How to Eliminate Bad Bathroom Smells

Unused bathrooms or bathrooms with two sinks very often start to take on a bad odor for no apparent reason. With a little knowledge and some regular attention, eliminating bad bathroom smells is very simple.

1. Open a window or door in good weather so fresh air can circulate in the room.

2. Empty and clean out garbage cans before leaving the bathroom for a long period. Stale or rotting garbage, particularly personal bathroom garbage, can cause a bad bathroom smell over time.

3. Flush and sanitize the toilet before closing off the room. Human waste can only become more rank and even a growing ring on the toilet may produce an unpleasant odor.

4. Remove any mold from walls, shower curtains or bathtubs and make sure the room is dry before forgetting about it for a long time. Mold and mildew can also grow and emit an unpleasant smell.

5. Run water briefly in any unused sinks or through the shower or bath drain a few times each week. Here you will often find the most overlooked causes of bad bathroom smells. Sewer or septic tank gasses can back up through plumbing, filling an otherwise pristine bathroom with a nasty sewage smell. By flushing water through the drain a few times a week, the offending gasses will be rinsed away and the small barricade of fresh water left in the "S-trap" (or "P-trap") the curve in the pipe beneath the sink or tub, will prevent odors from getting through so your bathroom will smell fresh and clean.

6. Spray room deodorizers or place scented oils, soaps or potpourri in your unused bathrooms to keep them smelling fresh, fragrant and clean.