains in the toilet bowl, a dirty sink, and crusty countertop can cause odors if not cleaned regularly.

Clean your bathroom at least once a week, with a more thorough clean once every month or two. Not only is that good general maintenance, but it also should help to reduce odors on a daily basis.

If you're wondering what the dirtiest, smelliest parts of your bathroom might be, you may guess wrong. It's not always your toilet or toilet seat! Floors and bath mats can be the worst offenders because they quickly accumulate microscopic particles and fluids that escape from toilets as they flush, especially if the lid stays up. Don't forget to reach around to clean the floor at the back of your toilet, too.

Take out the Trash

Although the trash can doesn't contain food scraps like in the kitchen, bathroom garbage—menstrual products, wet wipes, etc.—can smell, too.

Empty your bathroom trash can regularly, not only when it's full. If you want to save trash bags, dump the trash into your larger kitchen can when you take it out.