How do you get rid of a smelly toilet?

Author: Prof. Phoebe Zulauf V  |  Last update: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

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.

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.

How do you get rid of sewer smell in the toilet?

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.

What is the best odor eliminator for toilets?

Vinegar: White vinegar is also effective at neutralizing odors. Pour a cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl, let it sit for about 30 minutes, then scrub and flush.

What can I flush down the toilet to make it smell better?

Pour vinegar in the toilet tank.

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.

How To Eliminate Smells From The Toilet Bowl??

How do I get rid of the lingering smell in my toilet?

Pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar or any proprietary Drain Cleaner down the drain followed by hot water, can help eliminate these odours. Make sure to clean hair, soap scum and any other obstacle to drainage from drain covers.

What do plumbers recommend to clean toilet tanks?

We recommend using a mixture of ¼ cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of water. This ensures your toilet tank is being disinfected without causing damage, which the use of bleach or chemical cleaners can do.

How to keep your toilet bowl smelling fresh?

Baking Soda: This is your main cleaning agent. It's going to help you scrub away all the grime in your toilet bowl. Vinegar: Vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant, which is great for eradicating germs. Dish Soap: Regular, unscented dish soap will add some extra cleaning power to this mixture.

What is the best natural toilet bowl deodorizer?

Baking soda and distilled vinegar are staples when it comes to making DIY, natural toilet bowl cleaning solutions. Not only do they work, but they're also cost-effective! Combining these two in your toilet removes stains, germs, and odors in minutes with minimal effort and zero synthetic chemicals.

What is the best product to get rid of mildew smell?

Borax is composed of boron, sodium, water, and oxygen, and is a mineral that is good at riding off clothes of mildew. It works best when mixed with water. Baking soda comes in handy in cases whereby even after multiple attempts of using vinegar, the smell does not simply go away.

What neutralizes the smell of sewage?

Charcoal-based odor absorbers or baking soda can be placed near the source of the odor or in the affected rooms to absorb and neutralize the smell.

How to stop a toilet from smelling after poop?

Does Your Bathroom Smell? Combat the Silent But Deadly Odor With These 7 Tricks
  1. Open a window. ...
  2. Try a courtesy flush. ...
  3. Spray the air. ...
  4. Spray the toilet. ...
  5. Light a match. ...
  6. Use baking soda. ...
  7. Give your toilet a deep clean.

Why does my toilet smell like sewage but no leak?

You could have one of several issues on your hands. A sewer gas smell in the bathroom can be caused by: evaporation of water in the P-trap piping. broken seal around the toilet in the wax ring or the caulk.

How do I get my toilet to stop smelling like sewer?

Problems with vent pipes, such as blockages or improper installation, can also cause sewer odors by preventing proper gas escape. DIY solutions like using baking soda and vinegar or regularly running water in unused toilets can help, but persistent smells may require a professional plumber.

What is the best toilet bowl cleaner?

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: SALE. ...
  • Best Tablet: Clorox Foaming Toilet Bombs at Amazon $10. ...
  • Best Wand: Clorox Disinfecting ToiletWand Cleaning System at Amazon $14. ...
  • Best for Septic Systems: Clorox Scentiva Toilet Cleaning Gel at Amazon $9. ...
  • Best Automatic: ...
  • Best for Tough Stains:

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.

What is the best thing to use to clean 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.

How do you make a homemade toilet deodorizer?

Instructions
  1. Combine dry ingredients: Combine 1 cup baking soda and a 1/4 cup citric acid in a bowl. ...
  2. Add essential oil and pour into jar: If desired, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance and stir well. ...
  3. Pour vinegar into a separate jar:

What to put in a toilet to keep it clean?

Here they are:
  1. Give it an overnight vinegar treatment. An overnight soak with white vinegar will block off your siphon jets. ...
  2. Pour some toilet cleaner into the tank. After a routine cleaning, add a few ounces of liquid toilet cleaner or drop a dissolving tablet into the tank. ...
  3. Shut the lid when you flush.

Why does my toilet stink even after I clean it?

Bacteria Seeping Into Toilet

As they multiply in your home plumbing, these bacteria give off a reek of sewage smell. Fix: Pour 250 ml of household bleach into your overflow pipe (located inside the toilet tank).

Can I put fabuloso in my toilet tank?

You can clean the toilet using this product by pouring a little into the bowl and scrubbing clean. But we don't recommend placing Fabuloso or any other all-purpose cleaner in the back of the toilet tank. Such cleaners can be corrosive and may degrade the rubber gasket and seal in your tank.

How do I stop my toilet bowl from smelling like pee?

Deep clean the toilet
  1. Scrub the toilet inside and out, top to bottom. ...
  2. Remove the toilet seat completely to really get the hinges clean.
  3. Use a store-bought toilet cleaner on the inside of the toilet and scrub. ...
  4. Finish up by sanitizing your throne.

What can I put in the tank of my toilet to make it smell good?

You can go with classics like lavender, tea tree, or eucalyptus. Or try something different - peppermint smells great, and so do lemongrass and sweet orange. These oils do more than just make things smell good - they actually help fight bacteria too. Every time you flush, a bit of the scent will come out.

Is it safe to leave vinegar in the toilet tank overnight?

Vinegar is great for removing hard water deposits, soap scum, and other build-up from many surfaces in your home, including your toilet. When used correctly, it can be a safe and effective cleaning agent. However, leaving vinegar in the toilet overnight may not be the best idea.

What do professionals use to clean toilets?

Professional cleaners often use the same household supplies as you would: toilet-bowl cleaner (or bleach), disinfectant wipes, rubber gloves, as well as a nonscratch scrub sponge, a microfiber cloth, or paper towels. A handheld scrub brush or a pumice stone can get to especially tough stains.

Previous article
How do you unblock a water filter?
Next article
How do you know when sealant is cured?