When temperatures rise, keeping your bathroom feeling fresh can suddenly become much more difficult. Heat and humidity can quickly intensify lingering smells, even in spaces that appear clean on the surface. From damp towels to hidden mould and blocked drains, warm weather creates the perfect environment for unpleasant odours to develop – but thankfully, there are simple ways to stop this.
Below, we explain the easy changes you can make throughout the warmer months.
1. Improve ventilation after every shower
Bathrooms naturally trap steam and moisture, which can quickly lead to mildew, bacteria and musty smells during hot weather.
‘Maintaining proper ventilation is essential for preventing bathrooms from smelling during warmer weather,’ explains Soma Pillay, bathroom specialist at Bathroom City. ‘When steam and moisture are trapped in the room, they create the perfect environment for mildew and musty odours to develop.’
To help avoid this, open a window after showering whenever possible. Using an extractor fan or leaving the bathroom door open can also improve airflow and reduce moisture build-up.
2. Wash bath mats and towels more often
Damp fabrics tend to hold onto smells much faster in warm temperatures, especially if they are left in a pile or not dried properly after use.
‘Bath mats and towels absorb a lot of moisture over time, so by keeping them clean, people can avoid damp and musty smells lingering in their bathroom and potentially throughout the home,’ says Soma.
During warmer weather, it’s worth washing bath mats and towels more regularly than usual to prevent odours from building up. Hang them up to dry outside for extra freshness.
3. Keep drains clean and clear
Bathroom drains can become a major source of unpleasant smells in the heat – particularly when post-shower and bath residue begins to build up.
‘Soap scum and odours can appear quickly, especially when combined with hair, product residue, and stagnant water,’ explains Soma.
To reduce this, regularly remove visible hair from plug holes (an unpleasant but worthwhile job!) and use a suitable drain cleaner when needed, carefully following the product instructions.
4. Dry the shower area properly
Leaving wet surfaces to air dry naturally can encourage damp smells, particularly around shower screens, tiles and grout.
‘By using a microfibre cloth to wipe down wet surfaces after showering, people can prevent excess moisture from sitting on surfaces,’ says Soma. If you don’t want to use microfibre, a clean linen cloth will also do the same job.
He also recommends rinsing baths thoroughly after use, especially Whirlpool baths, as leftover soap residue and body wash can contribute to stale smells.
5. Empty bathroom bins regularly
Whether it’s a simple string of floss or just one wipe, even small amounts of rubbish can begin to smell surprisingly fast once temperatures climb.
‘The heat can amplify the smells of bathroom bins, so replacing them regularly is crucial for maintaining a fresh and hygienic space,’ explains Soma.
Used tissues, cotton pads and empty product packaging can all create lingering odours, so be sure to empty bins frequently and disinfect the inside regularly to prevent bacteria from building up.
6. Check for hidden mould and mildew
Sometimes the source of unpleasant bathroom smells is hidden out of sight – but these areas can be common places for mould to grow.
‘These areas include behind the toilet, and in the grout or silicone sealant,’ says Soma. ‘Regularly cleaning these areas can help reduce the buildup.’
If you often forget to check these areas, create a checklist for your bathroom cleaning schedule that includes it, so you can ensure it's never missed.
7. Never leave wet laundry in the bathroom
If you’ve been out for a run or been keeping cool in the garden, it can be easy to leave damp clothes sitting in the bathroom. However, this is another way that musty smells can easily spread around the room.
‘Damp clothes, towels, and cleaning cloths can quickly start to smell in warm conditions – and those odours can spread throughout the room,’ warns Soma.
Instead, wet items should be washed promptly, hung up to dry properly, or removed from the bathroom altogether – especially in smaller bathrooms, where smells can develop more quickly.
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The Cooling Edit
