How to Get Rid of Urine Smell in Public Bathroom
Most people are unaware of the science behind getting rid of urine smell in a public bathroom. Two main ingredients must be present for a person’s urine to have an odor. The first is urea, which is found in high concentrations in human urine, and the second is ammonia, which can easily be found around any household cleaner.
When urea comes in contact with ammonia, it creates ammonium hydroxide or ammonia gas. This compound then reacts with water forming ammonium hydroxide sulfate (sulfuric acid), which will break down into sulfur dioxide and water vapor when exposed to air, finally releasing the odorous hydrogen sulfide gas molecule. So if you’re tired of smelling ammonia in your favorite restaurant, try the following tips to eliminate the odor.
10 Ways on How to Get Rid of Urine Smell in Public Bathroom:
1. Use Commercial Odor Eliminator
There are tons of commercial odor eliminators on the market. The most popular types are foaming, spray, and gels. Just go to any local grocery store or drugstore and look at their selection of bathroom cleaners. You will come across one or more products claiming they can eliminate urine smell in a public bathroom.
They also make these products in gels, foams, and sprays, which target the areas where you can smell urine like the floor, walls, and partitions between urinals. These products can be pretty effective, but clean the surface with them before application for best results. So pick one and give it a try.
2. Clean More Often and Thoroughly
One of the reasons public bathrooms smell like urine is that not all surfaces in them are regularly cleaned. As a result, grime and bacteria that feed off of urine to grow can be found not only on the floor but also on walls, ceilings, and whatever nooks and crannies you find in the bathroom.
The same goes for stains on the surface of urinals or toilet bowls. More so than other surfaces, these may get overlooked when it comes to cleaning. Other things to clean are toilets, urinals, bathroom partitions (if any), sinks, mirrors, soap dispensers, and toilet paper holders. Cleaning regularly should keep the smell of urine at bay.
3. Use Natural Cleaners
Instead of just using commercial cleaners, why not try natural ones? These can be made from ingredients that are widely available at local supermarkets and drugstores. One recipe is to mix ten drops of your favorite essential oil with a cup of water. Mix this in a spray bottle and use it to wipe down the surfaces where you spot urine smell for a cleaner bathroom with no chemical smell left behind.
4. Use Vinegar or Baking Soda
Other ingredients commonly used in baking are C, especially when paired with each other. To use them, you can make a paste by mixing equal parts water and vinegar, then add baking soda until the paste is thick enough that it doesn’t flow. Then scrub the surfaces in your bathroom where you can smell urine and wipe them clean with water afterward.
5. Use Enzymes
If vinegar and baking soda are ineffective enough, consider using commercial cleaning agent cleaners that use enzymes as their active ingredient to eliminate the urine smell. Just follow their instructions on how to use them.
6. Dry Out the Surface
Don’t just cover them with soap, water, or other cleaning agents that hide the urine scent when cleaning surfaces. Instead, try to get rid of as much moisture as possible so there is no place for bacteria to grow and smell to linger for a long time.
7. Remove Urine from Carpet
If you have a carpet in the bathroom, be sure to clean any urine stains with a solution of one part white vinegar and four parts water. A few drops of dishwashing liquid can also help break up the stain better so that it can be removed completely by wiping it away with a wet cloth soaked in the vinegar and water solution.
8. Use Air Freshener
There are a lot of air fresheners that can be used in public bathrooms. Regular scents like citrus or floral may do if you have a well-ventilated bathroom. Otherwise, go for strong fragrances to mask urine smell like mint or cinnamon.
9. Use Deodorizing Granules
If you don’t like spraying air fresheners or deodorizers, then try deodorizing granules that can be scattered in urinals and toilet bowls. Just empty a packet every few days to start seeing results.
10. Ventilate the Bathroom
While hidden behind doors, bathrooms are not entirely closed spaces unless you’re in an airplane lavatory. Just like any other room, it is subject to stuffiness during humid days or when many people use the bathroom at once. A dehumidifier can suck up excess moisture and make the air freshener last longer.
Tips to Prevent Urine Smell in Public Bathrooms:
- Always use a toilet with a lid and a door.
- Always flush public toilets after use.
- If there is no toilet paper, put used tissues in your pocket and not on the floor.
- Wash hands thoroughly to remove any smell of urine from them before leaving the washroom or risk raising suspicions that you may have been smoking marijuana or otherwise causing an offensive odor in the bathroom.
- Wear shoes or sandals to make it harder for someone to suspect you of placing your feet on the washroom walls and floor.
- Be extra careful if you suffer from urinary incontinence (leakage during exercise, etc.). If necessary, take preventative measures such as wearing a diaper.
Conclusion:
This blog post has given you helpful tips for eliminating urine smell in a public bathroom. Remember, the key is getting it cleaned up quickly before bacteria have a chance to set in and produce an even stronger odor! So the first step to getting rid of the urine smell in a public bathroom is to clean and disinfect all surfaces.
Next, apply an enzymatic cleaner that will break down the chemicals in urine so they are no longer toxic or stinky.
Finally, use something with a pleasant scent like lavender oil or vinegar to mask any remaining odors. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy your next trip to the restroom without being offended by smells! We hope this article has helped give you some tips on how to get rid of urine smell in public bathroom. However, if the problem persists, please contact us so our team can help!
Angela Ervin
Angela is the executive editor of DIY quickly. She began her career as an interior designer before applying her strategic and creative passion to lifestyle and home. She has close to 15 years of experience in creative writing and online content strategy for housekeeping, home decorations as well as other niche efforts. She loves her job and has the privilege of working with an extraordinary team. She lives with her husband, two sons, and daughter in Petersburg. When she's not busy working she spent time with her family.
