Bathroom Cleaning: Urine Smell OUT, Pleasant Aroma IN!

You may think that using the flush is enough to push down urine and the smell that comes with it but, lo and behold, the odour sometimes lingers. This rather pungent smell can make any amount of time spent in your bathroom really unpleasant, not to mention embarrassing if you’ve got guests using the same bathroom! Either way, the problem needs to be addressed!

If you’ve tried a few different things and still weren’t able to get rid of the pee smell in your bathroom, you’re going to want to stick around because there is more to know than just methods to remove the odour. In this article, MaidForYou will explain why the bathroom may be retaining the smell, what needs to be inspected and cleaned, and finally, the best ways to remove urine smell from bathrooms. Read on.

Is the Urine Smell Coming From the Toilet Bowl?

More often than not, the lingering pee smell in your bathroom is, in fact, coming from the toilet bowl. This is why your first line of defense against the odour is to clean the bowl thoroughly on a regular basis. Bacteria in the form of toilet bowl stains can trap and enhance the smell of urine, therefore, daily or regular cleaning will go a long way. That said, sometimes the smell sticks around even when the toilet bowl is super clean.

Other Areas the Smell Maybe Coming From

From the toilet seat and lid, to the hinge caps that hold them in place; a sprinkle of pee could reach areas that you don’t pay much attention to when cleaning or attempting to get rid of the urine smell in your bathroom. Similarly, any surface around the toilet bowl such as a bidet, tiles, bathroom mat, the flush tank, etc, must all be cleaned to eliminate even the tiniest trace of urine or bacteria.

Bear in mind that porous materials can absorb pee odour such as hand towels, bath towels, bath rugs/mats, toilet paper, etc. 

Other odour-carrying culprits include the toilet brush, plunger, and any cleaning tools used to clean the toilet bowl and surroundings areas. For this reason, and many others, it’s important to clean and replace your bathroom cleaning tools routinely. 

How to Get Rid of Pee Smell from Your Bathroom

With the factors above in mind, the only thing that’s left to know is the best method to clean your toilet bowl, and remove urine odours.

For that, using the tips below will go a long way in keeping the nasty smell away.

What is the Best Cleaning Product to Remove Urine Smells?

If your regular toilet bowl cleaner does not contain enzymes, that might be the primary reason why the odour tends to linger. 

The benefit of using enzymatic cleaning solutions lies in their ability to digest organic waste. In doing so, the bacteria emitting foul smells like urine are broken down and abolished, thereby removing the odour from your bathroom. 

Unless the smell is coming from another source in the bathroom, such as the factors mentioned earlier, cleaning your toilet (inside and outside) with an enzyme-based toilet cleaner will help get rid of the odour while doing a great job at removing stubborn stains and grime. 

Natural Remedies to Neutralise Urine Smell in Bathroom

Whether it’s the toilet bowl or other areas that you suspect may be harbouring a pee smell, there are two effective and non-toxic methods you can use to get rid of it. The natural ingredients used here are proven to neutralise foul odours in different areas and surfaces of the house including bathrooms.

Using Vinegar

• Start by combining 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar in a spray bottle. If you are cleaning the toilet bowl, consider using undiluted vinegar by simply pouring 1 cup of the ingredient into the bowl.

• Spray bathroom surfaces liberally with the water-vinegar solution, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.

• Use a sponge, scrubber, or cleaning brush to scrub the area before rinsing it off. 

Using Baking Soda

• After you are done using the bathroom for the night and the floor is dry, sprinkle a good amount of baking soda around the tiles, particularly closer to the toilet bowl. Allow the baking soda to sit and absorb bathroom odours overnight. 

• The next morning, sweep up the powder or simply vacuum the bathroom floor. 

• To remove traces of the baking soda, rinse the bathroom floor thoroughly, and dry it immediately after.

NOTE: For best results, the bathroom floor should be clean in order for the baking soda to effectively absorb the urine smell or other lingering bathroom odours.

Tips to Prevent Urine Smell in the Bathroom

Preventing the smell of urine in your bathroom will save you the trouble and unpleasantness of dealing with it! A few ways to do that include the following:

• Clean the toilet bowl interior 1-2 times a week, and deep clean the entire bowl every 2 weeks.
• Have your toilet pipes cleaned by a professional annually.
• Use a toilet bowl rim deodoriser to maintain a fresh scent in the bathroom.
• Use disinfectant wipes to sanitise the toilet seat and lid between cleans.
• Ventilate the bathroom daily by opening the window. Allow as much sunlight to come in to help prevent mould and bacteria buildup.
• Disinfect the toilet bowl and bathroom surfaces regularly.
• Make a DIY bathroom freshener spray using water and a few drops of essential oil; use it 1-2 times a day.
• Keep the bathroom clean and dry for long periods by rinsing and drying the floor after you shower.

CONCLUSION

The smell of urine in your bathroom is not always caused by an unclean toilet bowl; there are other areas and surfaces you may not be cleaning regularly that are contributing to the odour. This includes the toilet seat, lid, hinges, and surfaces/items around the toilet like a bidet, bath mat, toilet brush, etc. Keeping your bathroom (and everything in it) clean is the first step to combating the odour while taking a few measures to prevent the smell of urine in the bathroom will help achieve the end goal.