How to make your bathroom smell good! Here are 17 clever tips and tricks that’ll teach you how to make your bathroom smell good and get the stink out for good!
How To Make Your Bathroom Smell good
A bathroom that smells good is at the very top of many people’s wish lists. If you’re looking for tips and tricks about how to make your bathroom smell good then you are going to love this post.
We’ve compiled a list of 17 really simple ideas, methods, and hacks to make even the stinkiest bathrooms smell fresh again. This detailed post covers how to make your bathroom smell good using practical and easy techniques that anyone can do!
With these clever ways to make your bathroom less stinky you’ll rest easy knowing that your bathroom is not only clean but also smells fresh.
So, the next time guests pop in you wont have to worry about being embarrassed by your stinky bathroom or find yourself needing to sneak off to the bathroom to give it a quick spot clean and once over.
Related: 17 Genius Dawn Dish Soap Hacks You Need To Know About
Keep on reading to find out how you can make your bathroom smell good and get the stink out of your bathroom for good!
What causes a bathroom to smell bad?
The first part of solving a stinky bathroom problem is figuring out what’s causing the unpleasant smell and then taking steps to fix it.
A stinky bathroom can be caused by a variety of different things and this entire post will teach you how to make your bathroom smell good by figuring out where that stink is coming from.
The most common cause of a smelly bathroom is the lack of proper ventilation.
But other things like dirty sinks, toilet bowls, tubs and showers can also contribute to unpleasant odors in your bathroom. Stinky smells can develop quickly in bathrooms because of extra moisture and humidity. So, it’s important to know where stinky hot spots are in your bathroom.
Since there are a number of factors that cause bad smells in the bathroom, here are some of the most common ones to consider when you’re focusing on how to make your bathroom smell good:
- Not enough or inadequate ventilation
- Dirty sinks, toilets bowls, tubs and showers
- Clogged or gunky drains
- Dirty bath mats and rugs
- Dirty towels and clothes hampers
- Dirty litter boxes or pee pads
- Children’s bath toys
- Dirty trash cans
- Mold and mildew
- Diaper pails
- Toothbrush and toothpaste holders
- Soap dishes and shower caddies
How do I keep my bathroom smelling fresh?
How to make your bathroom smell good and fresh means finding out the source of the odor and then taking steps to rid your bathroom of that bad smell for good.
A fresh smelling bathroom requires that you make a little effort upfront to clean your bathroom to first get the stink out (check out some tips on how to get that done below).
From there, there are clever ways to maintain a clean bathroom and genius hacks you can implement to keep your bathroom smelling good all the time!
Here are some of our best tips and tricks for how to make your bathroom smell good all the time.
Related: 5 Popular Spring Cleaning Hacks You Need To Know
How To Make Your Bathroom Smell Good
#1 Give Your Bathroom A Good Clean
A dirty bathroom can be a leading contributor to a stinky bathroom problem. Dirty toilet bowls, sinks, showers, tubs, drains, floors and even vents can cause bad smells to develop.
The first step in how to make your bathroom smell good is giving it a thorough clean from top to bottom. Set aside a couple of hours to give your bathroom a good scrub down and then follow the tips below for how to make your bathroom smell good and keep it smelling fresh for good.
A deep clean every couple of weeks using your favorite disinfectant cleaner is usually sufficient to keep bad smells from coming back (we love love LOVE Mrs. Meyers products). This will help remove built up dirt and grime that accumulates in nooks and crannies over time.
Here are the most important areas of your bathroom you need to clean:
- Bathroom sinks including faucets and sink stoppers
- Toilet bowls including the seat and tank
- Showers and shower walls. Get in all the nooks and crannies to make sure you get all the gunk out. Don’t forget the shower head because funk accumulates there too!
- Tubs, tub faucets and tub stoppers
- Wash bath mats, rugs and hand towels
- Sweep or vacuum floor and pass the mop
Our favorite cleaning products and supplies for different deep cleaning a bathroom:
- Toilets bowl cleaner: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- Bath tub cleaner: Bar Keepers Friend Foam Cleaner
- Sink cleaner: Mrs Meyers All Purpose Cleaner, Peony Scent
- Shower cleaner: Bar Keepers Friend Foam Cleaner
- Floor cleaner: Mrs Meyers All Purpose Cleaner, Peony Scent
- Glass cleaner: Mrs Meyers All Purpose Cleaner, Peony Scent
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#2 Adopt A Maintenance Cleaning Schedule
Once you’ve given the bathroom a thorough deep clean and gotten the stink out, it’s time to adopt a cleaning routine that will help you keep your bathroom clean and smelling good.
