If you have cleaned your toilet thoroughly but it still has a foul smell, try placing a plastic bottle containing a cleaning agent in the toilet tank.
What does placing a plastic bottle in the toilet tank do?
This hack will help you save a lot of time in toilet maintenance. Its benefits include:
Odor elimination
First, you need to clean the toilet and the bowl, disinfect and remove residue using regular cleaning agents and a brush. Then, prepare a plastic bottle, fill it about two-thirds full with water, and add toilet cleaning solution. Screw the cap on tightly and shake to dissolve the cleaning agent in the water.
Use a heated nail or a pair of pliers to make two small holes in the bottom of the bottle. You can also use a pair of scissors to make holes in the plastic bottle. Once done, open the toilet tank lid and place the water bottle inside, then close the lid and use as usual.
When not flushed, the water inside the bottle will not leak too much. When you flush the toilet, the cleaning solution inside the plastic bottle will gradually flow out, not only cleaning and deodorizing the toilet but also saving you a lot of wiping effort.
Placing a plastic bottle in the toilet tank helps effectively eliminate odors and save water (Photo: Onegoodthing)
Water saving
To save water, you can also place a plastic bottle in the toilet flush tank. Here are the steps:
– Prepare a 500ml plastic bottle, fill it with a layer of sand or small stones about 5cm thick, then fill the bottle with water and tightly close the cap.
– Open the toilet tank lid and place the plastic bottle in the toilet flush tank. Note: Place it away from the operating system to prevent any damage or interference with the flushing process.
– Close the toilet flush tank lid and use the toilet as usual.
When you place the water bottle, its volume will replace a portion of the water in the tank, helping save a significant amount of water.
Natural toilet odor hacks
With the readily available ingredients below, you can effectively and simply eliminate odors in your toilet.
Lemon
Lemon is a common fruit that provides a fresh natural scent. You can use it to eliminate sewer odors in the toilet, which are not easily removed by regular means.
Instructions: Squeeze the juice of 3-4 lemons, pour part of it into the toilet bowl, and cover the lid; pour the remainder into the corners of the toilet, especially the drains, then close the door. Wait for about 1 hour, then flush the toilet and clean the bathroom. at this time, you can feel the refreshing space from the lemon scent.
Galangal
You can buy a few stalks of galangal, crush the rhizome to release more aroma, then hang them in the bathroom. The natural aroma gently spread can create a comfortable feeling for anyone entering.
Pineapple
With just one pineapple and a small candle, you can get rid of damp and foul smells in the bathroom. Nothing is more pleasant than the mild sweet smell of fresh fruits.
Instructions: After cleaning the bathroom, simply remove the pineapple stem and discard the core. Then, create a large hole in the pineapple skin, place the pineapple in the corner of the bathroom, and insert a lit candle inside. The candle will help the natural scent of the pineapple spread throughout the room.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a great cleaning and deodorizing agent. You can use it to clean the toilet instead of other chemical cleaning agents. Just wet the toilet bowl and sprinkle baking soda on top, then use a brush to scrub the entire surface. Baking soda will help loosen stubborn stains easier.
White vinegar and lemon
Both white vinegar and lemon are acidic components that soften stains, eliminate odors, and effectively kill bacteria.
Pour a bowl of white vinegar or lemon juice over the entire surface of the toilet and leave it for about 1 hour. The acids in vinegar and lemon juice will gradually break down the structure of the stains, making it easier to remove them.
You can also sprinkle baking soda on the toilet bowl first, then pour vinegar or lemon juice on top. The baking soda will create a foaming reaction when it comes into contact with vinegar/lemon juice, softening the stains. At this point, you just need to brush the toilet clean and flush the water to remove the residue.