6 Bathroom Smell Hacks to Get Rid of Odors

Place an Air Freshener Nearby

Air fresheners are practical in a pinch, especially for strong odors. However, they aren't the healthiest product, 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 a quick spritz is effective. There's no need to coat surfaces with an air freshener. Alternatively, 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 makes 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 from the bathroom into the outside air. Both factors improve air quality by removing bad odors and the humidity that creates that musty smell.

Keep Towels Clean and Dry

An often overlooked cause of bad bathroom odors is a dirty or damp towel. When towels don't dry fast enough, they begin smelling musty all of a sudden because of stinky fast-growing bacteria and fungi. The growth process speeds up if it's festering on towels that haven't been washed in a while.

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 possible to kill any germs on the towels.

Light a Candle

The heat and smoke from a candle can help neutralize odors in the bathroom. Unscented candles may surprisingly work just as well as scented ones.

Candles, especially votive candles, are easy to place as small decor pieces in the bathroom. Have a lighter or matches handy to light the candle whenever there's a need. 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 a crusty countertop can cause odors if not cleaned regularly.

Clean your bathroom at least weekly, with a more thorough clean every month or two. It's good general maintenance and should help reduce daily odors.

If you're wondering which part of your bathroom is the dirtiest and smelliest, your guess may be wrong. It's not always your toilet or toilet seat. Doorknobs, faucet handles, and toothbrushes all harbor bacteria and germs. Floors and bath mats can be the worst offenders because they quickly accumulate microscopic particles and fluids that escape from flushing toilets, especially if the lid stays up. Replace your bath mats if they get too smelly. Also, don't forget to reach around to clean the floor at the back of your toilet.

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.