This seems like a most excellent time to revisit a post from almost two years ago – one of my favorite tips that didn’t get enough attention the first time around. And it’s even MORE important today, given everything we know about the harmfulness of the ingredients in almost all store-bought air fresheners: Including phthalates that affect hormones, formaldehyde and petroleum distillates, and other VOCs that can trigger asthma and other respiratory problems.
So don’t just cover stinky poo with even MORE stinky toxins. Pick up eucalyptus oil (my favorite) or peppermint essential oil and use teensy-tinsy amounts that pack a huge poo-fighting punch instead. You can pick these up at just about any local natural foods store – it’s not hard to find!
Some of you have tried this (at least, according to notes you’ve left me on Pinterest … and even really hilarious emails where you describe, in detail, just how it works. Weirdos. So share your success with the people who haven’t seen this yet, way down there at the bottom of the post!
(Speaking of using the loo, have you seen the Squatty Potty? I never would’ve thought a toilet stool would make a comfort and timing difference while doing my business… but, It. Is. AMAZING! Plus, their commercials are fall-on-the-ground hilarious.)
The Oil Magic Trick that Hides #2
How many of you work with other people? Raise your hands.
How many of you live in close quarters with other people? Raise your hands.
How many of you find yourself in a public place now and then? Raise your hands.
Okay. You should all have raised hands at this point, which means you can’t scroll down anymore. So put your hands down.
Thank you.
Since we had the no ‘poo uproar the last couple of days, it seemed only fitting that we talk about the other kind of poo.
The real kind.
The stinky kind.
The kind you don’t want anyone to know about.
I have exciting news. I have something you can do to get rid of evidence of #2!
It works, people. It really, really works. It doesn’t just halfheartedly mask odors (or toxic up the quality of your air) like bathroom sprays do. It traps them before they can even become an issue. It’s fresh and clean as the morning breeze.
And nontoxic, so you’re not putting anything (but your own, um, issues) into the water supply.
AND it’ll only cost you – at most – $5 for a bottle that’ll last months.
What the crap am I talking about?
Eucalyptus Oil For Preventative Bathroom Measures
That’s right. Eucalyptus oil.
Two to three drops in your toilet water, before doing your business, will nearly completely eliminate any odorous evidence that you’ve done anything.
How to Use Essential Oil to Cover Your Tracks
- Before sitting on the toilet, place 2-3 drops of oil into the water in the bowl
- Do, you know, it
- Flush
- Walk out of the bathroom, confident that you’ve left no evidence of what you did in there
Now, of course sometimes you (or your husband, who I’m very certain is probably going to be encouraged to use this the most) will overpower the abilities of the oil to some degree. But those times will probably only be after Taco Bell – and you’ll feel so terrible anyway, it’s not like you’ll be in public. (Shame on you.)
And – you don’t HAVE to use eucalyptus. Peppermint, lemon, wintergreen … any relatively fresh and clean scented essential oil will do the trick. Heck, you could even mix some to tailor to your preferred scent.
I use eucalyptus oil as the example because a) it’s the strongest-smelling essential oil I know, b) it smells to me like a bathroom SHOULD smell, c) I like to spell out the word eucalyptus and d) it’s one of the least expensive essential oils.
Why This Is the Coolest Weird Trick Ever
These bottles are SO small, you can hide them anywhere:
- Tuck a bottle in your purse for on-the-go emergencies
- Keep a bottle in your desk drawer for unfortunate workday calls
- Tape a bottle to your husband so he doesn’t forget
- Tuck a bottle on the back of your toilet or bathroom cabinet – it takes up SO little room
- Or, you could make a giant sign like I did, for guests
Seriously. I can’t get enough of this stuff. It almost makes you excited to go now, doesn’t it?
(PS – Eucalyptus oil should never be ingested, so keep out of the reach of your little ones.)
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due
I did not come up with this idea all by myself.
My aunt, who didn’t want to be identified due to the delicate nature of this issue and will probably freak out just by my saying that much, gave me this genius idea last week.
