How do you fix a sewer smell in a toilet?

Author: Dr. Ally Prohaska Sr.  |  Last update: Sunday, February 8, 2026

Create a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, and pour it down the drains. Let it sit and start to work before flushing it with hot water, which should do the trick. Another trick you can use is to place coffee grounds or activated charcoal in a bowl in the bathroom to absorb the odors.

How do I stop my toilet from smelling like sewer?

White vinegar and baking soda in equal parts are a cost-efficient and effective means of getting rid of odors in a toilet. Add them to the tank, mix them in and then use the toilet brush to gently scrub the tank. Let it sit for a few hours, scrub the tank again and flush.

Will caulking a toilet stop sewer smell?

1. A caulk seal around the toilet will prevent sewer gas from escaping past the wax ring that seals the toilet to the plumbing and smelling up the house. Even a correctly installed toilet and wax ring has the potential for the occasional whiff of sewer gas.

What neutralizes the smell of sewage?

Use Vinegar and Baking Soda: Pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drains. This can help neutralize odors. Bleach Solution: Mix a solution of bleach and water (1:10 ratio) to clean surfaces, but avoid pouring bleach down drains if you have a septic system, as it can harm beneficial bacteria.

Why is there a foul smell coming from my toilet?

What Causes the Bad Smell Coming From the Toilet? You may have guessed it, but the odour you can smell coming from your toilet is probably caused by sewage gases. These sewage gases can come up through the toilet or various other areas of your bathroom.

Sewer Smell In Bathroom? How to Identify and Fix the Problem

How to get rid of a smelly toilet?

White vinegar and baking soda in equal parts is a cost-efficient and effective means of getting rid odors in a toilet. Add them to the tank, mix them in and then use the toilet brush to gently scrub the tank. Let it sit for a few hours, scrub the tank again and flush.

Can a toilet leak sewer gas but not water?

Over time, these can go bad and no longer seal the toilet to the sewer. When this happens, it is not always obvious because water usually won't leak out, only sewer gas, unless there is a clog in the system and water backs up into the drain below the offending toilet.

What makes sewer smell go away?

Regularly clean your drains using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar or a cleaning solution recommended by a professional. Flush the drains with hot water to help remove any residual odor-causing substances.

What is the best chemical for sewage smell?

The most common chemicals used for this purpose are hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and chlorine dioxide.

Will bleach get rid of sewer smell?

✅ Will Bleach Kill Sewer Smell? Bleach will kill the majority of odor-causing bacteria. However, if your odor is caused by a blocked drain, the problem will return. A professional drain cleaning, snaking or hydro jetting may be required.

Why does my bathroom smell like sewer but no leak?

Poor plumbing venting: When plumbing vents are not installed correctly, or there is a blockage, the sewer smell in bathroom sink can be persistent. Dry P-trap: The U-shaped pipe beneath your sink or shower drain holds water to prevent sewer gasses from entering your home.

How do you fix a smelly P-trap?

To eliminate odors coming from a dry p-trap, pour half a gallon of water into the trap to restore the barrier. It will prevent the odors from seeping through the drain. Another helpful method is to add a cup of white vinegar bleach to get rid of larvae and slow down the evaporation.

How to find where sewer smell is coming from?

Consider everything that ends up in your drains, especially if you use a lot of products and have a lot of family members using your drains. Other causes of sewer gas odors in your home include a dry P-trap, a loose toilet, or a clogged drain. Another cause of sewer gas could be blocked or clogged vent pipes.

Should you caulk around a toilet?

Reasons to Caulk Around a Toilet

Moisture Prevention: Without caulk around the toilet base, external water can seep under the toilet, leading to floor and subfloor damage over time. This is especially important in bathrooms with wooden floors, as prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to rot and structural issues.

How to fix a dry P-trap in a toilet?

Slowly pour about a gallon of water into the drain. This will refill the trap and recreate the seal to block sewer gases. For long-term prevention, consider adding a small amount of mineral oil on top of the water in the P-trap.

Why does it smell like something is rotting in my bathroom?

Over time, these substances often accumulate along the P-trap and vertical pipes that run underneath your shower. This accumulation is called biofilm. As it builds up, biofilm begins to release a sewage smell from bacteria and decomposing debris.

What neutralizes sewer smell?

To eliminate sewer gas smell, you can use a combination of hot water, baking soda, vinegar, and even lemon to run through the drain to fix the problem.

Is there a valve to stop sewer smell?

The STINK-SHIELD® Vertical is an anti-smell valve designed to stop bad smells coming from surface water drains. It is placed into the manholes of surface water drain, on new or existing networks, on all types of pipeline and drain configuration. It is installed without the need for tools.

What is the best cleaning solution for sewage?

Wash contaminated surfaces and objects with warm, soapy water and disinfect with a bleach and water solution made of no more than 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water. For objects that would be damaged by bleach, use a home or laundry disinfectant. Make sure to read and follow label instructions. Do not use ammonia.

Who to call for chemical smell in house?

A qualified plumber, HVAC technician or remediation company can diagnose the source of the odor and take the necessary steps to eliminate it safely and effectively.

How to get rid of smelly drains in bathroom?

Easy Solutions
  1. Boiling water poured into the drain is a quick cleanser for minor odors.
  2. A baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water combo can add extra power for breaking up the buildup in your drain's pipes.
  3. Periodically adding baking soda down your drain can keep the sink fresh and odor-free.

Why does the toilet smell like sewer?

There is a pipe connected to your plumbing system that extends through the roof to remove or ventilate sewer gasses and allow air to enter the system so wastewater can flow freely. If this vent becomes clogged, the sewer gas won't be able to escape and could cause a sewage smell in the bathroom.

Can sewage come up through the toilet?

If there is a fault in the pipework that removes sewage from your property, it can cause the wastewater that you flush and drain away to go to places in your home you really would rather it didn't. It can come back up through the toilet or sinks and into your home or even find its way into your wall cavities.

What happens if a toilet is not sealed properly?

If a wax ring breaks or wears down, then it loses its watertight seal. When this happens, the seal allows water to leak out when you flush. Often, when this happens, you'll see some water on the floor around the base of your toilet.

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