Smelly bathroom
lydia102
Anyone have any ideas for deodorizing a smelly bathroom? I have no idea on how to get rid of the musty odor that lingers.....help!cheaply would be best.
lanerenae
The only thing I've found so far is Air Wick plug in air fresheners - the dispenser is about $1 and the refills $3. I'll be interested in hearing ideas from everyone else!
lydia102
I feel like dumping a huge box of baking soda all over the room and leaving it sit for a month. It drives me insane to have my bathroom all smelly.
lanerenae
Mine constantly smells like urine especially around the toilet. I keep blaming my 5 year old boy who keeps denying that he's missing the toilet but I wash the rugs weekly and it still doesn't help. So the best I've found so far is to try to cover it up.
Ask Mi-Ling
Don't try to cover it up. Find the source of the problem. Wash the rugs and pull up the carpet if necessary. If you still can't get rid of the problem with a good cleaning, you might need to look for mold. Make sure your toilets are not leaking around the edges. This can cause a musty smell. Try www.mi-ling.com for more advice.
lydia102
Our toilet was leaking and my DH fixed it. The previous owners had put down some cheap stick on flooring. Will a good cleaning--maybe with bleach--take care of the smell, or will we have to replace everything? We want to completely gut and remodel it, but not for a little while yet.
catwoman708
I'm assuming you've already tried cleaning the room thoroughly, from top to bottom, inside and out, including walls, ceilings, floors cabinets, fixtures, and any fabrics with a good, deodorizing, anti-bacterial cleaner. If you haven't, do so. Did you have the smell before the leaking toilet? If not, I'm guessing the subflooring got soaked and is now musty or mildewed. If you cannot pull up the floor at this time to dry it out or replace it, then try soaking the floor around the toilet with some kind of deodorizer, then keep fans on it until it has dried thoroughly. A friend of mine swears by "Biozyme", which she gets at Petsmart. Air fresheners do not get rid of the odor, they just cover it up temporarily. If you can get or borrow one of those ionizing air purifiers for a few days, they are usually great at removing odors. You could also try pulling up the tiles around the toilet, removing any caulk, and attempt to dry out or deodorize the floor under the floor under the stick-on tiles. Then replace the stick on tiles, if you can find some to match, or match it as close as possible and cover it with a rug that fits around the toilet until you can replace the floor and sub floor.
Astonished Foreigner
Cleaning up is the best idea. However, as someone obsessed with good smells, I have found that candles work best. A good candle left burning, not only gives a good fragrance but somehow manages to control the odor better than sprays. However, I do so hate candles that smell like food. Not that that's relevant.
ju-ju
The good part is that you have found the source of the smell. If simply fixing the leak doesn't solve the problem, I would consider pulling up the peel and stick flooring and scrubbing the floor underneath with a bleach solution, and allow it to dry really well, and then put some fresh peel and stick tiles on top. The peel and stick flooring is not expensive so when you're ready to remodel, it won't be a problem to get rid of it again.As far as air fresheners go....I have a plug in air freshener in my basement laundry room that is made by 'febreze' and it works really well and it lasts over a month before it needs a refill cartridge. The citus scent is best because it just smells like 'clean'.
Brad Healy
The problem with these air fresheners is that they only mask and cover up the smells tempoarily.I work with a company that attacts the source with their technology called fresh air by ECO QUEST INTERNATIONAL. Please check out my web site and it will explain how these machines are air purifiers not air filters. www.freshairliving.com/bjhealy and then fill out a small form if you would like to have me get back with you.
Brad Healy
Please go to my web site and it will give you all the answers you are looking for in the elimination of smoke,allergies,asthma,mold,mildew,pollen,dust mities,pet dander,or odor problems. www.freshairliving.com/bjhealy Please let me know how I can help.
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Brad Healy
Please go to my web site and check it out and you will be amazed on the technology that will help with your problem very easily. www.freshairliving.com/bjhealy Let me know how I can help.
stressedallday
I have a 1200 sq ft living room with 24 ft cathedral ceilings. i have two rooms that adjoin this area that the walls are 10 ft tall with approx. a 3 foot plant ledge with lights all the way around them and the area above these 2 rooms are open to the 24 ft ceilings. I have A LOT of Plant Ledge and still have not figured out what to do with them. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am desperate for ideas to finish decorating. IDEAS ANYONE????
ju-ju
How about turning some of these awkward "plant ledges" into a custom storage cabinets with doors that compliment your decor? These spaces are always an obstacle, as decorate items are impossible to dust and plants difficult to water. I would consult a builder who could convert these spaces into usable storage for a small investment.
merryhousemaid
If your bathroom is smelling and nothing is working,including a good deep cleaning, than, as stated earlier, more investigation is needed. You probably have rotted wood and or dry wall with interior mold& mildew, nothing will get rid of mold, and I'm not talking about surface mold in and around the toilet, sink and tub or in the grout, you have to physically remove it!
