It can be annoying when your toilet smells bad. It can be easy to fix but could also indicate that there are some big problems. Let’s take a look at what is going on and how to fix it.
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How to fix a smelly toilet
Bad toilet smells are usually a result of a build-up of bacteria, fungus, and solid waste matter. Bad smells may result from bacteria or yeast and ammonia from urine is a sign of something not working properly or that you don’t clean the toilet completely.
There is some small or harder-to-reach part that might contain urine or other items that make the toilet smell bad. Be sure to check under the toilet and around it for dirty spots. Use your smartphone to take a picture of hard-to-reach areas. It is also important that you use a strong cleaner as toilets can contain dirt that is hard to remove. Also, check the toilet tank and open it up to clean this part.
It is also possible that the area that connects the toilet and floor is broken. This is called the toilet flange. We have discussed how to repair this HERE. You have to remove the toilet completely and install a new flange. This is a rubber part and it can break down over time. It is also possible that the toilet moved due to an earthquake, rodents chewing through it or someone ran into it.
This needs to get fixed as soon as possible as it can attract drain flies and cause a lot of damage. Sewage is really dirty and this can get in the walls and floors. It can be really difficult to remove the smell when this happens. A plumber will have to come out and fix the drain. This is something that often can be done in an hour or so.
Bad odors can also be caused by unflushable items like paper towels, wet wipes, tissues, and wrappers. Containers like plastic bottles and glass bottles can also make your toilet smell. A clog in the drains can get items stuck. This can build up over time and completely stop the water flow. You will have to use a plunger or auger to remove these items. Make sure that you don’t flush items that don’t dissolve in water as these can cause problems with your drains.
Bad odors can be caused by a dirty toilet that’s not properly flushed. Don’t flush just to avoid bad smelling toilet. Clean, sanitize, and properly flush your toilet and the smell should go away. You can adjust how much water your toilet uses per flush. It is also possible that there is a problem with your toilet and that the flush is not powerful enough.
If you live in a rural area, it is possible that your septic tank is full and needs to be pumped. This has to happen regularly and a company has to come out and do this for you. This is quite straightforward and should take them less than an hour. You don’t have to throw anything in the septic tank as it generally will process waste on its own. Just make sure that the tank is pumped completely empty as some companies leave some residue and this is not the best way to maintain the tank.
Tips for preventing bad smelling toilets for everyday use
Toilets need some maintenance. Let’s go over some things that need to happen. These points can help to make sure that your toilet doesn’t smell bad:
- Keep your toilet lid closed. You might not clean your toilet every day and dirt can accumulate. Keeping the toilet lid closed is a way to prevent smells from spreading.
- Flush often. Make sure you flush regularly to get rid of any waste that’s sitting in your toilet bowl. This will help keep your toilet bowl clean and prevent bad odors from building up.
- Make sure your toilet is flushing correctly. If your toilet isn’t flushing correctly, you may not get rid of the waste and contaminants. Call a plumber to have your toilet checked to make sure it’s working properly.
- Keep your toilet clean. For everyday cleaning, try using a toilet bowl cleaner and rag. Make sure to clean your toilet regularly with these tips and you should be able to avoid bad-smelling toilets for everyday use.
- Check the toilet base and drain for leaks. You can often do this by using your hands to detect wet spots around this area. It can also be useful to get a moisture meter or infrared camera.
Fixing Bad Smelling Toilets
While it may seem like a hassle to clean your toilet, it’s important to do so regularly. If you don’t clean your toilet regularly, the grime, bacteria, and other contaminants will build up over time and cause bad-smelling toilets.
Here are a few tips on how to clean your toilet:
- Use a great soap. Some soaps are just not strong enough to remove all the dirt in your toilet. You can switch it up and try another one if you are not happy with the results.
- Clean your toilet once a week. It’s best to clean your toilet once a week. During summer you might want to clean it more often as the hot temperatures can spread a bad smell faster. You can use a toilet bowl cleaner and rag or simply pour one cup of bleach into your toilet bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse and repeat. Be careful with hot water as this can break the toilet bowl.
In this post, we have discussed some common reasons why a toilet smells bad. This can range from easy to fix problems such as a toilet that needs to be cleaned more thoroughly to more serious issues such as a toilet drain that is leaking.
These are some of the most common causes of bad toilet smells and how to fix it. These tips can help you keep your toilet from smelling bad.
