How to Stop Office Toilets from Smelling (Fast)

Photo: Karolina Grabowska

Let’s be honest nothing lowers the tone of a workplace faster than a smelly toilet. Office toilet smells can be distracting, embarrassing, and unpleasant for staff and visitors alike. If you’re looking to get rid of bad smells from the toilet quickly, there are some easy wins and longer-term fixes that make a real difference.

At Best Choice Cleaning Company, we’ve seen (and smelled) it all. We clean and maintain commercial spaces across London and Kent, so here’s our expert guide to sorting toilet odours out fast.

Find the Source of the Office Toilet Smell

Smells don’t come out of nowhere. Common culprits include:

• Poor ventilation - stale air lets odours linger

• Blocked drains or toilets - especially if water flow is slow

• Splash zones - urine or waste around the base of the toilet

• Overflowing sanitary or general waste bins

• Grubby mop heads or dirty cleaning tools

A quick check will usually reveal where the problem starts.

Improve Airflow

The fastest way to stop an office toilet from smelling is to ventilate the space. Open a window if there is one. If there’s an extractor fan, switch it on – or get one installed if you don’t already have one. Odours cling to still air, so fresh circulation is key.

Wedge the door open when the toilet isn’t in use to let air flow through during quiet periods.

Use the Right Cleaning Products

Don’t rely on air fresheners that simply mask the smell. Use enzyme based or biological cleaners to break down waste and kill odour causing bacteria at the source.

Spray around the base of the toilet, under the rim, along the floor edges and even into the grout if tiled. It makes a noticeable difference.

Empty Bins Daily

A surprisingly common source of office toilet smells is an overflowing sanitary or waste bin. These need to be emptied and cleaned every day. Choose bins with lids and liners that contain odours effectively between collections.

Call in a Professional

If the smell keeps returning despite regular cleaning, it may be time to bring in a commercial cleaning service. A professional team can deep clean your office toilets, flush out drains, sanitise hidden areas and set up a reliable maintenance schedule.

Best Choice Cleaning Company is a female-owned business providing expert cleaning and maintenance across London and Kent. We’re known for our honest, friendly service and we’ll get your toilets smelling fresh in no time

So if you want to stop office toilets from smelling quickly, don’t ignore the issue. Act fast, clean properly, and ventilate well. A clean toilet makes a better impression than you think.

Need help keeping your workplace fresh? Contact Best Choice Cleaning Company for a no obligation quote today.