How to Make Your Toilet Smell Nice

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Are you tired of going into your bathroom only to be hit with toilet stink? Well, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve got everything you need to know about making your toilet smell nice! From DIY cleaners to fresheners, there’s sure to be a hack for you. Scroll down to learn how to keep your toilet smelling fresh all day long.

How to Keep Your Toilet Smelling Fresh

  1. Add Windex , Fabuloso , or vinegar to your toilet tank.
  2. Sprinkle laundry detergent or hydrogen peroxide into your toilet bowl.
  3. Use a toilet spray or drops to eliminate odors before and after you go.
  4. Clean your toilet regularly to maintain freshness.
1

Clean your toilet regularly.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Aim to clean your toilet seat and bowl every 2 or 3 days. This will ensure that everything is disinfected and there’s nothing but a clean smell. [1]
    • Keep a toilet brush and cleaner next to your toilet to remind you to clean.
    • Use a cotton swab to wipe out the hinge of the toilet seat. Bacteria can build up in nooks and crannies, causing an unpleasant smell. [2]
    2. Advertisement
2

Spritz a toilet spray before you go.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Unlike air fresheners, toilet sprays are sprayed over the toilet’s water, leaving a mask of aromatherapy essential oils on the surface. This mask traps odors in while releasing pleasant smells even as you go. Simply flush, and no one will be the wiser!
3

Try toilet drops after you go.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Toilet drops can prevent odors from slipping out after you flush. These nicely scented drops work similarly to toilet sprays, but they’re mainly used once everything’s long gone. If you get up from the toilet and smell a funk, use 1 or 2 drops after the toilet stops running to deodorize lingering odors.
    • Aesop’s Post-Poo Drops is highly recommended with its citrus peel scent. [4]
    • Make sure you read the toilet drops’ instructions, as some products, like Just a Drop , are used before going to the bathroom.
    2. Advertisement
4

Spray Windex inside the toilet tank.

PDF download Download Article
  1. When bacteria builds up in the tank, you’ll start to smell it. A few squirts of Windex on top of the tank’s water will kill germs and help the toilet smell fresher with each flush. [5]
    • Windex does the trick for this hack because it’s an alcohol and ammonia-based solution designed to target bacteria while leaving behind a clean scent. [6]
5

Pour vinegar in the toilet tank.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Say goodbye to stinky fumes because a little bit of white distilled vinegar in the toilet tank can absorb foul-smelling bacteria. All you have to do is pour about 1 cup (8 oz) of vinegar into the tank’s water. Let it sit for 10 minutes, scrub the sides of the tank with a toothbrush or cleaning brush, and flush all the water. [7]
    • Hold the flush handle down until all the water has left the tank.
    • Do not let the vinegar sit in the water for longer than 10 minutes as the acidity could damage the toilet or pipes.
    2. Advertisement
6

Spray hydrogen peroxide in the toilet bowl.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural oxidizing agent, meaning it breaks down odors. [8] After you’ve done your business in the morning, spray this topical solution on top of the water inside the bowl. Let it sit until your next flush to help get rid of any nasty smells. [9]
    • Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin, so be careful when handling the spray bottle.
    • If you can’t find a hydrogen peroxide with a spray bottle attached, carefully pour the solution into an empty spray bottle .
7

Sprinkle powdered laundry detergent in the toilet bowl.

PDF download Download Article
  1. One of the main reasons a toilet stinks is because it needs a good scrubbing. Instead of skipping a clean because you’re out of cleaner, use powdered laundry detergent instead. Take about a half scoop of powder and sprinkle it around the inside of the bowl. Wait 15 minutes, and then scrub away with a toilet brush. [10]
    • Use the scooper that came with the laundry detergent or a 1/2 cup (64 g) measuring cup.
    • Flush the toilet before adding the powder. This will ensure that the powder sticks to all sides of the bowl.
    • Not only does powdered detergent kill bacteria, but it also smells fresh and clean.
    2. Advertisement
8

