How to eliminate smells from the toilet bowl

Toilet smells aren’t something we like to talk about very much, or at all for that matter. Having a smelly toilet can make us feel like we’re not keeping the bathroom clean enough, but don’t worry – an unpleasant smell from the toilet isn’t always a sign that you’re not keeping up with your cleaning schedule. Potentially, the problem could be down to trapped grime in the S-bend. Either way, if the smell is making you heave every time you walk past the bathroom door, it’s certainly time to do something about it. There are two quick and easy ways you can eliminate these odours. Here’s how to get smells out of the toilet:

While it’s often tempting to use a homemade cleaning solution, when it comes to cleaning a smelly toilet it may be more efficient to use a quality commercial cleaning product. Using a specially designed cleaner doesn’t just ensure that lingering germs in your toilet are destroyed – the results will also be more fragrant!

1. Remove toilet smells by cleaning your loo thoroughly

While we may do our utmost to keep the toilet bowl clean, fresh, and as hygienic as a toilet bowl can reasonably get, we have little control over what goes on in the S-bend. Every time the toilet is flushed, some amount of dirt and grime will become trapped in the bend, and can end up being the reason you find yourself smelling toilet odours in the rest of the house. The best way to clean the S-bend is to remove as much water from the toilet bowl as possible, preferably by plunging – although siphoning is also an option.

Having removed as much water as you can, apply a quality commercial toilet cleaner. A product containing bleach, with effective germ-destroying powers, is your best option here – like Domestos. Choosing a product with a handy nozzle for application under the toilet rim will also prove useful. Regardless of your chosen cleaning solution, wear gloves, ensure the room you are working in is well ventilated, and read the instructions on the label for the best results.

2. Hide the toilet smells

If it turns out that the S-bend isn’t the source of the smell, toilet bowl odours will still linger in your bathroom. If it’s not a case of cleanliness, then you’ll want to look at other methods of removing the odour, such as masking it. This method can be very good if you believe the source of the smell to be temporary. One way to mask the odour is to add a few drops of essential oils straight into the water, and flush. If you’ve ever put some essential oils in your bath, you’ll know that the smell is very strong: this should hide the nasty odours for hours. If you would like to know how to prevent odours from the start, find out more here. 

Although everyone encounters toilet smells at some point, it’s not something we like to admit. By following these two easy steps above, you’ll have a bathroom so clean and fresh that visitors will think you’ve never used it!

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