By consistently using a routine and the right products and tools, your bathroom will always be clean and smelling fresh so the stinky odors wont have a chance to build back up.
A quick daily spot clean is essential in how to make your bathroom smell good. These quick and easy tasks should be completed every day for a high traffic bathroom and every second or third day for a bathroom that isn’t used as much.
Start to finish this spot cleaning schedule should take no more than 5 minutes per bathroom.
We recommend the following spot cleaning routine:
- Wipe down sinks, faucets and counters everyday using a disinfecting wipe. (we love these compostable Clorox wipes because they clean well, smell great and are safe around kids and pets)
- Clean the toilet bowl using a toilet brush and a disinfecting spray like Mrs Meyers All Purpose Cleaner, Peony Scent
- Wipe the toilet seat with a disinfecting wipe or Scott towel and disinfecting spray
- Wipe down door knobs, locks and light switch plates
- Clean glass and mirrors if needed using glass cleaner
#3 Clean Out The Drains
Dirty drains really stink. Bathroom sinks are hotspot for bad smells because they collect hair, soap scum, toothpaste and dirt which can lead to smelly odors. These items easily accumulate inside the drain pipe or trap and lead to stinky and unwanted odors in your bathroom.
To quickly clean your drain remove the stopper from your bathroom sink or bath tub and clean out the drain hole using a long handled bottle brush or plumber’s snake. Removing hair, soap scum and other gunk that has accumulated over time will help keep smells at bay.
#4 Deodorize Your Toilet Tank
Toilet tanks are a perfect place to add a liquid deodorizer that will clean and deodorize your toilet with every flush.
White vinegar is a great choice because it deodorizes, disinfects and leaves behind a fresh scent. Plus, it’s all natural so it makes a great choice for anyone who wants to avoid chemicals. To help your toilet tank smell good add one cup of white vinegar to the tank every couple of weeks.
Adding some liquid fabric softener (we love to use Downy Nature Rosewater & Aloe) to your toilet tank is another quick and easy hack to make your bathroom smell great. Each time your toilet is flushed your bathroom will fill with a lovely fragrance.
Here are a few more options for deodorizing toilet tanks that we recommend:
- Fresh Products Toilet Bowl Eco Bowl Clip
- Lysol No Mess Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Lavender Fields
- Kaboom Scrub Free! Toilet Bowl Cleaner System
#5 Use a Plugin Wax Warmer
Wax warmers are one of our favorite ways to quickly deodorize your home. Wax warmers work by melting scented wax cubes that release a fresh scent into your home. There are literally hundreds of different fragrances to pick from so you’ll never get bored. And, you can use them in any room of your house to help eliminate odors making them a convenient and versatile choice.
These wax warmers are an inexpensive way to add a fresh scent without the harmful ingredients found in other air fresheners. The best part is that they take hardly any time or effort on your end! Simply plug it into an outlet, pop in a wax cube and flip on the switch.
When it comes to bathrooms we suggest a plugin wax warmer because it will safely and effectively deodorize your bathroom.
#6 Take Our The Trash
Trash bins are another hot spot for unwanted odors. If you don’t take out the trash on a regular basis, your bin will eventually overflow and start to smell.
The easiest way to make your bathroom smell good is to take the trash out on a daily or every other day basis. This way it won’t get over full and start to stink.
Bonus hack* Invest in scented garbage bags that will help cover up any unwanted odors.
Our favorite scented garbage bags are these Glad ForceFlex Plus with Febreeze because they offer superior strength and stretchability to keep your bag closed. Plus they smell awesome.
We also love that they come in a variety of fresh fragrances like lavender, spring meadow breeze and fresh linen.
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#7 Get The Dirty Laundry Out
If your bathroom smells a little funky it could be because dirty clothes have been sitting in the hamper for too long.
If your bathroom smells like dirty clothes, it’s time to stop using it as your dirty laundry room. Dirty clothes smell bad, especially if they are wet and you leave them sitting in the laundry hamper for too long. So, make sure all of your dirty clothes go to the laundry room and not in your bathroom.
To keep your hamper smelling fresh add a scented dryer sheet (We love Downy Infusions Fabric Softener Calm, Lavender & Vanilla Bean) to it between washes. Or, put some scent boosters in a small mesh bag and place it at the bottom of your hamper where it’ll keep your dirty clothes from smelling up your bathroom.
*Use scent boosters with caution if you have kids. Scent boosters are highly toxic if consumed.
#8 Don’t leave damp towels in the bathroom
Hang your towels up to dry, or if you are in a hurry, stick them in the dryer. Damp towels and face cloths can get stinky really quick because of the moisture and humidity.
Install a towel rod if you don’t already have one. Towel rods allow you to hang wet towels to air dry so they won’t become smelly between uses.
#9 Wash Your Bath Mat
Bath mats can get stinky because they’re porous which allows moisture and germs to become trapped.
To keep your bath mat smelling fresh, throw it in the washing machine with a cup of white vinegar or baking soda every month or so. This will freshen it up so you can put it back on the floor without any unwanted odors.
#10 Clean The Litter Box Often
If you keep a litter box in your bathroom it’s important to clean it really often. Otherwise, the smell will become too strong and then nobody will want to use your stinky bathroom. Dirty cat litter is pungent and can be difficult to eliminate especially if you don’t keep the litter box clean.
If your kids are too young to help out, make sure there’s someone else in the house that is willing to take on this task or try getting a self-cleaning litter box like the Pet Safe Scoop Free Original which does all of the dirty work for you.
Scooping the litter at least once per day is a great way to keep litter box smells at bay. Using Fresh Step Gain scent litter is also very helpful because it helps mask and reduce odors.
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#11 Deodorize Your Toilet Brush
Toilet brushes are great because they make cleaning the toilet quick and easy. But, toilet brushes are gross and can quickly become stinky because there is always a bunch of germs and bacteria on them.
To keep your toilet brush smelling fresh, you can put a little bit of liquid disinfectant in the toilet brushes stand as a way to eliminate any potential smells that might creep up between uses.
#12 Keep Your Toothbrush Holder Clean
Toothbrush holders collect water and germs which means if you leave it sitting there dirty it will eventually smell.
Take a small container of distilled white vinegar and pour some in a glass bowl. Place your toothbrush holder in the solution for about 15 minutes and then wipe with a clean cloth. The vinegar will disinfect and eliminate any bacteria that might be growing on your soap dish.
Or, you can wash with warm water and your favorite cleaner (we love Mrs. Meyers all purpose cleaner in peony scent)
#13 Rinse Out Your Soap Dish
Soap dishes like toothbrush holders will eventually stink if they aren’t kept clean because of accumulated water and soap gunk.
So, when your soap dish starts looking grimy it’s a good indication that it’s time to clean it out to prevent your bathroom from smelling bad.
Scrape off any accumulated soap scum and wash your soap dish with warm soapy water and your favorite cleaner.
#14 Open The Windows
If your bathroom has a window , whether it’s big or small, opening it will help ventilate and reduce odors in your bathroom.
The fewer germs and bacteria are in the air the less of a chance there is for yucky smells to develop.
If you don’t have a window in your bathroom consider leaving the door open so the odor will escape and air can circulate.
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#16 Use Fragrance Hacks
There are all kinds of fragrance hacks you can use to make your bathroom smell nice. Fragrance hacks range from pot-pourri sachets to plug-ins, scented candles and diffusers to essential oils.
Here are some of our favorite fragrance hacks for the bathroom:
- Use essential oils to freshen the room, they are natural and harmless. A few drops of essential oil of your choice will do the trick and turn your stinky bathroom into a more pleasant one! (we love lavender, vanilla or any citrus oil).
- Fill an old empty candle or mason jar with scent boosters to quickly add some fragrance to the bathroom
- Fill an old vase with fresh flowers for a natural smelling room
- Tuck some laundry sheets into your linen closet
- Keep a piece of charcoal in a cool spot in your bathroom to keep things smelling fresh
- Use a plugin wax warmer to make your bathroom smell amazing
- Add potpourri sachets to the corners of the bathroom for a nice scent
#17 Add Some Plants
Adding some plants to your bathroom is a great way to not only increase oxygen levels and provide beauty, but it will also help eliminate any odors that might be lingering inside.
Any type of plant on a plant stand will do as long as they get enough water and light. So, don’t be afraid to experiment. If you have a window, place your plant near the window for maximum sunlight exposure or check out these neat plant stands you can easily make yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to make a musty bathroom smell better?
