Here’s a step-by-step recipe using natural ingredients (and a few optional store-bought boosts).
🧼 Step-by-Step Guide: Remove Urine Smell & Leave a Fresh Scent
🧂 Supplies You’ll Need
Basic Cleaning Supplies:
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White vinegar (1 cup)
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Baking soda (½ cup)
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Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
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Dish soap (a few drops)
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Lemon essential oil (or tea tree, lavender, or eucalyptus)
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Spray bottle
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Paper towels or microfiber cloth
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Scrub brush or old toothbrush
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Toilet brush
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Mop (or floor wipes)
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Rubber gloves (recommended)
Optional Store-Bought Extras:
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Enzyme cleaner (great for persistent urine smells)
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Air purifier or diffuser
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Odor-absorbing gel or charcoal bags
🧽 Step 1: Deep Clean the Toilet and Surrounding Area
Urine odor often comes from splashes on the sides of the toilet, under the seat, and especially around the base where the toilet meets the floor.
1. Toilet Bowl
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Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the bowl.
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Add ½ cup baking soda.
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Let fizz and sit for 10–15 minutes.
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Scrub with toilet brush, flush.
2. Toilet Seat, Rim, and Tank
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Mix in a spray bottle:
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1 cup vinegar
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1 cup water
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10 drops lemon essential oil
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Spray generously, let sit 5 minutes, then wipe with cloth or paper towel.
3. Toilet Base and Floor Around It
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Mix a paste:
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½ cup baking soda
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¼ cup hydrogen peroxide
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1 teaspoon dish soap
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Scrub around the base and caulking area.
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Let it sit 10 minutes, then rinse or wipe clean with damp cloth.
🔁 Repeat 1–2x a week for best results.
🧼 Step 2: Clean Bathroom Floor & Corners
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Mop floor with:
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1 gallon warm water
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1 cup vinegar
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10–15 drops essential oil (lemon or eucalyptus are fresh and clean-smelling)
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Pay attention to corners, grout lines, and behind the toilet.
🧴 Step 3: Make a Natural Air-Freshening Spray
A homemade spray will neutralize odors and leave a pleasant, long-lasting scent.
🌿 DIY Bathroom Air Freshener Recipe
You’ll need:
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1 cup distilled water
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1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol or vodka (helps oils disperse)
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20 drops essential oil (suggestions below)
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Spray bottle
Suggested Scent Blends:
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Citrus Fresh: Lemon (10), Orange (5), Peppermint (5)
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Spa Clean: Eucalyptus (10), Lavender (5), Tea Tree (5)
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Woodsy Calm: Cedarwood (10), Lemon (5), Rosemary (5)
To use:
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Shake well before each use.
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Spray into the air, around the toilet base, and behind the door.
🧊 Step 4: Ongoing Odor Absorption (Optional)
1. Baking Soda Jar
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Fill a small jar with baking soda and 10 drops essential oil.
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Poke holes in lid and place behind toilet or sink.
2. Activated Charcoal Bags
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These naturally absorb odors without masking them.
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Replace every 1–2 months.
3. Plug-in Diffuser or Reed Diffuser
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Add your favorite essential oil and let it scent the room continuously.
💡 Extra Tips
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Wipe the toilet seat daily with vinegar spray.
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Teach household members to lift the seat and aim carefully.
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Replace grout or caulking if deeply urine-saturated.
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Use an enzyme cleaner (like Nature’s Miracle or Anti-Icky-Poo) for persistent urine odor, especially if it’s been there a while.
✅ Summary
Task | Frequency | Main Ingredients |
---|---|---|
Toilet & base scrub | Weekly | Baking soda, vinegar, peroxide |
Air freshener spray | As needed | Water, alcohol, essential oils |
Floor mopping | Weekly | Vinegar, water, essential oils |
Odor absorbers | Monthly | Baking soda, charcoal |