It seems there’s a company who makes oil blends just for this occasion (and I would name them by name, if they’d have responded to my email inquiries – so there). She had seen some in True Value a few months ago and thought, “Jeez. That’s expensive. I bet I can do better.” So she did.
Thus, this magic was born.
So, everybody say thank you to my aunt for solving this very complicated and emotionally tricky problem for VERY little money and ecohappy results.
She is a true poo trailblazer.
Also, if you spotted the robot in the first picture, you get 10 points.
Admit it. It was funny.
Food For Your Soul: What If You Play the What-If Game?
I hope there is a industrial version of this because it’s difficult to cover the odor my poop has.
I am old enough to remember the utter misery of junior school lavatories with tracing paper for loo roll.
Chilly institutional ”bogs”, spray painted spatter design of ice blue and grey green.
The odour of poo lingered, and this was the Girls.. the Boys lavs really stank of pee, barely masked by Izal blocks swimming about in the pissy urinal.
[We would go into the Boy’s loos as a ”dare”]
The paper was hard and scratchy, marked ”Government property”.. It had two sides, a shiny side and a duller side, I was told that scrunching the paper and working it til it was slightly softened and scratched less in use.
But it was hopelessly un-absorbent, and the misery of having a ”school poo” was something I remember all these years later.
I’d scrunch up some paper with my hands and put it down the pan to disguise the ”plop” sound that could encourage ”uurgh!!” sounds from outside..
I often had sick headaches at that stage in my life, and the misery of feeling ill, and the smell of communal poo as I too was ”caught short” was horrible.
I did indeed try the essential oil trick when reading of it, and it really does work!
The delight of that, plus lovely soft loo roll.. bliss.
Seems like I can detect other fragrances than oils in the commercial products…do they contain bleach or other cleansing/sterilizing agents?
So now our bathroom can smell like flowers and sunshine and hearts and …..robots? Sound terrific! I’m eager to try this trick as lighting a match is an okay neutralizer but doesn’t quite cut it. 🙂
I have been doing this for a couple of years and think it’s the greatest trick on earth, but cannot get my family to use the oils. I don’t like the eucalyptus or lemon eucalyptus smells; I prefer orange or lemon. Teenage son says he doesn’t like food smells. Warning about peppermint oil: I have experienced a burning sensation in a place in bring want to have a burning sensation…maybe a little splash back? It’s the best scent because it just smells like you brushed your teeth, but that occasional burning sensation is NOT worth it. I will look for lemongrass and wintergreen. Anyone know if wintergreen has that burning sensation?
You can buy drops at Wal-Mart for this and they work perfectly. Plus it only costs $2 or $3 dollars, way cheaper than essential oils.
what are the drops called at Walmart? And is it buy bathroom products/sprays/deodorizers? Thanks in advance!
While eucalyptus oil is cheaper than, say, Poo Pourri, the problems with eucalyptus oil are its health effects and flammability risks. Check the eucalyptus oil MSDS – just being natural and organic doesn’t mean it is safe. (Snake venom is all natural and organic, too.)
EO is “very hazardous” with respect to skin contact, never mind eye contact. The scary parts of the eucalyptus oil MSDSs are the blanks. This stuff hasn’t been tested for carcinogenic, mutagenic, and tetratogenic effects.
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924006
I don’t really give a crap about the smell…its other HEARING me is what’s the problem. I don’t even like them to hear the TP rolling, tearing and wiping. I have issues.
Love how you make scatology so much fun.
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Bye
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The author is hilarious! Loved this post and the idea. Definitely will have to try it. Now I have a new website to check out – for tips and laughs!!
I’ve been trying this out lately and it works GREAT! Here are a few more tips
* you can put the drops in moments before you go or after you’re already begun to go
* for best results add the drops to the water and not the side (or front) of the bowl. They’ll eventually drip down into the water, but it’s faster if you just add them to the water.
