Blogger Redding, CA on Jul 26, 2012

Getting Rid of that "Boy Bathroom Smell"

Ask Anna explains how using 3 household ingredients can get rid of that smell that mysteriously appears in a boys bathroom. Here is the readers question: Our front bathroom is pretty much used by our 2 boys. My problem is that I cannot get rid of the "boy bathroom smell." I scrubbed the bathroom last week, and have made a point to wipe things down and have them do it as well. I even replaced the toilet seats. It makes me want to go in there with a pressure washer full of bleach! Any suggestions on how to get rid of the smell?? I always worry guests can smell it too unless I turn the wax burner on.

Check out Ask Anna for the full answer for a fresh smelling bathroom!

http://askannamoseley.com/2012/02/getting-ri...

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52 Comments Displaying 25 of 52 comments | See Previous

Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

Pamela, an older home can have funny things happen, as can drains not used frequently. If you have plumming that is not not used daily, be sure and run water into the sink/bathtub/and flush to make sure the trap does not get dry. This is a safety issue too because sewer gas can come back into the house. We had a smell problem in our office because the floor drains never got water. About once a month we had to pour a couple of gallons of water down the drains! Also, toilet seals can be worn out! You may want to reseat the toilets!

on Jul 31, 2012 · Like 2
Glenda B Maryville, TN

I agree with Jeanette. No excuse for a boy bathroom smell. If they can't aim, they should have to clean it themselves. I'm sure their aim would get better.

on Jul 31, 2012 · Like 1
Margaret K Acworth, GA

A ready made product that works great on boys as well as pets is Natures Miracle. You should be able to find it at the local pet supply store. Also Odo Ban found at Home Depot in a large bottle is great too as it is a general cleaner. I've found that Odo Ban does not work as well for cats as Natures Miracle, however. Natures Miracle even saved a mattress once from a child who was bed wetting.

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 1
Sherrie Nixa, MO

If the toilet is leaking even a little bit if the wax ring is gone yes they get old and need replaced the sub floor could have damage. That could be why it always smells. Because honestly regular cleaning takes care of those smells. Or it could be there was a leak before and even through the sub flooring has been dried it has absorbed the smell.

on Aug 08, 2012 · Like 2
Sherrie Nixa, MO

Or the flooring could have absorbed the smell if there was a leak.

on Aug 08, 2012 · Like 0
Trish V Sulphur, LA

I read that you can spray peroxide and baking soda around the base, the smell gets under the tile. let the the solution soak then wipe! give it a try

on Aug 09, 2012 · Like 0
Alexandra Hampton, VA

We had the same problem until I started cleaning the walls on either side of the toilet! We have wallpaper so it is easy to wipe down every week. I've not had the problem since then. Do you wipe down the entire bowl, or just the top? Wiping the entire base ever week is overkill usually, but with boys it helps. Scrubbing around the base even in the back is good too because if it hits the back of the bowl it dribbles down the sides to the back.

on Aug 21, 2012 · Like 0
Bob H Bay City, MI

I still throw Cheerios in the bowl. Does not make my aim better, but it sure is fun trying!
I agree about the wiping of the walls, and I also undo the toilet seat caps and scrub under there with a toothbrush.

on Aug 22, 2012 · Like 2
Toni Pardoe Ellsworth Spanish Fork, UT

Just make them ALL SIT. There is no law that says they must stand. If they won't sit then they need to be taught to wipe the floor, walls, rim and bowl each time they use the toilet. They will soon learn that it is much easier to just sit. Has worked well for several of us.

on Aug 24, 2012 · Like 1
Amanda J Huntsville, AL

We have family coming up next weekend and I'm going to try this!

on Aug 25, 2012 · Like 0
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

GEEZ!! And we wonder why public rest rooms are so filthy & nasty!

on Aug 25, 2012 · Like 0
Steve G Fort Collins, CO

Thought about this post when I ran across this video. It was a reminder that no matter who is using the toilet, you get some nasty bacteria and such spraying out if you don't flush to toilet lid
on Aug 26, 2012 · Like 1
Toni Pardoe Ellsworth Spanish Fork, UT

They need to do the test now showing where the "SPLASH" ends up when men and boys STAND to urinate! This is also why they tell you not to store your toothbrushes nearby.
Steve where did you find the video? I have SEVERAL people I want to share this with and I can't find a share link.
Thanks,
Toni

on Aug 27, 2012 · Like 0
Steve G Fort Collins, CO

Here is the link for the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02WuF5Jf9KU

on Aug 27, 2012 · Like 0
Shavanna R Mount Carmel, PA

I cured my boys of that real quick hand them the cleaning rag. You made it, you clean it up.

on Aug 28, 2012 · Like 2
Connie Nikiforoff Designs Mandan, ND

OK..I must admit I too made our boys sit at home. They could stand up anywhere else (like public places) if they wanted to. There is no law that says boys have to stand up. And for those of you who say "Men are men cuz they pee standing up!" I always like to say "Women can pee standing up too. It's just that we can't really aim." ;-) And apparently a lot of men can't either...haha! Hence the "boy bathroom smell" Eeeewwww!

