This Toilet Paper Trick Can Refresh Your Entire Bathroom

There are plenty of suggestions out there for preventing less-than-pleasant odors in your bathroom. Thanks to a handy trick we spotted on TipHero, there’s a way to eliminate icky bathroom smells that doesn’t require a daily spray or a touch-up every time you go. You only have to do this as often as you change your toilet paper roll, and it works just as well.

All you need is a toilet paper roll — it doesn’t even have to be full — and some essential oil.

Try citrus scents, which can overpower other odors, plus leave a “clean” smell. Place five or so drops of the oil on the inside of the cardboard toilet paper roll, and voilà! Your bathroom will be filled with a pleasant but not over-the-top aura of citrus, or whichever scent you’ve chosen.

What makes this technique so cool is that, while you don’t actually have to do anything each time you use the toilet, the scent still kicks in whenever you do. Rolling the fragrant toilet paper roll tosses the scent around and “re-activates” it. The nice smell will last you until the end of the roll.

However, be careful the oil doesn’t get on the paper itself. Many essential oils can irritate the skin, especially the sensitive areas that, you know, TP habitually comes into contact with. If the oil does manage to seep through the cardboard, you’re probably best not using the last couple squares of paper. However, aside from that, you really can’t go wrong with this trick.