Why my toilet smells and what I can do about it.

Joluud
Joluud
Nov 1 · 6 min read
image from cafe mum

Toilet odours are a common source of embarrassment. You may want to cover up smells made by toilet use. You may also notice a musty, foul smell in your toilet due to poor cleaning techniques. There are lots of reasons why your toilet smells, so it’s important to identify what the smell is to find the underlying cause. The most common less-than-pleasant smells toilets can omit are;

Toilet Smells Like: Sewage

Many homeowners contact us with complaints that their toilet smells like sewage. While many things can cause this unpleasant odour, one of the most common is an issue with the p-trap.

The p-trap is a U-shaped pipe that holds a small amount of water in it to form a preventative seal against sewer gases coming up from your toilet and into your home. Sometimes, however, the p-trap allows these gases to escape via a leak, a broken seal, or infrequent use.

Toilet Smells Like: Sulfur/ Rotten Egg smell

Sulfur is a scent no homeowner wants to smell coming from their toilet, yet each year homeowners are plagued by the stench of rotting eggs from their plumbing and can’t figure out why.

If your toilet is emitting the smell of sulfur, it means the there are bacteria in the water. If you think this may be affecting your bathroom, it’s important to figure out where exactly the smell is coming from and address the issue right away. It can be a challenge to pinpoint exactly where the smell of sulfur is coming from, so we recommend conducting a small test to determine if the smell is coming from a specific drain or all of the water in your home.

Grab a glass and fill it with the water that you believe smells like sulfur. Then, grab another glass and fill it with water from another faucet. Check to see if they both smell like sulfur. If they do, then the bacteria is likely in all of the water. If just one glass smells, then a single pipe may just be contaminated. This problem can be fixed by replacing the drains or disinfecting them to eliminate the smell. In either case, give your local plumbing professionals a call for a second opinion and efficient plumbing repairs.

Toilet Smells Like: Urine

Cleaning and disinfecting your toilet as well as the area around it only to find there is still a strong scent of urine is discouraging. But don’t fret just yet. In many cases, a constant urine smell is likely due to a leaking wax seal, which is located under the toilet and seals the point between the toilet and the drain. Improper installation and general wear and tear can cause the seal to leak. Unfortunately, when this happens, whatever is in the toilet can slowly drip onto the floor behind the toilet. The result? A constant smell of urine no matter how often you clean and disinfect the area.

Luckily, replacing this seal is quick and easy and can be done yourself, or with a quick call to your local plumbing professional.

How to fix an already smelling toilet

You’ll find lots of easy odour fixes in the cleaning aisle. It doesn’t get much simpler than dropping a bleach-containing puck into the tank and walking away. Unfortunately, bleach can cause erosion of rubber components like seals and floats, which makes it a less-than-ideal cleaning method for a toilet tank.

A better approach is to use vinegar, liquid detergent or baking soda as your cleanser.

It’s a simple process:

  1. Gather your supplies: Towel, cleanser and a long-handled scrubber (the toilet-bowl brush is fine), along with gloves.
  2. Remove the tank lid and set it aside on a towel so it doesn’t get your floor or bath mat dirty.
  3. You only want a small amount of water in the tank while you clean, so lift the float (this tricks the tank into thinking it’s full) and secure it gently to the flusher. Flush once to drain the tank and allow just a small amount of water back in.
  4. Add your cleanser to the tank: A few tablespoons of liquid soap, a half cup of white vinegar or a half cup of baking soda. Swish it around with the brush to mix it up.
  5. Using the long-handled brush, gently scrub the bottom and sides of the tank using the cleanser-water mixture. You probably won’t get it totally clean at this step, and that’s fine.
  6. Let the cleaner sit in the tank for at least several hours.
  7. Scrub a bit more. The tank should be clean now.
  8. Release the float so the tank fills, and flush a few times (until the cleanser is gone).
  9. Replace lid. Enjoy.

Once you complete this process, your mysterious-odour issue should be solved.

Other cleaning methods you should take note of.

There are also other causes of this toilet smells, these are ways to identify and clear them up.

Black mould — If you see a spotty black substance on the inside walls of your tank, this could be black mould. This type of mould can be a health hazard, so clean the tank immediately and make sure you get it all.

Resorting to bleach — Occasionally, the problem might be too intense to solve with mild cleansers, and bleach might be necessary. In this case, start diluted, with a cleanser of one part bleach to 10 parts water. Only increase the strength if you find you need to.

Protection — When working with bleach or other harsh chemicals, be safe about it. Wear gloves and a mask, make sure the bathroom has some airflow (an open window or a fan is fine), and never mix multiple chemicals in the tank.

The best approach of all to freeing your bathroom of a musty tank smell is the prevention method. Getting in there a couple of times a year will help ensure you don’t have to do it in a pinch.

These good practices are needed to keep your toilets smelling fresh;

Ventilate your bathroom. If you want to cover up embarrassing odours, proper ventilation is key. Simple airflow can help reduce smells. If you have an overhead fan, turn it on after bathroom use. If you don’t, open the bathroom window to let air enter. Don’t just ventilate after using the toilet. Turn on the fan or open a window after a shower as well. The moist air from a hot shower can cause mildew to buildup, resulting in a musty smelling bathroom.

Clean the bathroom regularly. Simply cleaning your bathroom on a regular basis can help with odours. You should do a routine cleaning once a week. Clean the toilet bowl, lid, and the sides of the toilet. Mop the floor. Clean the bathtub and shower, as well as the sink. You can use over-the-counter cleaning products or your own mixture of baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar. Regular cleaning prevents odours from building up and causing problems.

Clean out drains. Clogs in drains are frequently the cause of bathroom odour. Make sure to clean out drains if you notice water backing up frequently. You should also take measures to prevent drains each month.

Close the lid before flushing. Sometimes, small changes can make a big impact on bathroom smells. Remember to close the lid before flushing the toilet. This can prevent unpleasant odours from leaking into the air

Take out the trash regularly. If you have a wastebasket in your bathroom, take it out at least once a week. Any trash that’s left sitting out can build up odours over time, resulting in a foul smell. Regular trash removal can be very effective in combating bathroom odours

Contact Oyaclean for Bathroom Plumbing Services

If you’re in need of bathroom plumbing services, look no further than Oyaclean. We offer comprehensive bathroom plumbing repairs, installations, and maintenance. Whether you’re suffering from a consistently smelly toilet or another plumbing problem, we can help.

Contact us today for an efficient plumbing appointment and, as always, the best in customer service.

Luqman: 0248574571

Joluud

Written by

Joluud

Digitising Facility Management in Africa — Helping Facility Managers, Aggregate, Schedule and Execute maintenance operations and cost.

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