One of the simplest desires many of us have for areas like the bathroom where plumbing is most common is this: A clean smell. No one wants to get a foul odor in their nostrils every time they walk past a bathroom, particularly if it hasn’t been used recently.
At Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we can help you avoid these kinds of incidents well before they become a consistent problem. Here are a few basic tips on keeping bad smells out of the bathroom.
Odor Removal
The first step here is removing odors or odor-causers that are already present in the bathroom. There are a few tools at your disposal:
- Ventilation: Almost all bathrooms have exhaust fans, and these are great for odor-related issues. They can remove both smells and moisture from the bathroom – a common cause of smell that many people don’t think about is mold forming due to excess moisture, so this is a great tool.
- Air fresheners: Air fresheners don’t actually remove odors, but they can temporarily cover them. Look for homemade or low-chemical versions rather than a high-chemical spray.
- Desiccants: Desiccants are dry materials in the form of silica gels – or they can simply just be living plants. Both of these absorb moisture in the bathroom, which as we noted can go a long way toward odor removal.
Bathroom Cleaning
Keeping smells out long-term is about more than just removing odors, however. It’s about getting at the underlying causes of those odors. Here are some tips:
- Clean the toilet tank: Many people are diligent about cleaning the toilet bowl, but forget the tank above. This can cause it to stink like urine, but cleaning it is very easy – simply open the lid, pour in some white vinegar, and scrub. Once you’re done, flush the toilet and repeat a time or two.
- Cleaning materials: If you’re a DIY homeowner, consider making your own cleaning material. Use baking soda and lemon juice to form a combined paste – this is great for numerous plumbing fixtures after you let it sit on the surface for about 10 minutes, then spray it with white vinegar.
- Mold: Always keep a careful eye out for mold, one of the sneakiest providers of odor in the bathroom. Check for black specks on the ceiling or green debris around pipes and fixtures. Mold can be smelly, unsightly and can even have a negative health impact.
For more on preventing and removing odors from the bathroom, or to learn about what a the plumbing services a plumber from Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical can provide, call us today.