* husbands might need a few extra drops
* you can use any scent! (I bought fragrance oils in the following scents – 7-up pound cake, strawberry shake and grapefruit. All of these scents worked well)
* if you’re a real cheapie like me buy a larger bottle of EO and refill old bottles with new oil
* these make a great stocking stuffer!
how far in advance can you put the drops in? i have people in my house who would definitely forget so i was thinking i could add them myself, but i don’t want to waste it if it’s hours without no one going in!
I was wondering the same thing!
add some to your bowl and go to bathroom 3-4 hours later and see
I’m going to go put drops in all my toilets…just in case! LOL
This is so great! I started doing this with lemongrass oil, and wow, it really does make a difference!
I have yet to convince my husband to try, considering he tells me his are “toxic.” lol
Haha! I’m SO glad I came across this. My fiance claims his number 2 is toxic! Looks like I’ll be keeping a bottle of some EOs near the toilet so he can use them… 😉
another hint–eat vegetarian. 🙂
“another hint–eat vegetarian. :-)”
You mean, like beans? Sort of defeats the purpose with some of us.
Too right, mate!
I love chicken, beef, and pork, yummm!
I do eat only vegetarian, have for the last 24 years, and I stink like the best of them. The only time my “stuff” has ever smelled even slightly pleasant is when I’ve eaten almost nothing but strawberries. I guess maybe people should eat vegan to smell nice, but I’d probably find my way around that one, too.
“Tape a bottle to your husband so he doesn’t forget”—OMG that was funny!!
can’t wait to go and buy a few bottles Eucalyptus oil,and I am gonna tell all my friends
this did not want to be determined due to the sensitive characteristics of this problem and will probably anxiety just by my saying that much, provided me this professional idea the other day.
possibly related, but i’m not sure — for the life of me, i can’t get rid of the smell of pee in my bathroom. i’ve tried many different cleansers, harsh chemical ones, “natural” ones, and ajax-types, to no avail. the bathroom smells clean for a little while, but it doesn’t last. i’ve not had this problem in any other home i’ve lived in. i thought it might have gotten under the linoleum where i can’t really clean, but i’m not sure. is there anything you can recommend?
Too funny! All I can think is “surely it’ll just smell like a candy-coated turd?” You know, like air freshener someone brings in at work, it doesn’t ‘mask’ anything it just adds to the stench and makes it sickly sweet instead of simple gone! I’ll give it a try, but I can’t guarantee no giggles! I’ll even take in a bottle to leave at work, though if it works, someone will likely steal it.
You can also light a match… the sulfur does the odor in
The oil stays in a film on top of the water (since water and oil don’t
mix). The oil prevents the odorous vapors from the turd from escaping
through the water into the air. Hmm. I just tried this with a couple
of drops of sunflower oil, which also works at keeping the turd gas in
the water and is much less expensive than any essential oil — although
it doesn’t add a nice fragrance. I’m thinking ANY oil that doesn’t disperse in water would work.
Before sitting on the toilet, place 2-3 drops of oil into the water in the bowl
Do, you know, it
Flush
WASH YOUR HANDS
Walk out of the bathroom, confident that you’ve left no evidence of what you did in there
I just put this into effect at my office. I put peppermint EO with a small typed up notice and a note on the bad chemical spray saying “let’s not use this anymore. It’s full of chemicals”. So far the peeps are on board. It works great and is so much better for us.
Crunchy I’ve only just discovered your blog and I LOVE YOU! This tip is fantastic, although I have had my own personal odd issue with it. It goes something like this: I like to make raw vegan chocolate with coconut oil, raw cacao, agave and my favourite oil, peppermint oil. It’s delicious and relatively healthy. When I read this post I thought “I know, I have some essential oil in the pantry” and so, ahem, tested it out. Can I just provide a helpful tip for budding at-home-chocolate-makers? Don’t use the oil you use for chocolate. You can get the mental image. These sensory experiences just don’t work. So eucalyptus is my oil ‘o choice. All weird oil associations are now over 😉
I never want to go in public so I end up feeling bloated and gross. I’ll have to try this one! If only we could master the art of silent poo…
Lay some dropsheet before you begin. Believe me.
Should you do this before or after adding EO?
