MNN - Mother Nature Network

What is worse than bathroom smells? The choke-inducing chemical smell of spray air freshener layered on top of it. Holy smokes, it can leave you gasping for air. For bathroom deodorizing, natural, nontoxic deodorizers are actually better at masking bad smells. They're also a lot friendlier to people who are allergic or sensitive to synthetic perfumes.

 

If you have persistent bad smells in your bathroom that are not related to going to the bathroom, you might need to call in a plumber. For example, Jimmy Cash, a plumber in Dallas, says that bathroom smells can be attributed to pipe leaks or drain seals. These bathroom deodorizers are not a substitute for keeping plumbing in working order. Also, having an HVAC contractor install a proper vent fan in your bathroom is beneficial in a few ways: A vent fan can pull out routine bathroom smells, but it also can prevent mold and mildew growth, which has its own nasty smell.

 

While my favorite way to deodorize the bathroom is to open the window or turn on a vent fan (duh), sometimes the air just doesn't move fast enough and you need a little help. So here you go; help is on the way.

 

Water and essential oil in a plug-in: While your standard plug-in air freshener is filled with chemical perfumes, the concept of an electrical scent diffuser alone is not bad. Empty out, wash, and dry the bulb from a plug-in air freshener. Then fill with water and a few drops of essential oil.

 

Add essential oil to cedar chips to make potpourri: Cedar chips are aromatic on their own. To kick them up a notch, add a few drops of an essential oil, like lavender or lemon, to cedar chips and place in a bowl or cheesecloth sachet. 

 

Add essential oil drops to the inside of a cardboard toilet paper tube: Your toilet paper tube itself can become an air freshener. Add a few drops of a nice-smelling essential oil to the inside of a toilet paper roll tube. 

 

Put a couple drops of eucalyptus oil in the toilet beforehand: Crunchy Betty, one of my favorite green lifestyle bloggers, posted this tip. Put a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil into the toilet before you go number two. She claims that short of total horror show number twos, once you flush the smell of the number two will totally disappear.

 

Simmer scent pots: Simmering water and aromatic herbs and fruits is sure way to pleasantly scent the air. There are small, portable ways to simmer a small bowl or cup of water and aromatics in the bathroom, like a coffee cup warmer or a candle-fueled scent diffuser.

 

Mason jar of baking soda: Baking soda as a deodorizer, on its own, has its supporters and detractors. As a medium for essential oils, it's excellent. Maggie, from the blog Smashed Peas and Carrots, made cute and clever baking soda and essential oil air fresheners in Mason jars. Put baking soda and a few drops of a fragrant essential oil into a small Mason jar with a ring lid. Instead of using the metal plate that goes inside the ring of the lid, she used perforated craft paper, which allows the scent to diffuse.