A foul-smelling bathroom can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you maintain it regularly. While most people focus on obvious areas like the toilet and sink, unpleasant odours often come from neglected spots.
A professional cleaner on social media has revealed that many households overlook crucial cleaning tasks, leading to persistent bad smells. Kellsie Cleaning Tutorials shared on TikTok: "If your bathroom still smells after you clean, this is probably why. It's not always what you think. Most people miss these two spots."
1. Toilet Seat Hinges
Regarding your toilet, most people clean the seat and surrounding surface, but a professional cleaner suggests you might be overlooking the most critical spot: the hinges. Kellsie said: "Those hinges trap bacteria, urine, and grime, and that's where odour starts. It builds in areas you can't see just from wiping the surface. Once you clean under there, you'll notice a difference immediately."
Industry specialists at Bathroom Mountain state that removing the toilet seat enhances odour management by allowing cleaning solutions to reach every surface while simplifying access to awkward spots with conventional cleaning equipment. Kellsie added: "And don't forget the bidet if you have one. Most bidet seats have a quick-release button on the side. Remove it, then clean underneath the seat and around the base plate really well. That area traps moisture and buildup."
2. The Floor
Bathroom floors readily accumulate germs as they are frequently damp and warm. Dirt and moisture create ideal conditions for bacteria and mould to thrive. Regular floor cleaning helps maintain a fresh, hygienic bathroom environment.
Kellsie explained: "That smell around your toilet, it's not usually the toilet. It's urine soaked into the grout, and once it's in there, a quick mop is not going to touch it. You need to deep clean the grout. A steam cleaner works really well for this because it pulls everything up deep inside the grout. That's what actually removes the odour instead of just masking it."
Without access to a steam cleaner, specialists at Screwfix suggest using bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. This eco-friendly cleaning approach can tackle stains effectively, though vinegar might harm certain tile types. Testing the solution on a small, inconspicuous spot beforehand is always advisable to confirm it is suitable for use.
