Bathroom with copper colour bath and wooden wall

8 Easy Ways To Make Your Bathroom Smell Good [Less Ugh!]

Is your bathroom starting to smell a little musty? Are you embarrassed by the less than pleasant aroma? Fear not! There are plenty of easy ways to make those bathroom odours fresher, with at least one of these methods sure to work for you. So take a deep breath and read on for 8 easy ways to make your bathroom smell good again.

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Bathroom with copper colour bath, large green floor standing plant, and wooden wall

Why Does My Bathroom Smell So Bad?

This is a question that we have all asked ourselves at some point or another.

It stands to reason that this room is prone to smelling a little, because it’s one of the most used rooms in the house. I

t’s also one of the easiest places for smells to build up because there are a few main things in this space that can cause bad odours.

The first, and probably most obvious, is the toilet. This is because the toilet is where we excrete waste, and this waste can produce some pretty unpleasant smells.

Another common source of smells is the bathroom sink.

This is because sink drains can often become clogged with dirt and grease, which can lead to a build-up of a very bad sink smell.

Washing hands in the bathroom

Showers and baths can also produce unpleasant smells. This is because of the moisture that’s released into the air, and it can often be difficult to get rid of these smells once they have started to develop.

The shower drain and bath drain can also block and/or accumulate nasties – creating a foul smell if you’re not careful.

And lastly – there will always be the risk of generally musty smells in a room that’s pretty small, used frequently, and has moisture in the air.

So, what can we do to get rid of these smells?

Well, there are a few different methods that you can try.

The following are some of the most effective methods for getting rid of bathroom smells.

Bathroom with copper colour bath and wooden wall

How Can I Make My Bathroom Smell Good?

#1 – Use Essential Oils

Essential oils are a brilliant tool to use to make bathrooms smell better – AND some have the additional bonus of being good disinfectants – which makes them brilliant to use as cleaning products in this space.

Here are some ways to use essential oils to make your bathroom smell nice every time you use it.

In Toilet Roll

This is a great way to help eliminate smells before they even have a chance to start.

Simply add a few drops of your chosen essential oil to the inside of your toilet paper roll, and when you go to use it the oil will be released into the air and help to mask any bad smells that may be lurking by creating a nice lingering smell.

In a Diffuser

You could also try adding essential oils to a diffuser (or buying one ready made), which will help to keep the whole bathroom smelling fresh. It’s one of my favourite ways to make any room smell nice, but works particularly well in a bathroom because it offers a constant nice aroma.

TIP – Don’t use electric diffusers in the bathroom for safety reasons. I like using the simple reed diffusers in this space instead.

In the bin

Most of us have a bathroom bin – which is useful, but can be a real source of bad bathroom smells. If it’s not regularly cleaned then it can start to smell quite quickly.

To stop the smells as much as possible, try adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil to a cotton ball and popping it into the bottom of the bin. This will help to freshen up the air quickly, and naturally.

What Are The Best Essential Oil Scents For The Bathroom?

This depends on your goal really.

Want to be woken up? A fresh and energy boosting fragrance always works well to set you up well for the day ahead. Try Lemon, Eucalyptus or Mint.

Want to relax? If you’re bathing, then try a more soothing fragrance such as lavender.

Essential oil bottles with greenery in background

#2 – Add Some Cleaner In The Toilet Brush Holder

Adding some of your usual toilet cleaner to the brush holder is a great way to help keep smells at bay.

Simply squirt some cleaner into the holder, and when you go to use the toilet brush it will help to clean the bowl and also leave behind a nice fresh scent.

#3 – Use Poo Pourri

This is a fantastic product that you spray into the toilet before doing your business, and it stops any bad smell from happening.

Magic!

I love adding one of these little bottles to all toilets in my house so that guests can use them as well and it stops the embarrassment of the room smelling after use.

Smells amazing too!

Spray bottle of Poo Pourri on top of a toilet

#4 – Regularly Change The Mats And Towels

When the reason for your bathroom smelling is because it’s musty – then your issue is with damp and not good enough ventilation.

One way to help reduce this is by regularly changing the bath mat and hand towel, as these can harbour damp from being constantly surrounded by wet feet, hands and bodies…

How often should you change your bathroom towels and mat?

I always do this by how many times it’s used, rather than a specific timeline.

This is because a family of 5 will tend to create much more damp in a bathroom than a couple.

At a minimum, change everything weekly – and keep an eye on everything each day to ensure you catch it before it starts smelling…

#5 – Ventilate Properly

Mould and mildew love damp, warm environments – so by keeping the bathroom well ventilated you’re making it a less inviting place for them to set up camp

Firstly – and the most simple of all these tips (if you have one) is to keep the window open as much as possible. This will allow fresh air to circulate and help to reduce any smells that may be building.

Secondly – if you have a fan (most bathrooms do) then make sure you switch it on whenever you use the bathroom – especially when you shower/bath.

This will help to get rid of any moist air that’s hanging around and will also help to reduce the risk of mould/mildew developing.

#6 – Absorb The Bad Smells

Baking Soda

Baking soda is a fantastic absorbent and can be a great way to help get rid of musty smells in the bathroom.

Simply place an open box of baking soda in the bathroom, (or decant into a jar) and over time it will help to absorb any unpleasant smells that may be lingering.

Look to replace it every 3-4 months.

TIP – You can also add this to your toilet bowl when cleaning – to freshen it up.

Charcoal Bamboo

Another natural absorbent option to try is charcoal bamboo. This can be bought in the form of a small bag, which you can then place in the bathroom.

The charcoal will help to absorb any smells and also helps to keep the air clean.

Charcoal Bamboo should be replaced every 6-8 months to ensure it keeps working well.

USE A READY MADE PRODUCT

There are lots of odour absorbing products available – they can look a little less decorative than other options, but adding it your bathroom can make a real difference (and you could hide it a little behind other things!).

#7 – Clean The Drains Regularly

Prevention is always better than cure – as they say – and nothing is better prevented than a smelly drain.

How Often Should You Clean Your Drains?

At least once a month – but more if you have a lot of people using the bathroom regularly.

You could use a ready made product, or for a more natural method you can pour very hot water / boiling water down them every week or so.

This will help keep away from the dreaded blocked drain, by keeping them clear and free from any build-up of hair and soap scum.

If you notice any bad smells coming from the drains then give them a good clean as soon as possible to stop the problem from getting worse.

#8 – De-Mould Regularly

Mould loves warm, damp environments – which unfortunately describes most bathrooms!

So, it’s important to keep on top of mould and mildew growth by regularly cleaning all of the surfaces in the bathroom.

Use a good bathroom cleaner and make sure you get into all of the nooks and crannies – especially around the taps, shower head and in any grouting.

Products To Keep Your Bathroom Smelling Fresh And Clean

Note – Clicking on any item below will take you to the store so you can see details and purchase – for your convenience. The links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission for any purchase you make – at absolutely no cost to you, of course.

8 Easy Ways To Make Your Bathroom Smell Good [Less Ugh!] - 350
Bathroom with copper colour bath and wooden wall

There’s no excuse for nasty bathroom odours again…

Now that you’ve got plenty of ideas for how to make your bathroom smell great, why not get started on the other rooms of your home as well?

With a few easy changes, you can make every room smell amazing.

Thanks for reading, and happy smelling!

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