Put a small bottle of Fabuloso in the toilet tank.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Fabuloso is a multi-purpose cleaner safe for toilet use that comes in a variety of scents, making it the perfect cleaner to make a DIY freshener. Drill a small hole in the bottom of a 500 ml (16.9 oz) bottle of Fabuloso. Place the bottle on one side of the tank away from the toilet’s chain and flapper. [11]
    • Remove the label before placing the Fabuloso in the tank, so the paper won’t fall off and clog the tank.
    • Tie a string around the neck of the bottle, hang the string outside the back of the tank, and put the tank lid on over the string. This will keep the bottle from floating near the flapper.
9

Use an essential oil toilet cleaner.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Consider adding this hack to your toilet cleaning routine to disinfect and keep things smelling nice naturally. Simply mix together a 1/2 cup (64 g) of baking soda , 10 to 15 drops of lemon essential oil , and 1 cup (8 oz) of vinegar . Pour the solution into the toilet bowl and give the toilet a good scrub with a toilet brush. [12]
    • The mixture will naturally start foaming up thanks to the vinegar reacting to the baking soda—just imagine what that foam will do to those odors!
    • This DIY cleaner is for single use only, and cannot be stored for later use.
    2. Advertisement
10

Make a baking soda toilet bomb.

PDF download Download Article
  1. All you need to make a toilet bomb is 1 cup (128 g) of baking soda , 1/4 cup (32 g) of citric acid , 20 to 40 drops of your favorite essential oil(s), and around 3 tbsp (44.36 ml) of water. Mix and press the mixture together, pack it into a mold, let it dry overnight, pop it out of the mold, and toss it into your toilet bowl. [13]
    • Try using lemongrass for its fresh fragrance and antibacterial properties. [14]
    • Add more or less water to your mixture depending on the consistency—it should feel like wet, moldable sand.
    • Use a silicone ice cube tray to make multiple toilet bombs the size of your palm.
    • Let the bomb sit and fizz at the bottom of the toilet bowl, and then use a scrub brush to swirl the mixture up the sides of the bowl. [15]
    • Store toilet bombs in an air-tight container for 3 to 4 months to use whenever your toilet starts to stink.


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      2 Easy Ways to Wash a Rubber Bath Mat (And Keep It Clean)
      How to
      Easily Get Rid of Mold in Your Bathroom and Shower
      How to
      Clean a Toilet Bowl with Vinegar and Baking Soda
      How to
      Clean a Jetted Tub
      How to
      Clean a Bathroom According to Professional Cleaners
      The Best Cleaners to Remove Stains from Your Bathtub
      How to
      Unclog a Toilet with Dish Soap
      How to
      Disinfect Something After Dropping It Into the Toilet
      How to
      Scrub Your Acrylic Bathtub and Keep It Clean
      How to
      Naturally Clean Your Toilet Tank with Vinegar & Baking Soda
      How to
      Remove Limescale
      How to
      Clean a Bathtub Drain
      How to
      Clean Hard Water Spots Off Windows
      How to
      Clean a Bathtub with Bleach
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cleaning your bathroom, check out our in-depth interview with Daniel Olin .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a31407258/how-to-clean-toilet/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/L16dGfX-Q4I?t=211
      3. ↑ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-poop-spray-drops-toilet-freshener.html
      4. ↑ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-poop-spray-drops-toilet-freshener.html
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/L16dGfX-Q4I?t=154
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/L16dGfX-Q4I?t=161
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/zhthYaKMz_s?t=69
      8. ↑ https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/MMG/MMGDetails.aspx?mmgid=304&toxid=55
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/L16dGfX-Q4I?t=188
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/_zfUFROkNdc?t=55
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/ziFc1_oCsAY?t=386
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/uQW3VE0q_nA?t=59
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/-nnX_9pldPU?t=23
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217679/
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/dG2klr83XVU?t=227

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 105,908 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Cain M.

        Mar 4

        "It's always appreciated to read about creative ideas especially on what to do with the very important place in ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement