Bathtub pillows are very convenient when taking baths or showers, as they provide a soft place to rest your head while also keeping your face above the water’s surface, which can help prevent drowning.
While these types of pillows generally last quite some time before needing to be replaced, eventually they can become so moldy and foul smelling that you’ll want to replace them immediately.
If this has happened to you and you don’t know what to do, don’t worry – we have the answers you need right here!
The 3 Causes of Bad Smells
If you’re noticing that your bathtub pillow is picking up an unpleasant smell, there are three primary culprits. First, you could have overflow. Overflow occurs when water in your tub is displaced by air. This can cause excess moisture to build up on your bathtub pillow and lead to mold growth.
Secondly, if your tub has soap residue or other detergents on it, those ingredients can react with water and create unpleasant smells over time.
Finally, hair products like conditioner and shampoo can also contribute to unpleasant odors. If you notice any of these symptoms of bad smells around your bathtub pillow, call a plumber immediately!
The DIY Solutions
So, you’ve just bought yourself an expensive bathtub pillow—and then you discovered that it stinks. Rather than throwing it out (you should know by now how wasteful that is), try these ideas for freshening up your bath pillow.
If all else fails, look into getting a new one! It may seem like buying another one would be bad for your wallet, but if yours already smells and you can’t use it anymore, there’s no reason not to go shopping again.
Dealing With Mold
If you’re seeing signs of mold in your bathtub, you may be surprised at how simple it is to fix. Most manufacturers make their bathtubs out of easy-to-clean acrylic or fiberglass, so dealing with mold should be no problem—as long as you act quickly and clean everything up thoroughly. To deal with a smelly tub pillow, follow these steps:
Keep Bacteria Away
To keep bacteria from building up in your tub and make it less likely that you or someone else will get sick, it’s best to clean your tub at least once a week. Fill it about halfway full of water, then drop in about one tablespoon of unscented bleach for every gallon of water.
Let it sit for 20 minutes before draining and rinsing thoroughly. If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals, try soaking your pillow in white vinegar instead; just be sure to rinse thoroughly afterward so no vinegar remains behind!
Try Scented Shampoos
Some bathtub pillows are meant to be washed by hand and some aren’t. If your pillow isn’t meant for hand washing, try buying scented shampoo in your favorite scent to use during washes. This will keep things smelling fresh without worrying about ruining your pillow in machine washes.
Try Vinegar Instead of Bleach
When you’re trying to get rid of mildew, mold or soap scum in your bathtub or shower, baking soda and vinegar are natural cleaning solutions that have been shown effective at killing odor-causing bacteria.
Spray vinegar onto affected areas, let it sit for about 20 minutes and then scrub away. To make sure your bathtub smell fresh between deep cleanings, wipe down tubs after every use.
