10 Reasons Your Bathroom Still Smells Even After You Clean It

You’ve scrubbed the toilet, wiped down the counters, and mopped the floor—so why does your bathroom still smell off? It’s probably not what you think. A clean-looking bathroom can still hang onto odors if you’re missing the hidden sources.

These common issues are usually the real reason the smell keeps coming back.

You’re Not Cleaning the Toilet Base

Even if the bowl is spotless, odors can still come from the base of the toilet. Urine splashes, leaky seals, and moisture buildup around the floor bolts can trap stink.

Wipe around the base, behind the seat hinges, and where the toilet meets the floor. A quick once-over with a disinfectant wipe won’t cut it if you’re skipping these spots entirely.

Your Shower Curtain or Liner Smells Musty

Shower curtains and liners collect mildew fast, especially if they stay damp. That musty smell lingers even if the rest of the bathroom looks clean.

If it’s machine washable, run it with hot water and vinegar. If not, it might be time to toss it and start fresh—especially if you’ve had it for more than a year.

The Drain Is Clogged with Gunk

Hair, soap scum, and toothpaste sludge build up in sink and shower drains, and they start to smell long before you see a clog.

Try a mix of baking soda and vinegar followed by boiling water. Or pull the stopper and manually clear it. If there’s a sour or sulfur smell, your drain is the likely culprit.

The Trash Can Never Gets Cleaned

Even if you change the liner, bathroom trash cans collect grime at the bottom. Old tissues, cotton swabs, and spills leave behind bacteria that start to smell.

Give the bin a rinse with hot water and disinfectant. Let it dry fully before adding a new liner. A little baking soda in the bottom can also help absorb odors.

You’re Using Too Much Air Freshener

Spraying more scent over a bad smell doesn’t fix it—it makes it worse. It might seem clean for a minute, but that sour, funky mix comes back fast.

If you have to spray daily, something isn’t actually clean. Try eliminating the source instead of masking it. Most of the time, it’s in the drain, toilet base, or walls.

Your Towels Never Fully Dry

Damp towels sitting in a warm bathroom are a magnet for mildew. Even clean ones can start to smell sour if they’re folded while still damp.

Hang them flat and spaced apart to air out. If they still smell after a wash, try hot water with vinegar or baking soda to kill lingering bacteria.

The Fan Isn’t Doing Its Job

If your exhaust fan is broken, dirty, or underpowered, steam builds up—and so do odors. That moisture hangs around, giving bacteria a better place to thrive.

Clean the fan cover and run it during and after showers. If it’s noisy or doesn’t seem to move air, it might need a deep clean or a replacement.

You’re Forgetting to Clean Behind the Toilet

It’s an awkward spot, but back there is one of the smelliest places in most bathrooms. Dust, hair, and—you guessed it—pee splashes collect unnoticed.

Grab a rag and get down there. Wipe the wall, the floor, and the back of the toilet itself. You might be surprised how much of a difference it makes.

Mold Is Hiding in the Caulk

If your caulk is old, cracked, or discolored, it might be hiding mildew that’s causing a lingering smell. Even a small amount can stink up the whole space.

Replacing caulk is cheap and makes the bathroom look cleaner too. Scrape the old stuff out, treat the area, and lay a fresh bead to seal things back up.

Your Bathroom Rug Holds Onto Odor

Bathroom rugs soak up water, spills, and bacteria from bare feet. If they’re not washable or haven’t been cleaned in a while, they’ll stink—bad.

Toss rugs in the wash once a week, especially if they’re thick or slow to dry. If yours always smells musty even after a wash, it might be time to replace it.

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