Have you noticed a bad smell in your bathroom that won’t go away?
Sometimes it’s not just frequent usage that makes your washroom smell bad, as the problem could be bigger than that. A drain might be clogged, plumbing might be dysfunctional, or you might need to install a drain stopper to prevent sewage backups.
The list of factors runs long, but we have the solutions. If you want to keep your bathroom smelling fresh like a daisy, we have discussed ways to get rid of bad smells in the bathroom in this simple guide.
Keep reading to find out!
What Causes Bathroom Smell?
The following factors can lead to bathroom smells:
1. Drain Clogging
One of the most common reasons behind a smelly bathroom is clogged drains. Your shower drains can get clogged by soaps, shampoos, hair and dead skin. A telling sign of drain clogging is — minor flooding when you take a shower coupled with a foul sewage smell.
If you notice this, clean the shower and sink drains or get them unclogged by a professional. And before you know it, the smell will be gone.
2. Damaged Toilet Bowl
Your toilet bowl can get damaged over time, leading to sewer gas leakage into your bathroom. If the wax seal at the base of your toilet comes loose, it can create tiny holes, allowing the sewer gas to seep in.
Additionally, cracks in the toilet bowl lead to water leakage, ultimately dropping the water levels in the P-trap. This can lead to an awful smell in your bathroom and needs to be addressed immediately.
3. Low Water Levels In P-Trap
A P-trap is a U-shaped pipe usually located under the drains or sink. Its primary function is to trap water in the drain so sewer gas doesn’t escape into your bathroom. If you don’t use your sink and fixtures for a long time, the water in P-trap will dry out, and the sewer gas smell will permeate your bathroom.
4. Mould, Mildew Or Bacteria Build-up
Pay attention to your bathroom walls if you observe a musty smell. Thoroughly check if there is mould or mildew because fungi usually lead to such smells. The same is true for bacteria build-up in your toilet seat. So, keep an eye out for grime in your washroom and try to clean it routinely.
5. Sewer Backups
Another reason for foul smells in your washroom could be sewer back-ups. During heavy rainfall, sewer systems overflow due to excess water run-off. This can cause backflow in individual residential sewer lines leading to sewage backups.
However, when the pressure is not that high, the water doesn’t backflow, but sewage gases can. This leads to bad bathroom odour, and there’s not much you can do about it other than waiting for the sewer lines to stabilise.
6. Poor Ventilation
Moving on, your bathroom must have proper vents, windows and an exhaust fan for air circulation. Washrooms get smelly after you flush the toilet, so getting rid of that smell is essential.
Also, bathrooms have so much moisture, so they can get clammy without proper ventilation. Poor air circulation can be a significant reason for the sewage smell in your bathroom.
7. Full Septic Tank
If there is a septic tank in your residential space, you may experience a foul smell in your bathroom when it overflows. Other telltale signs are — sluggish toilet, bubbling or gurgling noises in drains and sinks, etc. Septic tanks require monitoring and maintenance, so do take out some time for that.
How To Remove Foul Bathroom Smells?
Now that we have discussed the factors that lead to foul smells in the bathroom, we can move to the solutions. Here’s what you can do to get rid of the sewage smell:
1. Deep Clean Your Bathroom
The most effective solution is — to clean your bathroom thoroughly and regularly. Half of your problems will go away if you simply take time and devise a routine for deep cleaning your loo.
And not just your toilet, but your showers and sinks too. You can use vinegar and baking soda to clean your fixtures and drains. Natural ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar and lemon juice are much better for cleaning than harmful chemicals. That’s because baking soda is basic and vinegar is acidic, so their mixture becomes neutral and serves as an excellent cleanser.
You can batch-produce a DIY mix and store it in a spray bottle to use whenever needed. It prevents bacteria from growing and can be used on walls to prevent mildew. Every once in a while, run hot water through your drains to remove scum and eliminate potential clogs.
Lastly, wash the floor with scented disinfectant, scrub the toilet surface routinely and keep wet towels away.
2. Fix The Ventilation
Another easy solution is good ventilation, as fresh air can ward off all the bad odour and sewage smell from your bathroom. Install an exhaust fan if you don’t already have one, and you’ll be good to go.
3. Pay Attention To The P-trap
Keep checking the water level in the P-trap of your toilet and sink from time to time. Ensure that it has enough water so that sewage smells don’t enter your pipes. You can also install a new one if the old one seems damaged.
4. Install A Backflow Valve In The Sewer
If backflows often riddle your city, witness frequent rainfall, and your residential area, consider installing a backflow valve. This will prevent runoff water from entering your pipelines and prevent bad odours.
Other Ways You Can Prevent Bad Smells In Bathroom
1. Use Air Freshener
Regularly spray air fresheners in your bathroom, especially after using the toilet. You can also place an air purifier to maintain freshness. Air purifiers are great one-time investments to keep your washroom smelling good. However, they do not eliminate the cause of the bad smell.
2. Burn Candles And Incense
If you don’t want to spend money on an air purifier, you can also burn candles and incense to keep the washroom clean. Doing this will keep the bad smell away from your bathroom.
Say Goodbye to Foul Bathroom Odours - A Complete Guide to Odour Removal
Bathrooms can start smelling bad due to many problems. So, first of all, you need to do a thorough inspection and find out the root cause. Once done, you can fix the issue using simple methods such as hot water, vinegar and baking soda.
To keep the bad smells away, clean your bathroom regularly, including your shower and sink drain. Clean the fixtures, maintain the toilet and use some freshener after every use. Following these simple things can help you keep your bathroom smelling good.
If you smell sewer gases at your home and these DIY methods don’t work, contacting a professional plumber is best. The team at Fixed Fast Plumbing in Sydney specialise in draining solutions for local residents. So, call us today to see how we can assist you!
That’s all for this article, and we hope you enjoyed it!