Suz-MD
Try an enzyme-based cleaner. (Available at vacuum and cleaning supply specialty stores) These have enzymes that will "digest" biological odors such as urine. Spray on grouted tile areas and into any cracks between flooring. I have found this to be the most effective. Oh and I use candles too!
Perlgurl
We recently bought a new house and it was empty for a year but in very good condition. Still, there were some musty smells and such. Some things we've tried that have worked: (1) A vac with a HEPA filter - cleans the floors and the air(2) Buy some very nice, scented candles for your bathroom. You aren't necessarily going to light them, but just being at room temp/steamy bath keeps the candle scents strong in a small room like a bath. Look for strong scents unlikely to clash with musty smells - like musks and spicy ones instead of fruity ones.(3) Recaulk your bath fixtures and look for water damage. If you find any, address it immediately. (4) In summer, keep windows opened for improved air flow(5) Make sure your bath fans work well - keeping the humidity under control to keep mold and mildew from moving in(6) You may need to replace your shower curtain if its slimy(7) Clean the toilet often. If its a kid bath or a boy bath, train them to use wipes - Method makes some great ones that are septic tank/biodegradable friendly and scented nicely. Other things we've noticed trying to make the house in general smell like OURS instead of someone elses: COOK. First thing we did was bake a bunch of cookies. The whole house benefited in several ways. MOVE IN. Bringing your stuff, like your clothing, into closets, often changed the slight musty smell in them. Yes, clean them first and address any issues, but just putting your skirts in the drawers will help. AIRFLOW. Make sure you encourage airflow through the house - using screendoors, windows, doorstops, and ceiling fans. Lastly, ADDRESS MOLD AND MILDEW IMMEDIATELY. We once had a huge water damage issue on an old house, and the mold and mildew that resulted from the gushing problem was amazingly bad. We had to hire someone for thousands to get rid of it all. If you see small areas, you can treat it with diluted bleach and iron brushes, but know that mold can penetrate wood up to half an inch or so, and will just grow back if you don't address it. More than small areas, you need to seriously consider replacing the affected areas. Mold spores can be VERY dangerous for inhaling and is a chief reason for "sick houses". Hope this helps!!!Laurie
L. Lopez
I just read yesterday, that both the rubber tree plant and the snake plant are great for small rooms with no windows, they stated the snake plant preferable for bathrooms. They take out the toxins etc. in the air and add back to the air more oxygen than any other plants do, they included the christmas cactus also, all three by far are the best plants for inside the home.
Howucantoo
Foul ,musty odors in the bathroom, are caused by mold, mildew and bacteria growth. Masking these odors by burning candle, using air freshener, or aerosol spray, doesn't solve the problem permanently. Only putting a "band aid" on it !In order to get rid of these nasty germs and bacterias you need to get rid of the source. Keeping your bathroom clean is one way, also look for leaky faucets, toilets, or any mold growing on the tiles or walls.Molds grow fastest in warm, moist areas. Another way to get rid of the offensive smells in the bathroom is by using air purifiers featuring sanitization. There are many on the market that will keep your entire home fresh and clean and are very affordable.For more about your air:www.Tryfreshair.com/taraneh Enjoy this educational site!
Ordors
Go to decorate redecorate.com . Barbara Jennings has some great products to help with the returning smells. Margaret Kunne
lihe
Clean top to bottom with bleach. It will not mask odors but will get rid of them especially around the toilet.
Cleopatras_KAT
If the smell is from urine, be VERY careful using bleach to clean. The ammonia in urine and the bleach make toxic fumes when mixed. If you're determined to use bleach, make sure the area is VERY well ventilated and try not to remain in the area for a long time. On a more helpful note, if you have identified the source and cleaned/repaired it and the smell still lingers, I highly recommend the ECO QUEST ionic air cleaner suggested by an earlier poster. I swear I am not a distributor and I don't know any personally. I do have a Flair model and it takes care of my whole house and I LOVE it. Takes the kitchen smells out, cleans cigarette smoke out after my smoking relatives come to visit, etc., etc. I use it in my camper after it's been sitting sealed up for the winter. They really do work and are worth the price. Good luck!
Donnacogs
Try a very simple, safe inexpensive cure.Take 2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda-put it in your drains and tolet.pour 1/4 cup water down to dissolve the baking soad and then 1/2 cup of white vinegar. It will bubble up and kill mold and gunk in your drains.You can do this to the toilet also;.I do it monthly in my kitchen sink to get rid of any grease build up, because no matter how careful I am there is still grease down there.I know it works in the bathroom too.Donna
Donnacogs
Go to a few model homes in your area and see how they decorate them. Silk plants look nice and a few decorative pieced-fairly large ones. You will have to take them down a couple of times a year to clean but nobody can see the dust way up there.