There are several reasons for unpleasant bathroom smells, whether it’s from the shower drain, drain pipe, vent pipe, sink drain, or toilet. The cause of the foul odor is an easy fix if it does not involve a plumbing problem. We’ll show you how to remove sewer smell from the toilet without having to call in a plumbing professional
There are three major causes of bad toilet smells. A toilet smell that resembles the stench of a rotten egg means that there is bacteria in the water from the drain system. A sewer gas smell means there is a possible issue with the p-trap. If the toilet bowl area smells like urine, it may be due to a leaking wax ring seal around the floor drain.
Removing Toilet Odor and Sewer Smells
Before you call a plumbing service to assess the toilet situation, determine the source of the odor. If you establish that you do not have a plumbing problem, take care of that bad smell in the toilet by using a disinfectant and odor neutralizing cleaner.
Eliminating Sewer Smell from Sink and Toilet
Stinky smells coming out of the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, and toilet are usually the result of a clog or bacterial growth in the water or drain pipes. Here is how to get rid of toilet odor that has a sewage smell.
Toilet Sewage Smell Eliminator
The section of piping beneath the sink that is u-shaped contains a p-trap, which usually prevents sewer odors from coming into your bathroom. Sometimes, the water in the trap evaporates, which allows for smells to rise, creating a nasty bathroom odor.
To get rid of sewer smell, pour one quart of water down all of the drains in your bathroom. Doing this refills the trap with a small amount of water and prevents foul smells.
Expect to hear a gurgling sound while pouring the water into the drain. This sound is typical, and you do not need to be concerned about it.
Disinfecting a Stinky Toilet with a Rotten Egg Smell
If your bathroom smells like sewer, it’s important to take care of it right away. Repeated exposure is not only unpleasant but can lead to some health concerns.
A stinky toilet that has a rotten egg smell is from a gas called hydrogen sulfide. Bacteria that grows in the drain and sewer lines emits this smelly gas, and it’s vital to disinfect the pipes to remove it.
Pour white vinegar down the s-bend in the toilet to neutralize and flush away bacteria. If you do not have any vinegar, use chlorine bleach. If the smell persists, the problem might be faulty venting in the drainage system, and a plumber is needed.
Don’t forget to take care of cleaning your toilet tank, too. Although most smells do not originate from the tank, it’s not often an area we think about washing. Use vinegar or bleach to sanitize this forgotten toilet area to keep it fresh and odor-free.
Deodorizing a Toilet that Smells Like Sewage
If a toilet smells like sewage when flushed, this is due to sewer gases building up in the pipes from bacterial growth. Combine white vinegar and baking soda to neutralize the bacteria and flush it away.
Baking soda and vinegar not only kill bacteria but unclog drains when using a toilet plunger doesn’t do the trick. To eliminate the smell of sewer gas in the toilet, make sure that there is enough water in the toilet bowl by adding hot water from the faucet until it is half full.
Pour the baking soda into the water and slowly add the white vinegar. Let the two ingredients work together by fizzing for about 20 minutes and then flush the solution down the toilet drain to rinse away bacteria in the pipes.
This simple remedy is also a great fix for sewer gas smell in basement. Pour the ingredients down the drain to eliminate this unpleasant odor.
Eliminating Urine Smells from the Toilet
When a bathroom smells terrible, that smell can spread to the rest of your home. The good news is we have a homemade toilet drain cleaner to eliminate bad toilets smells.
Pour the lemon juice into the toilet bowl and add the baking soda. Allow the two ingredients to work together in the bowl for ten minutes while they clean away smelly residue. Flush the cleaner down the drain to rinse away pipe bacteria.
Unclogging a toilet with baking soda and lemon juice is also a great way to eliminate a blockage while leaving a fresh scent behind. Vinegar is an ideal substitute for lemon juice if you don’t have any on hand.
Freshening a Stinky Toilet
Many times, a toilet smells bad for no other reason than the fact that it is a toilet. Let’s face it. This is a common cause, and the bathroom is not always the cleanest room in the house. For a quick smelly toilet fix, use essential oils.
Toilet Drain Freshener
Keep a few bottles of your favorite essential oils stocked up in the bathroom. Add several drops of essential oil to the toilet water, allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then flush it down the drain. Clove, cedar, lavender, oregano, clary sage, and thyme all contain antifungal and microbial qualities and are great choices.
How to Clean the Toilet to Remove Stinky Odors
If you notice foul odors around your toilet, and it’s not coming from the drain, it’s time to use a cleaning solution and disinfectant. Clean both the inside and outside of the toilet to eliminate bacteria and odors.
Combine baking soda and lemon juice in a bowl to make a paste-like substance. Apply the lemon paste around the bottom of the toilet, where the base meets the floor. Rub it around the seat and inside rim. Allow it to sit for about ten minutes.
Pour white vinegar into a bottle sprayer and spray it directly onto the areas of paste. Let the three ingredients work together, fizzing and foaming for a few more minutes. Use rags to wipe away all of the dirty residue.
If there is no issue with the plumbing system, it’s easy to eliminate sewer smells from the bathroom without calling a professional plumber. The key is to figure out the exact cause of the foul odor through means of elimination. After you establish the reason, it’s easily corrected by utilizing the right cleaning and deodorizing solutions.
A sewer smell from the toilet is an unpleasant and embarrassing dilemma, so why not share our toilet deodorizing tips with your family and friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can learn about them, too?