Bad smells in the bathroom can be a source of embarrassment, particularly when you have guests over. Bathroom odours that seem to stick around no matter how often you clean your bathroom fixtures can be a sign of a deeper problem. Here are five of the most effective solutions for getting rid of persistent bad smells in the bathroom.

1. Improve Ventilation

Poor ventilation is the root cause of many bathroom odours. Showering and bathing create a lot of water vapour in the air. If this water vapour cannot escape, the air becomes very humid, which encourages the growth of smelly mould and mildew.

Opening a window or propping open the bathroom door after you take a shower or bath is an easy way to ventilate your bathroom. Another option is to install a powerful extraction fan to remove water from the air.

2. Dry Towels Faster

Wet towels are a common source of bad bathroom smells. The faster you can dry your towels, the less they will smell. Always hang your towels up and spread them out on the rack so the water can evaporate from them. A heated towel rack can help to speed up the drying process, so consider installing one if your bathroom constantly smells bad.

3. Clean Drains

Some bathroom odours emanate from drains that have not been cleaned in a long time. If your drains smell bad, you can clean them out using a homemade cleaning solution. Simply mix vinegar and baking soda together until it fizzes, and then pour it into the drain. The fizzing solution can dissolve many common forms of gunk and grime in bathroom drains, leaving them smelling fresh.

4. Replace the Shower Curtain

Shower curtains are common culprits for bathroom odours. If you do not spread your shower curtain out to dry between showers, it will quickly turn into a breeding ground for mould and mildew. If your shower curtain is mouldy at the bottom, throw it out and replace it with a new one. You could also consider installing a shower screen instead of a shower curtain, which should help to stop the growth of mould.

5. Check for Leaks

Some bathrooms are excessively damp because of a leaking pipe, sink, or toilet. Check carefully around the base of your tub, shower stall, sink, and toilet for wet patches. If you find a leak, do not attempt to fix it yourself. Instead, call a plumber for a professional repair.