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Original poster

AIBU to expect air freshener in toilets when visiting friends?

683 replies

HangryBrickShark · 09/09/2026 23:11

Is there an expectation that people's toilets should have an air freshener in? Like a spray air freshener?

We always have air freshener in both our toilets in case friends or family get caught short when visiting us or even to freshen the bathroom after having a wee if necessary, so I hate it if I go to a friend/family members house and they have none.

I get some people may be affected by asthma but surely if you had asthma you wouldn't use it?

We have a glade air freshener at work that sprays into the space where the wash handbasins are for example.

OP posts:
Seajaye · 11/09/2026 09:49

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:20

No extractor fan.

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Is there a reason why your employer hasn't complied with building regulation requirements? It does seem odd particularly if in a modern in a work place facility used by multiple people that some kind of mechanical ventilation isn't installed to change the air.

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 09:40

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They never can. I grew in a house where the toilet was outside - luckily it wasn’t too far but I did lock myself out of the house in the middle of the night when I was about 6 or 7!

Lexy2345 · 11/09/2026 09:25

Buy a mini air freshener spray from Home Bargains for 99p and pop it in your bag for future use. No need to stress, or to insist that friends provide an air freshener. I have an essential oils spray (not aerosol) in both bathrooms, 5 drops of orange and lime oil to 50mls water, it works perfectly and prevents embarrassment about unsavoury odours wafting around for the next person.

Phloosie · 11/09/2026 09:03

I get annoyed if there isn’t a toilet brush.

Fecal matter smells, even if it’s just tiny traces below the water line. A quick scrub and an extra flush takes care of smells, and in the time it takes to wash hands, they are gone.

MaggieMop · 11/09/2026 09:01

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FaceIt · 11/09/2026 09:00

YANBU
We use a lovely natural room spray.

I always steer clear from products like Glade as they have nasty chemicals in them.

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:57

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I imagine if you have a ‘main home’ then I’m sure it is normal among your social circle to have lots of bathrooms

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:55

Sereine · 11/09/2026 08:50

Why isn't striking a match an option? It's not as if it's difficult.

You should of course be pushing for an extractor fan in there, as well.

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Because we are not allowed to use matches in the building since someone was found to be lighting candles in their office.

I’m not pushing for anything tbh - I have my own battles to fight about a particular reasonable adjustment and I’m only in the office a few days a week.

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:52

TheEdgyMoose · 11/09/2026 08:37

Well it would be a weird thing to make up... but equally weird to have never encountered a house with more than one bathroom.

When you say bathroom are you talking about a full bathroom including bath? Or are you saying you have never met anyone with a bathroom plus separate toilet?

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Never met anyone with a bathroom and a separate toilet.

I live in a modern 3 bed semi with one bathroom

Sereine · 11/09/2026 08:50

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:10

We have a toilet at work which has no window. Outside of MN land, many people shit when they need to. Striking a match isn’t an option. No bleach is available.

So should people just leave the shit smell for the next person ?

Why isn't striking a match an option? It's not as if it's difficult.

You should of course be pushing for an extractor fan in there, as well.

MrsShawnHatosy · 11/09/2026 08:49

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Your main home. Wow.

Sereine · 11/09/2026 08:46

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If you have a "main home" with that many bathrooms and toilets, and presumably at least one other home, your experience isn't really "normal".

MaggieMop · 11/09/2026 08:44

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MaggieMop · 11/09/2026 08:40

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TheEdgyMoose · 11/09/2026 08:37

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:32

Yes. Do you think I’m making it up?

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Well it would be a weird thing to make up... but equally weird to have never encountered a house with more than one bathroom.

When you say bathroom are you talking about a full bathroom including bath? Or are you saying you have never met anyone with a bathroom plus separate toilet?

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:35

TotaleclipseinFrance · 11/09/2026 08:26

Well of course sometimes it is unavoidable. Nothing wrong with trying to avoid it, though.
Why wouldn't you IF you could?

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Most people don’t want to shit at work but they need to go when they need to go.

There is one cubicle for our entire floor (men and women) so there is always going to be someone who has a shit

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:32

TheEdgyMoose · 11/09/2026 08:30

Really?! I can't think of a family home (3+ bedrooms) I've been in that doesn't at least have a bathroom and separate toilet. Newer houses usually have that plus at least one en suite. I have lived in places with only one but they were smaller flats and a tiny terrace house.

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Yes. Do you think I’m making it up?

TheEdgyMoose · 11/09/2026 08:30

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:06

Does everyone on MN have multiple bathrooms? I have never met anyone with more than one bathroom.

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Really?! I can't think of a family home (3+ bedrooms) I've been in that doesn't at least have a bathroom and separate toilet. Newer houses usually have that plus at least one en suite. I have lived in places with only one but they were smaller flats and a tiny terrace house.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 11/09/2026 08:27

I have a window that I open in mine instead of using toxic chemicals

TotaleclipseinFrance · 11/09/2026 08:26

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:10

We have a toilet at work which has no window. Outside of MN land, many people shit when they need to. Striking a match isn’t an option. No bleach is available.

So should people just leave the shit smell for the next person ?

Well of course sometimes it is unavoidable. Nothing wrong with trying to avoid it, though.
Why wouldn't you IF you could?

MrsShawnHatosy · 11/09/2026 08:26

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:06

Does everyone on MN have multiple bathrooms? I have never met anyone with more than one bathroom.

Show quote history

We have one bathroom plus a downstairs loo. Both of which have a window.

TotaleclipseinFrance · 11/09/2026 08:22

TotaleclipseinFrance · 11/09/2026 08:15

Reminds me of awkward mealtimes at a relative's house.
Big new build house.
All 4 bedrooms have en suite bathrooms.

Also stand alone bathroom and downstairs toilet.

Unfortunately downstairs toilet literally next to dining room.

No window, matches or air freshener in there.

After a large meal you either have to use the downstairs toilet OR go upstairs in which case you might as well stand up and say, "I'm going for a crap."
I try to go in the morning but all that food stimulates digestion.

They are in-laws who I don't see often, either, so there's no easy crapping camaderie.

Yes, not a great problem I know but while we're on the subject of toilet etiquette.

Sorry to quote myself but this is on top of the fact that you're trying to do your business with up to 20 people ten or fifteen feet of you.

squashyhat · 11/09/2026 08:21

Dozer · 09/09/2026 23:14

things to try to mask shit smells with a layer of a synethetic smell seem an odd thing to give a shit about

Grin
Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:20

Seajaye · 11/09/2026 08:19

Put the extractor fan on. Ventilation is a requirement under building regs so all windowless bathrooms should have one.

Show quote history

No extractor fan.

Seajaye · 11/09/2026 08:19

Anarchy99 · 11/09/2026 08:10

We have a toilet at work which has no window. Outside of MN land, many people shit when they need to. Striking a match isn’t an option. No bleach is available.

So should people just leave the shit smell for the next person ?

Put the extractor fan on. Ventilation is a requirement under building regs so all windowless bathrooms should have one.

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