Should you put fabric softener in the toilet tank to make your bathroom smell nice? Experts say absolutely not, and offer better solutions

Bathrooms are hubs of strange smells. From musty towels to damp shower drains and the rest, it's no wonder we're always on the lookout for simple hacks to keep this room smelling fresher for longer.

When we saw a fabric softener toilet hack doing the rounds on social media, we put it to the experts to see if it's a good idea or not, and spoiler: putting fabric softener in the tank of your toilet is a no-go, say professional cleaners. Our experts urge caution and warn against messing with your plumbing systems.

Here, they explain why this supposedly odor-busting hack might be one to flush down the drain and share the tricks people with nice-smelling bathrooms always do instead.

Can you put fabric softener in the toilet tank?

One thing people with nice-smelling bathrooms never do is rely on hacks and trends – and that goes for the toilet tank trick begins Kathy Cohoon, cleaning expert and operations manager at Two Maids. ‘We are familiar with the viral hack of putting fabric softener into the toilet tank to help the bathroom smell nice – it’s clever – however, I don’t think this is the best idea to keep the bathroom smelling fresh.

‘Some products are created to target specific jobs and fabric softener is one of those. It’s made for clothing, not bathrooms. We understand from plumbing experts that fabric softener can harm your toilet tank and pipes, that’s why we don’t recommend this as a freshener.’

Rocky Vuong, founder and owner of NeatBrite cleaning services agrees, ‘While fabric softener might provide a temporary scent boost, it doesn't address the root cause of bathroom odors. It's like putting a bandaid on a broken bone – it might look okay on the surface, but the underlying problem remains.’

What’s more, Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia’s Cleaning Service, points out that the hack could ‘really wreak havoc on your septic system,’ possibly resulting in high repair costs later down the line.

How to keep your toilet and bathroom fresh instead

Luckily, there are plenty of other expert-approved methods to get rid of musty smells in a bathroom without the risk of lasting damage.

1. Clean regularly

Kathy Cohoon, cleaning expert, recommends cleaning a bathroom in the first instance, ‘We recommend regular cleaning. A toilet should be cleaned twice a week to get rid of bacteria and germs.

‘The added moisture in the bathroom means that mold, mildew, and bacteria can easily grow and spread if not managed on a regular basis. We recommend disinfectants that are specifically designed for sanitizing toilets. Look for specific language on the label such as "kills 99.9% of germs" or "disinfects" or check for active ingredients like bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Between cleanings, gel cleaners or toilet bowl tablets can keep the toilet sanitized and often freshen any odors.

‘Alternatively, your toilet bowl can be naturally cleaned with baking soda and half a cup of vinegar. Pour this mixture into the toilet and let it sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing it clean. It also helps remove smells.'

2. Increase ventilation

One of the best ways to dispel musty odors is to prevent them from lingering in the first place. Besides cleaning, Eliana Coca, professional house cleaner and owner of E.C House Cleaning recommends increasing ventilation. Opening a window for a few hours a day is more than enough, but running the extractor fan while using the bathroom also helps.

For very damp bathrooms that need a boost, or for bathrooms that don't have windows, consider adding the best dehumidifier or best air purifier to boost air quality.

3. Natural air fresheners

More often than not, natural approaches to stopping musty odors are the most effective. To make your home smell nice without chemicals, Rocky Vuong, cleaning expert recommends placing bowls of baking soda or activated charcoal in discreet corners to absorb odors. Rocky adds, 'You can also add a few drops of essential oils to cotton balls and place them in the bathroom for a natural fragrance boost.’

4. Add plants

Carolina Kazimierski, a cleaning expert, advises that something as simple as keeping a low-light friendly plant in your bathroom can help to improve the scent.

Picking out the best bathroom plants will also help with air quality, often reducing humidity and preventing mold growth. Picking the best plants to make a bathroom smell nice will add a fine natural fragrance, too.

5. Essential oil diffuser

Once you have addressed the cause of any odors, you can start fragrance layering to make a bathroom smell like a spa. To do this, Rocky Vuong, a cleaning expert, suggests using ‘the best essential oil diffuser with your favorite essential oils to provide a continuous and subtle scent.

‘Opt for oils known for their deodorizing properties, like tea tree, lemon, or lavender,’ he recommends.

While this fabric softener toilet hack is one of the many bathroom cleaning hacks that don’t work, there are plenty of cleaning tips and tricks the experts do swear by to help keep their home smelling its best. A good rule of thumb is, before testing any viral trick online, to always check with the experts first to make sure it won’t be damaging to your home.