Musty smells come from mold and mildew growth, which can be caused by excess moisture in the air. Musty odors can also be caused by other things like wet towels, shower mats and curtains.
You also want to make sure that your bathroom is properly ventilated. Leaving the door open when you shower or run water at full blast for a few minutes will help your bathroom to breathe and rid the air of musty smells.
Using an exhaust fan is also a good way to help rid the air of excess moisture and odors. A fan will draw out any excess steam and moisture in the air, which will also help your bathroom to smell fresh.
If you have a window in your bathroom, open it up to help circulate fresh air throughout your bathroom.
Once you’ve removed the musty smell from your bathroom you can use some of the smell hacks we’ve outlined above about how to make your bathroom smell good.
How to make a bathroom smell good naturally?
Making a bathroom smell good naturally requires that you get rid of any excess moisture or dirt, which will prevent smells from developing in the first place.
To make your bathroom smell good naturally you will want to clean it with some natural cleaning supplies like vinegar and baking soda.
You can also use fragrance hacks that do not contain chemicals that are harmful to humans or animals like charcoal air purifying bags.
How to keep a windowless bathroom fresh?
How to make a bathroom smell good when you don’t have windows isn’t that difficult, but it will require that you use some of the hacks we’ve outlined above.
Using an air freshener or diffuser is a good way to make your bathroom smell nice and fresh when you don’t have natural ventilation. An air freshener will help keep odors at bay and make your bathroom smell good without much effort!
What are the best bathroom scents?
Bathroom scents vary from person to person. You might like a vanilla or lavender smell, while your friend prefers the smell of fresh cut grass. The best bathroom scents are the ones that make you feel relaxed, calm and happy.
How do you make your bathroom smell like a spa?
The key to making your bathroom smell like a spa is to use some of the hacks outlined above. Once your bathroom is good and clean you can focus on introducing fragrances that remind you of your favorite spa. To do this you can use a diffuser and essential oils.
Using a diffuser and different scents of essential oils will also help your bathroom smell fresh and clean!
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How do you make a bathroom smell good after pooping?
There are a few simple steps to quickly refresh your bathroom after using the bathroom. First, open the window and run the exhaust fan for 5 minutes to get rid of any smells in the air.
In addition, a few spritzes of an air freshener or a product like Poo Pourri will also help to mask any smells that might be lingering in the air!
What is good to pour down a smelly drain?
A smelly drain is often caused by build up of dirt, hair and/or soap scum. We highly recommend cleaning the drain and scraping out all the grime that’s accumulated.
Once it’s clean, add a few drops of an essential oil like peppermint, tea tree or lavender to your baking soda to make your drain smell fresh!
Alternatively you can also try pouring down some vinegar to help eliminate any odors coming from the drain. But, more often then not cleaning out the drain is necessary to really deal with a smelly drain.
Do bathroom fans get rid of smells?
Bathroom fans are installed to help draw out excessive moisture and humidity from the air. While this does help to prevent odors, it doesn’t really deal with any smells that might be lingering in the air.
A bathroom fan is a good way to keep your bathroom smelling fresh and clean, but having windows open or using an air freshener will help to deal with smells even more.
What is the best way to get rid of bad bathroom smells?
There are a few ways to get rid of bad bathroom smells and we’ve outlined them above. The first step is to identify what might be causing the bad smell so you can remove it. When you have identified the source of the bad smell, use one of the hacks above to make your bathroom smell good again.
Can you pour bleach down a smelly sink?
Pouring bleach down a smelly sink is not necessarily the best way to get rid of smells. Bleach does have its uses, but it doesn’t deal with smells very well.
If your drain is clogged with hair or dirt you can clean it out using a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. This will help to clear out any dirt and debris that might be causing the smell. But, if your drain is relatively clean, pour a few drops of an essential oil down the sink and let it sit for 5 minutes before flushing with water.
How do I stop my bathroom sink from smelling?
A smelly sink is a common problem and there are a few things you can do to stop your bathroom smelling bad.
First, make sure it’s clean by scrubbing with products like Mr. Clean Magic Erasers or Bar Keepers Friend. Then, pour down some baking soda to get rid of any lingering odors in the drain. If the drain as a lot of grime and buildup you might have to use a bottle brush to clean it out.
Final Words
How to make your bathroom smell good is actually easy when you have a plan. Focus on giving your bathroom a good deep clean and then maintaining it with the bathroom smell hacks we’ve outlined above.
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