What to do if the toilet smells of pee?

Question

I live in a flat with a couple other girls, so we don't pee on the seat and are generally very neat. That having been said, the toilet really smells of pee and makes the whole bathroom unbearably awful. We have tried cleaning the toilet bowl with clorox and using air freshener mist but it has not helped. What else can be done?

Thank you in advance all you domestic gods and goddesses out there.

Answer 1

It can only smell of pee if there is pee not cleaned up. Have you cleaned the floor around and all around the back. There are a lot of nooks and crannies in and around a toilet. You might have to unscrew the toilet seat to get at all the areas. Perhaps one of you ladies had a gentleman friend come and visit, they aren't always good at aiming!

Answer 2

I had this problem. Now assuming that you have really cleaned the toilet (don't forget the nooks and crannies around the toilet seat screws and underneath!) the issue usually lies with urine that is around or has seeped just around the base of the toilet. Also, it is possible that the wax ring under the base of the toilet has disintegrated and you are getting urine smell from the waste hole and/or just under the base of the toilet. First 'easy one' to try: spritz some mildew remover (which is really 'clorox') around the base of the toilet. If you see bubbling around the edges, there is urine there. Let it sit for 10-15mintues and then wipe up with clean water and a rag. Rinse it real well. Wait a day or two and see if the problem has been solved. If not, then you will probably have to take the toilet up from the floor, scrape all the waxy goo, etc etc (and i MEAN 'etc') and do a good overall cleaning job with clorox or the mildew remover. Clean, clean, clean. Then replace the wax ring on the bottom of the toilet. I would suggest also purchasing a new set of toilet bolts when you get the wax ring as putting on those old corroded bolts is a real bear. I can give you a whole lesson on how to get that wax ring on, etc, but you may not want to go that far at this point. Good luck. Bernadette

Answer 3

I am going thru the same problem in all three of my bathrooms. I have narrowed it down after much cleaning, scrubbing, on and on.
The extreme urine odor is coming from right under the rim to the bowl. If you get your head right down in the bowl (fun huh) not only can you smell it but also I see a hard water mineral deposit there. The mineral deposit build up is retaining the urine odor.
Try clogging the toilet up and filling it almost to the top with warm water and vinegar or some other mineral desolving agent and allowing it to sit for some time.
This should be done after you have made sure it is not the flooring or the wax ring problem. Remember, cement will aborb the odor so make sure it is not a cement floor or tile grout which smells.

Answer 4

Hello, If the floor covering is cut around the pan more likely it has soaked into the floorboards underneath. Use a bath sealer between the pan and floor. The seat bolts where they go through the pan can retain pee and smell also the seat hinges even the skirting board at the back can smell.This is a boy friend problem a word someones ear will help cure it.ps if a female can pee standing up like a bloke you should have a contest to see can pee the straight'est this will give you a clue.

Answer 5

Beneath the toilet and between the toilet and the drain pipe in the floor there is a wax ring, the purpose of which is to span the gap between the floor and the toilet. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, including the toilet rocking a little or just due to age, that wax ring can let a little bit of sewer-smell or pee-smell into the room. That's job for a plumber or a handyman.

Follow all of the other advice as well, especially where the toilet seat screws are as well as both sides of the seat's lid and the seat itself...use Lysol or bleach.

Answer 6

The probable cause is visiting men friends who have a careless lack of direction when it comes to peeing! Therefore, wash the floor if it is not carpet, pull up the carpet and throw it away if it is and replace it with vinyl flooring or tiles.
An open window whenever possible is a good idea too. Air freshener sprays just mask the original smell and really don't help at all.

Answer 7

unscrew the toilet seat off , the pee builds up in the screw holds, don't ask me how it gets there but i does, u will find that once you have cleaned that out the smell will go , plus give the whole loo a good clean with bleach, make sure you clean the floor ,the back of the dunny and the wall behind the dunny,nothing beats it. make sure the windows are open bleach has a very strong smell , wear a mask or hanky around your nose and mouth.

Answer 8

This would surely help, try pouring in one cup of White Vinegar scrub the toilet as you normally would even under the rim, then use a cloth or sponge to wipe the toilet all over with undiluted vinegar do not rinse and here's a disclaimer (vinegar will smell for just a few minutes then it dissipates) and barring that you have a floor not covered in carpet clean it with half cup of Baking soda =bicarbonate soda in half a bucket of warm water allow floor to dry then rinse with cool water allow to dry, after all has been done, take a clean thoroughly washed out spray bottle fill the bottle with undiluted vinegar and spray in the air and on surfaces very lightly open a window in the bathroom and walk out of room and close door leave this for a few hours then come back to your bathroom smelling clean and fresh Good Luck !

Answer 9

You could try using a bacteria/enzyme culture & deodorizerr around the base of the toilet, trying to make sure that it gets into all the nooks and crannys. Not all toilets are sealed around the base and if someone misses, then chances are it is going right under the toilet.I had a similar problem in a house I lived in few years ago. I use "Enzyme D" and it is excellent for getting rid of organic waste. Works great if your pet or toddler doesn't make it in time. You can find it at a store that sells commercial grade cleaners. Between pets and potty training grandchildren, I wouldn't be without it.

Answer 10

This is quite possibly due to the plaster board wall behind the toilet being at one time sprayed repeatedly with urine (eg if a small boy(s) at some time in the past used this bathroom) the smell will remain forever.
Try repainting the bathroom with washable paint and this will probably work.