Hi…like susantblake I would also like to know if the essential oils would harm septic systems
HA HA!! I WIN!! My husband thought he’d out stink the oil, but he comes out of the bathroom with his head hanging in shame, and the fresh scent of wonderful trailing after him.
(he also whitened his teeth with activated charcoal the other night, and was mad when that worked too!) Face it man, Crunchy is better!!
I have been doing this for YEARS! Husband and I live in a teeny tiny house with a teeny tiny bathroom, right next to the kitchen. Gross.
We have also tried the products made by the aforementioned, but not named, company. Straight up EO is way cheaper and works better!
Absolutely brilliant, this trick!! I used peppermint EO and it worked like a charm:-) I’m going to put a sign up just like you did and can’t wait to see the reaction on my husband’s face!! I love your blog by the way – truly inspiring and has changed my life! Thank you:-)
lol i love this, can i just add preemptive drops to the toilet before the boyfriend gets home from work?? will it last? because coming home to stink up the house is pretty much his daily routine… (Can’t you just do that at work??) lol. also, we have a septic, is this septic safe? i always worry about putting anything in the toilet (IE-cleaners) because no one likes raw sewage backing up all throughout your house lol.
Love this idea! I took my bottle of cinnamon leaf oil and I’m trying to encourage all to use. Thanks for this fabulous idea!
You are hilarious! And a genius as well. Thank you for all your awesome tip and recipes. You are making the world a less smelly place 🙂
Is there any reason this would not be good for septic systems?
I just discovered your site a couple days ago and have been totally engrossed ever since. Funny thing, I just read this post and tonight I go to a friends home and they have “poo-pouri” by their toilet! Brilliant!
Love the robot!
I am totally going to insist my husband do this. Thanks for the …ahem… and giggles?
Fan. Tas. Tic. :o)
My very good friend and I had weight-loss surgery about 6 years ago and…. If you don’t already know, your bowels will Never. Be. The. Same. She swears by the pricey, silly named sprays to banish the betrayal. Since I am El Grande Cheapo and make just about everything I use in my daily life, I made my own with some water, a teensy bit of glycerin, EO & the flaxen hair of mermaids. It’s every bit as good as the fancy stuff…NAY, it’s better because it’s cheap and I made it!
So, in other words don’t eat anything delicious? LOL! I kid. I kid.
HAHA!!
LMAO!!!
Wow, I’ve never heard of this before, but I can’t wait to try it. Usually I just strike a couple matches. It works pretty well, except for after White Castle. What do they put in those burgers, anyway?
Thank you Auntie!
Definitely need to tape a bottle to hubs, lol. Great advice.
Hahahahahahahaha this is great!
Oh my God, this is awesome. In Japan they sell a product for these purposes (the name of which translates roughly to “For after *that*”–you can practically hear the throat-clearing and eyebrow-raising that comes before *that*–though it’s funny since you use it before doing *that*) but I never knew you could do this with straight up essential oil! Though come to think of it, that’s almost certainly what the Japanese stuff is. And it does work really well. But not being in Japan, I have not had access to the wonder product for ages…but now I can truly say my *that* don’t stink!
A friend gave me a spritzer bottle of this type of oil “scent” I won’t name (but it’s a funny name!) and It does work! I was using distilled water mixed with Cedar oil scent in a travel sized spritzer and it worked well too! Great topic really, people need to know!
Any suggestions for litter boxes instead of sprays?
Baking soda helps, at least for #1. Just sprinkle it on top, but not too much, or you get kitty paw prints.
cedar chips…?
AWESOME!!!!!
I totally do this! I love it and it generally works like a crunchy little charm, but there are indeed those occasions where the EO is overpowered. The first time my husband tried it, he came out of the bathroom and proudly declared “I kicked that oil’s ass.” (but he is just such a GUY!).
I laughed hilariously hard at the picture BECAUSE of that robot. I was like, “Wow! Your poo can smell yummy like flowers and sunshine…and…did she put a robot on there?!” It was yet another confirmation of your awesomeness.
I am so going to try this! Thanks for your help!
