Surprising sources of washroom odour

The sources of bad odour in public washrooms can be quite surprising. When asked, most people will point to toilets, urinals and bins as the main source of bad smells that hang around in these public spaces. However, the real sources of persistent odour are often far less easy to identify. How can you solve the constant problem of odour if you do not know where to start looking?

In the past, plenty of chemical cleaning products and hours of labour were employed to solve the problem, often with limited success. In addition, failing to deliver a solution in the right manner has further frustrated the efforts of many cleaning staff.

Most alarmingly, the problem of washroom odour is not just limited to that specific location. One smelly washroom can have terrible consequences for an entire multi-storey building.

Band-aid solutions are another failed strategy. Because urinals are especially prone to odour, seals are often installed to block out the bad smells. But this only masks the real problem which is to be found in the plumbing itself.

So, what are the most common sources of odour in public restrooms and how can this problem be treated both proactively, and effectively sustained over time?

Were you aware of these unexpected sources of washroom odour?

Grout between tiles

Problem – Grout is the porous border around floor and wall tiles in restrooms and is the easiest way for urine and organic grime to become ingrained in these hard surfaces. Over time the organic waste accumulates sufficiently to act as a plentiful food-source for odour-causing bacteria to thrive.

Solution – A biological cleaning solution that penetrates these porous surfaces, and breaks down the ingrained dirt, is the only sustainably way to keep odour at bay.

Floor and hand-basin drains

Problem – Often overlooked because they are so inconspicuous, floor and hand-basin drains are the perfect environment to harbour pests and organic waste. Surprisingly little if any attention is given to eliminating the contributing factors that make this such a perfect environment for odour to escape.

Solution – By dosing drains with a biological drain solution, you both eradicate the source of the odour, and condition the plumbing much like using a probiotic to promote a healthy gut biome.

Grates over stainless urinal troughs

Problem – Although they appear clean viewed from the top, the steel grates over urinal troughs contain uric salt that have accumulated on the underside over time. And uric scale is one of the most common sources of constant odour in men’s washrooms.

Solution – A combination of regular scrubbing with a hard bristled brush, and treating the underside with a biological washroom cleaner, will help keep it free of uric scale build-up.

Most common sources of washroom odour

Problem – As you would expect, toilets, urinals and bins are the most identifiable offenders when it comes to smells in washrooms. And each setting has a biological cleaning solution that would replace the harsh, potentially hazardous and often toxic chemicals that are thrown at the problem in vast quantities. Furthermore, great effort and expense is often utilized to mask the problem where it has become particularly difficult to eliminate.

Solution – Urinals – Biological urinal blocks that slowly gets rid of organic waste by constantly producing enzymes, while also softening water and conditioning pipes is the most proven remedy. Combined with a biological washroom cleaner that treats the surfaces of urinals, urinal blocks will work under optimised conditions. Urinal blocks can be housed in caps, screens or perfumed mats depending on the type of urinal and its operation.

Solution – Toilets – A dilution of biological washroom cleaner is sufficient to treat toilet bowls and the area around them, including floors and walls. This forms a lasting barrier that continues to break down the organic waste where odour-causing bacteria concentrate.

Solution – Bins – Treating waste receptacles with either a biological digestor and odour neutraliser, or a certified and proven bactericide will rid it of smells that linger in these areas.

Solution – Walls and floors – Coating walls and floors with a biological washroom cleaner helps provide a long-lasting surface treatment that will proactively del with dirt, grime and bacteria before it can produce odour.