How to Get Rid of Urine Smell in the Bathroom

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Urine is one of the most common sources of bad odors in your bathroom.

Moreover, the smell of urine comes from both the toilet ball and the area around it. When you flush your toilet, several droplets enter the air and fall on the bathroom floor.

When the droplets dry, they will leave their odor in the bathroom. Thus, here’s a complete guide on how to get rid of the urine smell in the bathroom.

Steps on How to Get Rid of Urine Smell in Bathroom

You’ll need a few household items to rid your bathroom of horrible urine odor. So, you won’t have to spend money on specialized cleaners.

That said, there are some specialized tools you can use.

If you haven’t cleaned your bathroom in a while, you can consider purchasing a specialized backlight to detect urine.

This product may be expensive and is optional because you can clean the bathroom without spotting urine stains.

With that said, here are the steps you must follow.

Step 1. Gather the Necessary Materials

It’s best to keep the necessary materials ready before you start cleaning.

This way, you’ll manage to work uninterrupted and finish quickly. The materials you’ll need include:

  • White vinegar
  • Lemon juice
  • Baking soda
  • A pair of rubber gloves
  • Protective goggles
  • Washcloth
  • Toothbrush
  • A bowl
  • A spoon to mix the contents
  • Measuring cup
  • A mop

Step 2. Create the Cleaning Paste

Start by squeezing fresh lemon juice into a bowl.

You don’t need more than one lemon. Next, add some baking soda to the bowl of lemon juice.

Bring the Baking Soda Mixture to the Right Consistency

Stir the mixture with a spoon. Lift a bit of the mixture and drop it back into the bowl. This way, you’ll be able to determine the consistency of the mixture.

You should aim for consistency that’s close to that of dense cake batter. Add more baking soda to the mix if it’s still runny.

Step 3. Apply the Baking Soda Mixture to Various Parts of the Bathroom

Before you begin the cleaning process, wear a pair of rubber gloves. This way, you’ll prevent any gunk from getting under your nails.

You could consider wearing protective goggles too. However, it’s not necessary.

Use a brush to apply the baking soda paste to the following parts of the bathroom:

  • the toilet seat
  • the bottom of the toilet bowl
  • behind the toilet
  • over and behind the toilet tank
  • below the stool area’s rim

All of these parts tend to have remnants of urine. So, cleaning these parts is vital for removing urine smell. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes for the best results.

Step 4. Freshen Your Toilet Tank

It may seem weird, but your toilet tank can also be responsible for urine odors in your bathroom.

This is especially true when you haven’t cleaned the tank in a long time. So, do not skip this step at all costs.

Remove the Lid and Add a Vinegar Solution

Remove the lid of the toilet’s tank. Next, measure half of a measuring cup of vinegar to the tank full of water.

Let the vinegar solution sit for about 15 minutes.

You can move onto the next step in the meant time.

Step 5. Clean the Walls and Grout in the Bathroom

As mentioned above, droplets can fall onto various parts of the bathroom.

The walls near the toilet and the molding can gather some urine droplets.

Apply the Baking Soda Mixture to the Walls

So, you should start cleaning the walls and the grouting.

Apply some of the baking soda and lemon juice mixture with a washcloth to the walls around the toilet.

Scrub the Grouting with a Toothbrush

Use an old toothbrush to scrub the grouting on the walls.

You don’t have to spend too much time on this. However, grouting can be a common culprit for urine odors, so scrub them.

Step 6. Clean the Bathroom Sink

You should move on to the bathroom sink next.

The sink is relatively easy to clean. Apply the baking soda mixture with a washcloth. Make sure to cover the lower part of the sink as well.

Step 7. Clean the Cupboards

Cupboards that are close to the ground may be responsible for some urine odor.

So, you should wipe it down with the baking soda mixture using a washcloth.

If your cupboards are not near the ground, then you can just wipe them down once.

Step 8. Clean the Bathtub and Shower Curtain

The bathtub can be a source of urine odor, especially if children use the bathroom.

So, clean the bathtub and the walls around the same way as mentioned above.

You don’t need to scrub the bathtub. Instead, wiping it should suffice. You should leave deep cleaning it for another day. This is because that can be a long process.

Wash the Shower Curtain

When you begin cleaning the bathtub, remove the shower curtain. Next, toss the curtain into the washer. In the final rinse cycle, add half a cup of white vinegar to the water.

The white vinegar will help clean the shower curtain and remove bad odors in the process. You can continue cleaning the bathroom while the curtain is in the washer.

Also read: How to Clean Bathroom Curtain?

Step 9. Flush Your Toilet

You should keep a close eye on the time when you’re cleaning your bathroom.

Flush your toilet when 15 minutes pass after you added vinegar to the toilet’s tank.

Add Vinegar to the Toilet

Make sure that you flush your toilet 2 to 3 times so that the vinegar solution reaches inside.

Next, add half a cup of vinegar to the toilet bowl. Let the vinegar sit in the toilet until you finish cleaning the bathroom.

Scrub the Toilet Walls If Necessary

If you haven’t cleaned your toilet in a while, you may notice stains on your toilet walls. In that case, you should scrub the toilet walls clean.

Make sure that you use an appropriate brush for this process. In addition to that, you may also have to use a cleaning product designed for cleaning toilets.

Look at the state of your toilet, and decide. Also, use whatever you typically use for cleaning your toilet.

Scrub the Toilet’s Tank Walls If Necessary

In addition to the toilet walls, you may notice a lot of gunk build-up on the tank’s walls. In that case, scrub the walls with a brush. Make sure to keep your gloves on for this process.

You can also add another half a cup of vinegar to the tank. Don’t any other cleaning solution. The vinegar will make it easier to remove the build-up along the walls.

Step 10. Scrub the Top of the Toilet

Pour some vinegar on the old toothbrush.

Next, use the toothbrush to scrub the top of the toilet. Make sure to clean the joint of the toilet seat and lid.

Pour Vinegar onto the Toilet and Areas Around It

Don’t leave any part of the toilet unexposed to the baking soda or vinegar. After scrubbing the toilet, pour some vinegar onto the toilet.

Wipe it down with the washcloth. Flush the toilet two to three times afterward.

Step 11. Mop the Floor

A quick way to remove the baking soda and vinegar from different parts of the bathroom is to mop it.

However, rinse the walls with water before you start moping the floor.

Move the mop from side to side along the length of the bathroom. This way, you will cover more area.

Make sure to mop with a bit of force on the ground near the toilet. You should make sure that this part is especially clean.

Step 12. Finish the Cleaning Process

Put the lid back on the toilet’s tank. After that, attach the shower curtain back.

The entire bathroom should be smelling a lot fresher at this point.

Look for Other Objects That Could Be Responsible for the Urine Odors

If you notice there’s still some urine odor in the bathroom, look for other objects that could be responsible.

For example, a garbage can near the toilet can leave a bad odor.

In that case, it’s best to get a plastic garbage can that you wash once every week. Other objects to be wary of include laundry baskets and step stools.

Last Few Words

You can expect urine odors more frequently if you have boys using the bathroom.

A poor aim can result in droplets getting onto various parts of the bathroom.

It’s always best to clean your bathroom thoroughly at least once a week to prevent bad odors from lingering.

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