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Smelly toilet

(34 Posts)
Supernana1 Sun 20-Jul-25 01:55:40

I know there is a previous thread on this subject, but I can't find it.

All around my downstairs loo stinks of urine. The floor is hard tiled and I've scrubbed it, even did a particularly hard scrubbing job on the grout, but nothing works. I've tried squirting bleach around the base of the toilet, hoping it would go between the base and the floor, but even that didn't help.

There are no leaks from the pipes leading from the toilet, so what can I do to get rid of the stale urine smell?

Please help somebody - I'm desperate!

Thanks.

madeleine45 Sun 20-Jul-25 06:51:27

If you have tried all the usual things then I would suggest that you get a plumber in to look at it. I moved into my ground floor flat with a very nice tiled bathroom, shower, toilet washbowl, underfloor heating and very clean looking. But what I didnt know was there there was a leak from behind the toilet. It was not noticeable for a very long time and I ended up having to have the whole bathroom ripped out and redone. A major hassle and had to move out to a hotel that first day as no working toilet etc. Have never had anything like this happened before and it is the fact that you have no idea until disaster strikes. I am not suggesting that you will be in the same position, but if you have done all this work and there is still no improvement then I would think a plumber is your best bet. Could there be a problem with the S bend where the smell is not being taken away?

Hope you can find a solution soon

MayBee70 Mon 21-Jul-25 01:45:53

I had a new toilet fitted a few years ago that always smells awful. I was so grateful that a local plumber was happy to fit just a toilet but it turned out he seemed to have a horrible cheap toilet that he wanted to get rid of. The seat is a discontinued size which can’t be replaced and it’s a horrible plastic that never smells clean no matter how much I bleach or disinfect it. However, one thing that does seem to have worked is a steam cleaner that I borrowed from someone recently. A quick blast from it every now and again followed by applying some Zoflora and I think it smells much better.

Supernana1 Mon 21-Jul-25 11:10:04

Thanks - I'll try steaming it. My OH hasn't got very good aim and I think that's what caused the problem.

I'll come back when it's done to let you know how I got on.

Thank you.

JaneJudge Mon 21-Jul-25 11:13:30

zoflora seems to get rid of most smells, steam can help too if you purchase a steam cleaner

Georgesgran Mon 21-Jul-25 12:05:25

I’ve noticed that most toilets are siliconed to the floor - if yours isn’t, could a few drops of urine have seeped underneath, if your DH is a bit careless?
Try slipping a sheet of loo roll in where the base sits on the floor and see if anything gets absorbed.

Caleo Mon 21-Jul-25 12:10:26

A smell of that magnitude is unlikely to be caused by a badly glazed lavvy pan. I think you need a plumber to examine the joints at the back of the lavvy pan.

Have you tried a huge dose of washing soda in the pan and a vigorous scrub with the brush before flushing? Is the flush strong enough to get waste right round the S bend?

Flippinheck Mon 21-Jul-25 12:42:24

My dtr had to deal with this in my ex husband’s house, caused an accumulation of careless drips. I agree a steam clean might help but if it has seeped its way into the tiles / grout you might need to do what they did and pull up the tiles and lay new ones. I did see somewhere that a good scrub with shaving cream helps but haven’t tried it. Good luck.

Wolfie59 Mon 21-Jul-25 13:51:28

Encourage him to sit down when weeing, if his aim/eyesight is not as good as it was.

Quizzer Mon 21-Jul-25 13:58:58

I had the same problem. Eventually discovered that there was a tiny leak in the joint between the U-bend and the drain. Never enough to drip onto the floor, but enough to smell. Solved in a few minutes by a friendly plumber.

Cateq Mon 21-Jul-25 14:04:54

I use shaving foam around the toilet bowl I spray it onto the floor leave it for 30 mins then wipe the residual left on the floor with a squeegee and finish with a quick wash using my flash mop leave the room to air and any odours has gone

LaTroisette Mon 21-Jul-25 14:11:33

Was going to suggest this too. It really does work

aggie Mon 21-Jul-25 14:15:15

The whole outside of the toilet bowl and the underside of the seat need scrubbed
When we had workmen in I had to do that as well as the floor and the walls near the toilet
I couldn’t believe how far wee had spread !n

lizzypopbottle Mon 21-Jul-25 15:15:21

Suggest that your husband sits down to pee?

cc Mon 21-Jul-25 15:18:35

Both our toilets are off the floor models so I know that the floor is clean and there are no obvious leaks, but one is them is still niffy. In our case I think that, because the incoming water is always slightly warm, bacteria can grow. I've found that if I clean very thoroughly under the rim around the water inlet holes this usually gets rid of the smell. I agree though that toilet seats are often not very good quality even if they are from a good brand, and do discolour easily.
Incidentally the niffy one is that usually used by the men in our family, I agree that they are often pretty careless and splashy when they are standing using the toilet.

Time2 Mon 21-Jul-25 15:24:30

I vote that we all get our men to sit down when they wee, either that, or THEY do the cleaning! Anyone with me?

Patsy70 Mon 21-Jul-25 15:28:50

Supernana1

Thanks - I'll try steaming it. My OH hasn't got very good aim and I think that's what caused the problem.

I'll come back when it's done to let you know how I got on.

Thank you.

My OH is the same! 🙄 A floor steamer is the answer.

Autumnrose Mon 21-Jul-25 16:21:35

I agree that standing to wee is only for urinals (or behind a bush!) I’ve been married twice and both DHs sat to wee when using a WC!

Marydoll Mon 21-Jul-25 16:32:34

When I was teaching, the boys' loos smelled so awful, it permeated the corridors. Urine had leaked under the floor, caused by wee boys, with a poor aim!

Unfortunately, the only solution was to rip up the floors.

arum Mon 21-Jul-25 17:16:30

Time2

I vote that we all get our men to sit down when they wee, either that, or THEY do the cleaning! Anyone with me?

Agreed. When we married, I gave DH the choice: Stand and pee and clean the floor and tiles himself, or sit and pee and I do the cleaning. Ever since then, he has been sitting when he pees. And our sons-in-law do the same.

Janiepops Mon 21-Jul-25 18:05:34

I would try washing the nearby wall with bi-carb (alkaline) with a squirt of fairy washing up liquid, then repaint that wall.. I was astounded how far the splashes travel!

Goodcook Mon 21-Jul-25 18:08:52

Yes I agree with the. Good advice

NannieChicken Mon 21-Jul-25 19:18:28

White vinegar is very good for removing bad smells. A liberal amount squirted on the floor and allowed to soak for a while is good.

Bazza Mon 21-Jul-25 20:13:58

It will for ever be a mystery to me why all men can’t sit down to pee. That’s how we start to potty train a little boy, why do they then have to stand up, just because they can? Or are they just too lazy to pull their trousers down like all women have to do. At least there would be no smelly splashes all over the place. I have to admit I haven’t managed to convince my husband, although he will sit down for a pee in the night.

Musicgirl Mon 21-Jul-25 20:48:28

I had this problem in my downstairs toilet last year for the same reason - DH plus, I think, male visitors not being as careful with their aim as they should be. My solution was to buy a couple of old-fashioned pedestal mats. I can interchange them on a weekly basis (sooner if necessary). It means that the mats soak up any splashes and can be washed in the washing machine regularly and the room smells much fresher.