Problem Overflow

Smoke, smells and damp getting into your apartment, and how renters stop them.

Drain & sewer smells

A sewer smell around the base of the toilet

Easy · About 10 minutes

Where I am
The smell is strongest when you stand beside the toilet.
Where I want to be
A bathroom that smells like nothing.
What's in the way
The seal under the toilet may be dried out or loose.

Landlord's job? Report it in writing with dates, and keep a log. Who fixes what depends on your lease and where you live.

Try this first, free: Wipe around the toilet base and floor with warm soapy water. Dried spills can smell like sewer.

The fix

  1. Wipe the base and the floor, and let them dry.
  2. Press gently on the toilet to see if it rocks. Don't tighten the bolts yourself.
  3. Look for water on the floor after flushing.
  4. Take a photo of anything you see and tell the landlord. The seal is their repair.

What this won't fully fix: Cleaning clears spills and nothing else. A failed seal needs the landlord or a plumber.

Safety first: If water is leaking or the floor around the toilet feels soft, stop using the toilet and call the landlord right away.

What to get

Bathroom cleaner on Amazon Cleaning gloves on Amazon

These open an Amazon search, so you can pick the one that fits. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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