13 Clever Scent Hacks to Make Your Bathroom Smell Good (all the time!)

How to make your bathroom smell nice! Get rid of bathroom odor naturally with these easy hacks!

The bathroom is seriously the hardest room to keep smelling fresh.

Today we’ll cover several ways to prevent weird smells, neutralize existing odors, and maybe even make your bathroom smell like a spa!

Let’s check ‘em out!

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How to Make Your Bathroom Smell Good

1. Have a regular cleaning routine

Unfortunately, your bathroom won’t smell nice without a bit of regular effort on your part.

Cleaning isn’t overly fun, but staying on top of it regularly means it won’t build up. That way it’ll go much quicker and easier each time.

Here’s a simple bathroom cleaning routine to implement:

• Wipe off the countertop, sink, and faucet once a day. I like to use disposable disinfecting wipes to make this really fast.
• Wipe down the toilet, including underneath the lid, and the surrounding floor area several times a week, if not daily. (I recommend wearing gloves if it’ll gross you out!)
• Clean the shower once a week, or more if it gets a lot of use. You can also spray it with a daily shower spray to keep gunk from building up.
• Mop the floor weekly, or more often if you have little boys or messy guys.
• Empty the trash a few times a week.
• Do a quick check every few days, and eliminate any visual mold lurking around.

Read Next: 15 Frugal Homemade Cleaning Products That Really Work 

2. Clean your toilet brush regularly

Keeping your cleaning utensils clean is a big part of keeping the bathroom fresh.

Spray your toilet brush generously with a bleach solution or rubbing alcohol once a month to disinfect it.

It’s recommended to replace your toilet brush about every 6 months to keep it fresh as well.

💡 Pro-tip: After using the toilet brush, stick it between the seat and toilet bowl to let it air dry before returning it to its holder.

3. Wash towels often

Dirty or musty towels can really contribute to bad smells in the bathroom.

Here’s how to properly wash and dry your towels so they always smell fresh.

Ideally, wash your towels at least every 3-4 uses.

And be sure to always hang your towels up between uses so they can thoroughly dry.

4. Put Essential oil on toilet paper roll

An easy hack to make your bathroom smell good is to shake some essential oils onto the cardboard part of the toilet paper roll.

Every time someone unrolls it to grab some toilet paper, a fresh scent will be released into the air.

A few essential oils to try are:

• Lemon
• Peppermint
• Lavender
• Tea tree

Read Next: How to Use Essential Oils for Cleaning: The Ultimate Guide! 

5. Change trash often

Some of your bathroom odors might be coming from the garbage can.

Try to change it a few times a week, replacing the liner each time.

💡 Pro-tip: Sprinkle some baking soda or place a fabric softener sheet at the bottom of the trash can to absorb odors.

6. Wash rugs regularly

Bath mats can really contribute to musty odors in your bathroom.

Unfortunately they’re a haven for bacteria and mildew, especially if they can’t fully dry between uses.

If your bathroom rugs get used very frequently (such as several times a day), aim for washing them once per week.

7. Use Poo-pourri spray

Before going to the bathroom, spray Poo-pourri into the water.

It’s a miraculous invention that traps odors below the water’s surface, instead of allowing them to seep into the air.

Also known as the ‘before you go spray,’ Poo-pourri really is the best air freshener for bathroom smells.

8. Use a drain cleaner

Bad odors can drift up from the drains in your bathroom.

To make sure you don’t get any sewer or musty smells, sprinkle some baking soda down the sink or shower drain, followed by white vinegar.

It’ll bubble up, and clear any debris that could become stinky.

9. Spritz homemade air freshener

Store-bought air fresheners can smell really fake and bad.

Make your own room spray by combining these ingredients in a small spray bottle:

• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tbs isopropyl alcohol
• 6 drops of essential oil

Like mixing up your own essential oil recipe blends? Check out my Seasonal Essential Oil Recipe Book for fun recipes for every season!

If you prefer pre-made air fresheners that actually smell good, this automatic spray will make your bathroom smell like a tropical oasis with no effort from you. 

10. Keep consistent airflow

Trapped odors can compound when there’s not good airflow or ventilation in your bathroom.

Install an exhaust fan, and leave it running for a while after your shower.

You can also keep the window cracked whenever weather allows.

This trick alone is one of the best bathroom odor eliminators.

11. Use baking soda

Baking soda does a fantastic job of absorbing odors, and it’ll deodorize your bathroom. It’s very inexpensive, too!

This is an excellent way to keep even a windowless bathroom fresh.

Fill a jar with baking soda, and poke holes in the lid so it can work its magic.

You can also put baking soda in a bowl or open container if you’re unlikely to knock it over.

Read Next: How to Make Your Fridge Smell Fresh All The Time

12. Add in a pleasant scent 

Besides making sure that bad odors don’t accumulate, you can add in a pleasant scent to make your bathroom smell good all the time.

A reed diffuser lasts a long time, doesn’t require an outlet or a flame, and comes in some fantastic scents.

Here are some popular reed diffusers to try out:

• White Tea Reed Diffuser Set
• Craft & Kin Orange Blossom and Lotus
• Houzz Almafi Coast Room Scent – sure to make your bathroom smell like a spa!

Running an essential oil diffuser is another great way to make your bathroom smell good naturally.

✨ Use these essential oils blends for inspiration of what oils to diffuse!

13.  Use a toilet bomb

A toilet bomb is like an odor neutralizing toilet drop-in. It bubbles up and cleans your toilet bowl without needing to scrub.

Learn how to make your own DIY toilet bombs here.

How to make your shower smell good

Besides keeping the drain clean and using a daily shower spray, be sure to wash your shower curtain regularly.

It’s one of those tasks that is super easy to forget, so add it into your cleaning routine at least every few months.

Replace or wash your shower liner regularly as well, and keep the shower curtain and liner closed after you shower to make sure they have a chance to dry thoroughly.

Ready to try these bathroom scent hacks?

I hope you liked these easy tricks to make your bathroom smell good, and found them useful!

There’s no need to settle for a stinky bathroom when you can: 

• Keep it clean to prevent bad odors from building up
• Deodorize unpleasant scents using baking soda to get rid of bathroom odor naturally 
• Make it smell nice with essential oils or a reed diffuser

If you found this post helpful, please don’t forget to share it!

🌟 For more helpful household cleaning tricks, check out:

• How to Keep Your Whole House Smelling Good (23 Genius Hacks!)
• 6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Tidy ALL the Time
• How To Get Motivated To Clean Your House