Help! My Toilet Stinks!

At their best, toilets aren’t generally a place where you want to host a dinner party. But they shouldn’t just stink when not in use. Here are some of the main reasons your toilet smells bad, and some ideas on how to fix it.  

Bacteria 

You might think of your toilet as a dirty place, but the water is typically very clean – even drinkable. But when things get particularly hot and humid, you can find bacteria growing in your pipes that can give off a sulfurous, rotten egg smell. One of the best ways to solve this is to find the overflow pipe in the toilet tank and pour a cup of bleach down the pipe. Let it stand for a few minutes before you flush, then leave it for a few hours before you flush again. This should help rid your pipes of the bacteria that is making it stink.  

Broken Seal 

At the base of your toilet, you’ll find a wax ring that seals the space between the toilet and the floor. You might even find the toilet begins to leak at the base or even rock, and odours from the plumbing will enter your bathroom. Silicone or caulk may work as a short-term solution, but you will want to replace the seal if you want to properly enclose that space. You can do this yourself, but you might also want to contact a plumber to fix it for you, so you don’t inadvertently create a bigger problem.  

Mould 

If it is more of a musty stink that you find in your bathroom, the problem might be a build up of mould. When you are cleaning your toilet, you must be sure to get under the rim thoroughly, as that can be a favourite place for mould to grow. The solution is a thorough clean. Wear a mask and gloves and scrub under the rim with an old toothbrush (no matter how funny you think it would be, do not use your spouse’s existing toothbrush) and some bleach. Clean the bowl as thoroughly as possible.  

A Clog 

Obviously, if you have a big clog, you will know about it – the toilet won’t flush properly. But if you have a minor clog, you can get a nasty odor. The best course of action is to try to clear the clog with a drain snake (not chemicals).  

If you still have an odor, you want to contact a professional plumber to check your vents and make sure there is nothing cracked or broken. Because believe it or not, toilets are not meant to be stinky.