My house started smelling like the sewage. At first it wasn’t noticeable, slowly it got to the level we couldn’t live in the house. I have managed to eliminate the sewage smell and to control it.
How to Get Rid of Toilet Odor? Gases in the sewage such as Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide are what create the stinky smell. To get rid of the smell vent out the sewage pipes, make sure they are not blocked.
- Flush the toilet a couple of times
- The pH level should be maintained between 6.8 and 7.6
- Pour a cup of baking soda to the drain and toilet weekly ( make it a part of your weekly toilet cleaning schedule )
- Check the vents, if they are blocked it creates the smell
- Check for any leaks in the drain pipes
- Unclog drains
- Reseal the toilets wax ring or replace it
- Unused toilets and sinks dry up. With no water in the drain, the gases find their way into the house. So run the taps and flush a couple of times.
Toilet Odor usually does not build up overnight. It could, but usually, it is our negligence to handle simple things in time.
There are cases when there is nothing we can do. In my apartment complex, the sewage pipes were leaking and there was a faint crack in the sewage tank. This was beyond my control.
What I could do was handle the smells in the house. I have listed those below under natural ways to eliminate odours.
I had removed a toilet bowl from my house. If you do remove bowls like that, you must have them properly sealed.
Else toilet gases will come into the house and the house will stink like the sewer.
Ask a plumber to seal it properly. Mine wasn’t and believe me the smells can be so bad.
Is sewer gas harmful?
No sewage gas is not harmful if the concentration is less. Usually, the amount present in the house is very less.
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That being said, Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic gas. If it is present in concentrations above 150 ppm it can act as a depressant.
Sewage gas might also have these effect on us
- irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract
- nervousness
- dizziness
- nausea
- headache
- drowsiness
So, yes it isn’t killing you but it can make you very uncomfortable. If it is present in huge quantities, it is a fire hazard.
If you have a weak immune system, it can affect you a LOT.
How to Get Rid of Bathroom Odor Naturally
When I wanted to get rid of the toilet and bathroom odours I realised I was making a lot of mistakes.
Over the years I have tried to revise my methods and here are some which are working for me.
- No Chemicals – Chemicals like Lysol, phenol, harpic can kill good bacteria ( they actually kill all bacteria).
- pH level of Septic Tank needs to be maintained between 6.8 and 7.6 . If it becomes too acidic rotten egg smells will be there ( due to production of hydrogen sulfide)
- Do not Flush trash, oils, coffee grounds, cleaning products
- Maintain a Weekly and Monthly Cleaning Schedule
- Use Natural Cleaners ( I have a list of natural cleaners on a separate page on my website)
Step 1 – Switch to All Natural Cleaners
Chemical Cleaners kill germs and bacteria,but they also kill those bacteria which are required for the proper functioning of the sewage system.
They cause an imbalance in the pH levels, turning it acidic. This means a breakdown in our natural sewage disposal, toxic gases are produced causing serious health hazards.
As though this was not enough these can also affect our natural water and environmental resources.
It is very easy and simple to purchase and produce our own natural cleaners and toilet bombs and deodorizers. These are safe on humans and pets and do not mess with our eco system.
You can try the Krya Floor cleaner, it is made of soap nuts. You can read my review on Krya Floor cleaner and I even demonstrate how to use it.
Step 2 – Monitor Unused Drains and Toilets
Unused drains and toilets dry up. Water is a barrier which prevents the gases from dispersing into the house. Ensure that you flush them weekly and run water through unused drains often.
You can then add a little mineral oil which prevents the water from drying up quickly.
Step 3 – Clean Regularly
Being lazy is what I am guilty of. There will be days I clean like a zombie, followed by days I will not clean anything.
When I came across the Flylady system, my life turned around for the better. Try the system, it is very effective. If you do not want to, just make sure you have a daily, weekly and monthly toilet cleaning routine. This simplifies life.
Cleaning regularly will tackle the daily mess and prevent scale buildup. This will eliminate odours usually ( except any odours from the sewage tank). The sewage odours I handled using natural deodorizers.
I also pour in 1 cup of baking soda, leave it in for a while. Next I pour in 3 cups of white vinegar. You can add in citirc acid crystals as well. These will remove odours and declog drains and the toilet p bend.
For regular maintainence I have started adding a bio chemical to the toilet and other drains. This naturally cleanses the toilet ( using bacteria ) and it removes odour instantly. The bacteria suck up the odour ( literally).
Step 4 – Prepare Natural Deodorizers
All you need to prepare natural deodorizers is baking soda and essential oils. Baking soda sucks up smells and also descales. Check the recipe in the video. It is simple and easy.
Step 5 – Use Charcoal Deodorizers
Charcoal absorbs odours, toxins, paint fumes and bacteria. It literally sucks out dirt and all the bad stuff. Charcoal has been used in face masks and naturally cleanses. Recently I have seen a trend in charcoal based diapers. They are the big guys who can handle all kids of stink.
I have a charcoal deodorizer. This can absorb all odours and obnoxious gases. You can leave these around the house, in the toilet and even in the refrigerator.
These can be recharged once a month by laying them out in the sun. They generally have a 2 year shelf life and I recommend these.
These are steps to take to neutralize the odour. The key thing is to tackle the source and fix the issue.
Check for any blockages of vents. Check for dried up drains. In some houses air conditioning units have blocked vents and drains. These too could cause smells.
If not handled well this could lead to serious issues. Sometimes you will notice a crack or leak in the sewage drain or pipes. Have these fixed immediately. In our apartment the leaked contents were mixing with the drinking water.
This can cause eColi infestation whic did happen in our complex. We had the leak fixed, the water was chlorinated and we ensured that water did not flow into the well.
