Combat Washroom Odours Once and For All

Whether good or bad, the perception of a restroom is often dictated by the way it smells. In more than 80% of washrooms the odours are foul, caused by standing water, urine, soiled papers or various bacteria. Other times, a fragrance designed to help control odours ends up being the cause of complaints.

There are two types of malodours in washrooms, resident and transient. The transient ones are fairly obvious and unfortunately unavoidable, however, they can be dispersed quickly with the help of the right products. Resident malodours however are more complicated; to successfully combat a malodour you need to understand the source of it.

1. Keep the floor well-maintained, clean and dry

The floor is the number one source of washroom smells, which isn’t really surprising considering how much urine, water and other liquids can quickly build up around toilets, basins and urinals. Floors don’t tend to be cleaned as thoroughly as other surfaces, so there is more chance for bacteria to grow and spread their odours. Also good to remember if the floor is unsealed in areas where it has been replaced and fitted around installed sanitaryware and cubicle feet, water gets in, creating damp, smelly floors.

2. Use a strong and scented toilet cleaner

Toilet bowls can also give off strong odours if fecal matter isn’t removed regularly. Bleach-based products are a very commonly used product for cleaning toilet bowls. Although they’re effective, they do leave a strong chlorine smell in the room, which is unpleasant and hard to get rid of.

3. Remove airborne bacteria

Toilet flushing, electric hand driers and water evaporation all lead to a fine mist of bacteria being suspended in the air in a washroom. These bacteria are what we actually smell when we enter a washroom, so getting rid of these makes the most noticeable difference.

4. Maintain good airflow

Stale air accumulating in a confined environment will always make odours hard to restrain. A good extraction system and supply of fresh air is very important to maintain a fresh atmosphere.