There are few things so gratifying to a homemaker as conquering a problem spot in her home. Like when I finally clear away all the paper clutter on the kitchen counter. It happens about once every three months and lasts for about five minutes at a time, but, boy, do I feel empowered for that five minutes!
But let me tell you about the household issue I have recently conquered, one that has left me feeling like the Joan of Arc of homemaking.
If you have little boys, and particularly if you have MULTIPLE little boys, you know what an issue bathroom odor can be! I can spray and wipe and clean and scrub until a toilet glistens and the lid is spotless enough to eat off of. (Not that I would ever, EVER do that, but you understand…) I can use every product in the Kroger cleaning aisle, wear a toilet brush down to a nub, mop like an absolute maniac, and then bathe the room in air freshener.
And STILL that spotless, fully disinfected room will smell like urine again 30 minutes later!
I thought about banning my little boys from the bathroom, but that seemed a little extreme, especially when I don’t think outhouses are permitted in our neighborhood. Rats. It looked like my only choice was to learn to live with a bathroom that was clean, but never really smelled like it.
But, lo and behold if I haven’t discovered a little trick that works wonders on the little boy bathroom smell!
It’s all in who you know! A friend or ours once worked as a custodian at a local elementary school. (Which makes me shudder. I clean up after two little boys. He was cleaning up after HUNDREDS!) He recently shared a tip for handling stubborn odors.
This is all you need:
Clean your toilet really well just like you normally would. Mix baking soda and lemon juice together into a thick, but spreadable paste. I use about 1/3-1/2 cup baking soda and 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice, which makes more than enough for me to clean both the toilets in my house.
With an old toothbrush, work the paste all around the base of your toilet, where it is affixed to the floor. (And be warned: if you haven’t scrubbed around there in a while, and even is you have, you’re about to pull up some scary stuff! I’m not grossing you out with a picture here, but trust me.)
Allow the paste to sit for a few minutes and work its magic. Wipe up the grime and the excess paste with a damp rag and then rinse all around with a cup or so of vinegar. Gently pour it on and watch it fizz! That’s it. Wipe again and you’re done! Afterwards I usually do a final mop and that’s all there is to it!
I’m telling you, this works. It’s not permanent, mind you, but it really does remove the urine smell and keeps it at bay for three to four weeks at a time. Even after two weeks I will still sometimes notice a faint lemon scent in my bathroom. That’s a far cry from what I was smelling in there not so long ago! And I don’t have to use the paste every time I clean my toilets — just once a month or so. Of course if your bathroom sees more traffic than mine, you may need to do it more often.
I love that this little trick is inexpensive and simple and all-natural, involving no weird products or dangerous chemicals. So if you’ve been battling awful bathroom odors, here’s a solution worth your while.
You’ll be delighted to have one of those household trouble-spots conquered!
I am so glad I'm not the only one with that problem! I have 3 boys so… yeah. I'll be giving this a try!! Thanks!
You're so welcome! I hope it works for you as well as it has for me. I was beginning to think I may have to wait until my boys were grown before I could have decent-smelling bathrooms again! Fortunately that isn't the case 🙂
Great tip! 🙂
OH! I cant WAIT to try this! I have 5…yes 5…boys from age 3-13. I REALLY need this! Thank you! =)
FIVE boys?? You are my hero, Jenny! 😉 Hope this works for you!
thank you thank you thank you!
Four boys, age 7 and younger. Yep, I need to conquer this area!
Emily
http://www.weakandloved.com
Awesome Tip! I have two boys and can use this! Thank you so much for sharing at our Mommy Club Resources and Solution Linky Party!
Thank you for the opportunity!
I just tried this but I'm getting more of a strong vinegar smell instead of lemon. Maybe it will lessen as it dries. This is so timely because I told my husband I was sick of our bathroom smelling like a gas station bathroom. Yucko! Thanks for the tip.
The vinegar smell is strong at first, but does wear away. I also wouldn't say the lemon smell lingers much. There are just times when I can smell it. But almost any smell beats what I used to deal with in our bathrooms!
Can you do this if you have wood floors?
I don't see why you couldn't, Amanda. I don't have wood floors, but the ingredients you're using aren't nearly as harsh or abrasive as a lot of cleaners. You might want to test it a little first, though, just to be on the safe side.
Oh! I can't wait to give this a go. This problem is one of my major bug-bears at the moment! Because….well….because I have two boys!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Boys will do it! How well I know. I hope this words as well for you as it does for me!
O.M.Gee!!!! I did this today, and oh MAN…what a difference!!!!! I have two boys, and I was forever trying to get the smell out. No amount of cleaning helped! SO glad I found this link on pinterest!
I'm telling ya…it works! I had tried everything, too, and was so excited to come across this little tip. Glad to hear it's working for you as well!
Conquering the Little Boy Bathroom Smell – The post shares great piece of information to keep the bathroom clean.
Thanks!!
Can I use lemon essential oil instead of lemon juice?
I'm not sure the oil would be as effective as the juice. You're wanting lots of acid working there. Plus the juice is far less expensive!
Visiting from Inspire Me Monday! Pinning this post and following on FB and Pinterest. 🙂 I use Thieves from Young Living and it really helps with those bathroom odors too. 🙂
Yes! Essential oils can make a HUGE difference, too! Thanks for visiting!