How to get Rid of a Toilet Smell

(495 Words)
No one likes the smell of a dirty toilet. Toilets can start to smell for a variety of reasons, and the smell can become strong and tenacious. There are a variety of strategies you can use to rid the toilet of that terrible smell.
Clean the outside
The first step is to clean the outside of the tank to get rid of any urine, fecal matter or anything else that might be causing a smell. You can use any one of many brands of disinfectant. Another idea is to use a cleaning wipe, such as a Lysol wipe. This saves the steps of needing to spray, get a rag, clean and then wash the rag.
Clean the inside
You want to get the inside of the toilet bowl nice and clean. To save time, use the Clorox 03191 Toilet Wand Disposable Toilet Cleaning Starter Kit with Handle, 6 Pads and Caddy. You can buy a toilet wand with disposable heads that already have cleaner in them. Otherwise make sure you scrub well with a brush that won’t damage your toilet. Try out the different cleaners that work best on neutralizing smells. Another option to help clean is to let two denture tablets soak overnight before you clean.
Clean the tank
The smell might actually originate from the inside of the tank so this should be addressed as well, suggests The Learning Channel. Take off the tank lid and lift and attach the float the flusher. Flush to drain the tank. Put in a cleaner such as liquid soap, 1/2 cup of white vinegar or 1/2 cup of baking soda. Use a brush to clean it. Let everything soak for a few hours and scrub again. Put the float back to its normal position and flush multiple times to get rid of the cleaners. Replace the lid of the tank.
Use chemicals
There are a variety of chemicals that you can use while you are cleaning, or as an attachment to clean the toilet as you go. You can get a deodorizer to attach to the toilet rim. Every time it flushes, the deodorizer block works by letting out a chemical that blocks odors. This may include oxygen bleach, sodium bicarbonate or borax. Sometimes it gives a blue or green color to the water in the toilet. This can be very good if you have a toilet that gets constantly dirty and you want something that is working all the time to neutralize the smell.
There are many other chemicals that can help with toilet odor. One idea is to combine 1/2 cup baking soda and 2 cups of white vinegar into the toilet. Allow it to soak for half an hour and then scrub the toilet. Flush everything down. This will help to neutralize the odor.
You do not want guests to hold their noses upon entering the bathroom. Of course, remember to take the proper precautions by wearing gloves and not mixing hazardous chemicals.