10 Bathroom Cleaning Mistakes That Make It Smell Worse

You can scrub every inch of your bathroom and still wonder why it smells funky an hour later. Happens more often than you’d think. A lot of cleaning habits that seem helpful are actually making things worse—trapping moisture, stirring up bacteria, or ignoring the real sources of the smell.

If your bathroom never smells as clean as it should, chances are one of these habits is the reason.

Ignoring the Toilet Base

It’s easy to focus on the bowl and forget the base of the toilet. But that’s where odors love to hang out—especially around those little bolts and caulking lines.

Moisture, dust, and, honestly, missed aim (especially if you’ve got boys) build up here fast. Wipe around the base every time you clean the bathroom or the smell will never fully go away.

Forgetting the Overflow Drain

You probably never think about the sink overflow hole, but bacteria sure do. If it smells musty near the sink, this little spot is usually why.

Pour some vinegar and hot water down it or scrub it with a small brush now and then. Otherwise, it’ll keep pumping out sour smells no matter how clean the rest of the bathroom is.

Only Cleaning the Inside of the Toilet

If you only scrub the bowl and flush, you’re missing half the job. Lift the seat and check the hinges—they’re probably worse than you think.

Those hinges trap urine, hair, and dust. A toothbrush and some disinfectant work wonders here. Do it every time or you’ll never get ahead of the smell.

Skipping the Shower Curtain or Liner

That sour, wet smell? Nine times out of ten it’s the shower curtain liner. It holds onto mildew like crazy.

Toss it in the washing machine every couple weeks (yes, even the plastic ones), or replace it when it starts looking grimy. Ignoring it guarantees your bathroom always smells damp.

Not Washing Bathroom Rugs Enough

Bathroom rugs soak up moisture like a sponge, then sit there brewing bacteria. If you don’t wash them regularly, they’ll start smelling worse than the toilet.

Run them through the washer at least once a week. Otherwise, they’ll keep making the whole room smell like mildew, no matter how much you mop.

Using the Same Rag for the Whole Bathroom

If you wipe the sink, toilet, and floor with the same rag, you’re basically decorating the room with bacteria.

Always use different rags or paper towels for the toilet than you do for everything else. Cross-contamination is one of the fastest ways to spread odor-causing germs.

Forgetting the Trash Can

You empty it, but do you actually clean it? Bathroom trash cans collect gunk from tissues, hygiene products, and random spills.

Spray it down with disinfectant or wipe it out every week. A dirty trash can will keep stinking up the room no matter how clean everything else looks.

Letting Moisture Hang Around

Bathrooms that don’t dry out properly always smell musty. Leaving the door closed, skipping the fan, or not opening a window traps humidity.

Run the fan during showers and for at least 20 minutes after. Crack a window if you can. Moisture is what feeds mildew, and mildew stinks.

Skipping the Toothbrush Holder

Check inside your toothbrush holder. Go ahead, I dare you. Odds are it’s full of slimy buildup from water and toothpaste drips.

Rinse it out or toss it in the dishwasher regularly. If not, that gunk dries, rots, and starts giving off a sour smell fast.

Only Mopping—Not Scrubbing

Mopping doesn’t get into the nooks and crannies where bathroom smells love to hide. Around the toilet base, behind the sink, and along the edges of tubs—those spots need a scrub brush.

If you only mop, you’re leaving behind all the bacteria wedged into corners. Scrub the edges and seams every time, and your bathroom will finally smell like it’s supposed to.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.