Totally just made my own sign to put in the guest bathroom. This way they don’t have to search for the spray hahaha
When my son is at tae kwon do, I always seem to have to go number two, which i NEVER used to do in public!!! I keep a bottle of spearmint EO in my purse. Three of the times that I have gone number two there, this SAME woman goes into the bathroom after me. Maybe she has a death wish. Anyway when she goes in there, I always laugh and wonder if she’s thinking something really weird about me because it always smells so minty fresh. Or maybe she just thinks…sheesh does that lady have one minty fresh butt crack LMBO! Thanks to your trick, I am now pooing in public with confidence!!
omg, I can’t believe you’re talking about something I already do!! I feel so crunchy 😀 Granted I use peppermint oil and not eucalyptus, but still . . . *is proud*
The robot makes me happy.
dood for you,Al! Now, are you going to USE the oil?!
GOOD -4 u ,I meant!
So as I was reading this, my stomach began rumbling and I felt excitement for I knew I was about to have to opportunity to test this out. A few drops and I was sitting there smelling nothing but the fresh scent of eucalyptus. While this test was conducted in the privacy of my own bathroom, I was thinking…now if only there was a natural way to mask the sound without having to carry around a Japanese Sound Princess. But I will definitely be stashing some eucalyptus in my purse.
I like to put a layer of tp in the toilet. It helps mask the sound lol
10 points of awesome for the robot! Noticed it right away!
So, if your poop stinks…
here are 10 easy ways to improve the odor of your stool. 🙂
1. RAW apple cider vinegar
2. chew your food well
3. condiment of ferments with meals
4. avoid liquids with meals
5. eat artichokes and bitter herbs (nettles infusions)
6. avoid antacids
7. avoid artificial preservatives
8. avoid dairy and gluten (difficult to digest)
9. consume adequate zinc (pumpkin seeds)
10. consume adequate magnesium (nettles infusions)
Healthy Poop 101: http://heal-thyself.ning.com/profiles/blogs/healthy-poop-101
Pat
You are hysterical. I love you. <3
Pat
can you use any essential oil?
I am totally going to try this. I hate using the restroom at someone’s home because I’m afraid of the aftermath. 🙂
http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/
The robot was the first thing I spotted, even before the toilet (weirdo).
We have a peppermint EO that we get from WFmed via Ebay (because they are amazingly cheap) for soap and air freshener blends, but it’s too strong/harsh to use in massages, but not for poo! This should make the green-mushroomcloud aftermath of our communal historic schoolhouse bathroom less of a life and death (or death and more death) experience. Especially since I can’t hold my breath that long.
If you live somewhere with mexican grocery stores, pure eucalyptus oil comes in huge bottles for way cheaper than the natural stores. Normally I am wary of non-organic EO’s but when used for this purpose I think it’s just fine
Seriously love your blog! You crack me up & help me out!
For some reason, every time I see spearmint essential oil I think to myself, hmm sure could use some of that. The problem is that I forget that I ever had that thought to begin with …hence the 3 large bottles of spearmint oil that I had no idea how I would ever use up! Until now…I have set a bottle on top of the toilet tank, and have added 3 drops to the water in anticipation of….you know! Just those 3 drops scent the entire bathroom with a lovely minty fresh scent.
Crunchy Betty, you always have such fantastic ideas, thanks!
I love this tip. My husband has been using this for several months now in our master bathroom which is open to our bedroom and it is amazing the difference. One little bottle lasts forever too.
Hmmmm- just saw a small spray bottle in a catalog costing $16.00 for 4 oz. ingredients are: water, oils or orange, lemon, and grapefruit. Geez – $16.00??
Thanks for the tip that inspired me to look at the ingredients on this one. . . and not buy.
Great idea! We have a spray bottle of thyme oil that we keep in the bathroom for this reason. I also started carrying a small spray bottle of it in my purse for this very reason. (I’m not one of those people who can tell my bowels when and when not to move, unfortunately.) But, I carry eucalyptus oil in my purse anyway. That would be even less bulky than my spray bottle. Thanks for the tip!