on Sep 19, 2012 · Like 2
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

One other point...if your toilets have been in place for many years, you may want to have the WAX SEAL replaced on them. This does not require a plumber, but if you wait like we did because we just never thougth of it, this project will involve a plumber and a floor man to replace subfloor and relay tile! The urine seeps out and ruins the subflooring and no amount of cleaning will get rid of THAT smell! I nearly drove myself crazy cleaning...the thing was no boys used that bathroom so I ...»
knew something was wrong!
Our house is over 40 years old and we had our wax seals replaced and the remining toilets regrouted by our plumber when he came out to fix another problem. It cost us a couple hundred extra dollars but it was well worth it...they brought the rings an finished in only a couple of hours! That would have taken us all week end! And fooling with sewer gas scares me! Let the professionals do it! That way you can sleep knowing it is capped off.

on Sep 20, 2012 · Like 0
Sherrie Nixa, MO

This is not just a boy or man problem. I agree with Jeanette. All it takes is a little toilet water to leak onto the floor to create,the smell. And if it gets into the floor and sub floor the smell will remain. If there has been a pervious problem and they didn't seal the sub floor after a leak it will continue to smell until it is either sealed or replaced.

on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 0
Connie Nikiforoff Designs Mandan, ND

Thanks Steve G for posting that video. Actually I've known about the errant spray from a toilet flush, for years...that's why I insisted it be closed before flushing. That "rule" works pretty good for family in the house.But...you can't be mandating for visitors...
The other reason I always wanted the toilet seat down is because when we were first married, someone used the bathroom, accidentally dropped a toothbrush into the toilet and it clogged, of ...»
course, allowing all matter of "stuff" to come up and over...and onto the floor! EEeewww! We had a to hire a plumber and we really didn't have the money for it. So moral of the story: close toilet lid after use, before flush :-)
And yes, when the floor and/or subfloor gets wet, it'll stink until it can be properly dried out.

on Sep 21, 2012 · Like 0
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

Connie, drying out does not get rid of urine smell. A toilet base is over 6" wide and 12" deep with an opening for it to flush out of about 4". that leaves a pretty big area for urine to start seeping in undetected. And once it gets in the subflooring, it creeps into a bigger and bigger space underneath the top covering...even tile! That is what happened tt us. I have an acute sense of smell...almost dibilitating...and I kept cleaning with a small brush around the edge of the base of ...»
the toilet to make sure I got "everything" not knowing I was fighting a loosing battle! Finally, I told hubby to pull up the toilet! I had to leave the house until it was repaired because the small was unbearable! The longer you wait, the more damage is done and the more it costs! If you clean your floor, walk out and close the door and come back in a couple of hours and still smell urine, you have a leak!

on Sep 22, 2012 · Like 0
ANITA G Oak Lawn, IL

try vinegar

on Dec 30, 2012 · Like 0
Sherrie Nixa, MO

if it gets into the sub flooring no amount of cleaning will rid you of the smell. Unless you replace it or seal it. If it is very bad sealer won't work. I also shut the toilet before flushing and always keep the lid down when not used. The rst of the cleaning Idea'sPictures will probably help. I always wash the walls and dust the toilet holder also. You need to leave the toilet bowl cleaner for 10 minutes to disinfect the toilet. A hint I received from a blogger Jillie her poster suggested ...»
after you scrub the toilet bowel to spray it down and the brush also. Place the brush under the sit and let it dry. Then come back and wipe the toilet down and dry it. This gives the cleaner time to disinfect and the brush is disinfected and dries. Win win.

on Dec 30, 2012 · Like 1
Todd Wolfe Acworth, GA

Have them sit, or "they" have to clean it!!

on Dec 31, 2012 · Like 2
Sondra A Janesville, WI

Somewhere I else I read that after you clean your floors with bleach or vinegar or whatever you choose to use, to wipe up with Scope and it will get rid of dog smell. Perhaps this would work with boy smell as well.

on Dec 31, 2012 · Like 0
Andrea S Canada

I wipe the walls too. Beside the floor and the side of the toilet where it runs down, they sprinkle the walls too. I make them sit at home. If they stand they have to wipe it down. I can do it standing up, I never sit in a public washroom but I do wipe down after myself. My kids see this and I hope modelling works and they too will eventually do it without prompting. I don't know why they needed to learn to pee standing up. It's just laziness. They sit for number two and nobody complains. ...»
We were doing well with covering the seat and sitting down before they went to JK. Since they started JK they don't want to sit down unless I put them there. It is very frustrating but we keep working on it. Once the surfaces are cleaned the smell is gone, but I really do have to wipe vertical spaces not just the seat and the floor.

on Jan 01, 2013 · Like 0